Eugene, Ore. – Common Kings, Sammy Johnson and Iam Tongi will each perform new and classic reggae live in concert at The Cuthbert Amphitheater on Friday, September 15, 2023 with special guest Jakobs Castle opening.

All ages general admission free roaming tickets are on sale Friday, June 9 at 10am online at Cascade Tickets and the Cuthbert Box Office (show nights only) for $50, which includes city of Eugene facility and parking fees.

The Cuthbert box office and gates will open at 4:30 p.m. The concert will begin at 6 p.m.

The concert is billed as the “Leihoku Fest Eugene” to showcase the city’s love and reputation for world-class athletics and entertainment by promoting three local events: the Common Kings, Steel Pulse concert at The Cuthbert Amphitheater on September 15; the University of Oregon vs University of Hawaii football game in Autzen Stadium on September 16; and the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field from September 16-17, 2023.

About Common Kings

“California’s Common Kings are a glorious amalgam of all things good in the world.” – Musical Notes Global

Railroad Earth

In a saturated musical landscape, Common Kings have carved their own path. The Orange County four-piece was nominated for a GRAMMY for their debut album (Lost In Paradise) in 2016 and has been on an upward trajectory ever since. Common Kings followed up with their 2018 EP One Day (Mensch House Records) featuring Stephen Marley, ¡Mayday! and Kat Dahlia, and ended the year supporting Bruno Mars on his sold-out Hawaii shows.

Common Kings strikes the perfect balance between R&B, rock, reggae, pop and island influences from the collective minds of JR King (vocals), Mata (guitar), Uncle Lui (bass), and Rome (drums). The amalgamation comes from growing up on healthy doses of Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Jim Croce, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Gypsy Kings, Earth Wind and Fire, and Bob Marley. These influences originate from each band member’s love for various genres, and widespread knowledge of music.

With a GRAMMY nomination under their belt, the achievement of reaching 800,000 single downloads, along with their remarkable touring accomplishments (providing direct support for major acts such as opening two sold out shows for Bruno Mars at Aloha Stadium in November, Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 World Experience Tour, Meghan Trainor’s Untouchable Tour and Matisyahu’s 2017 Fall Tour), Common Kings show no signs of slowing down.

About Sammy Johnson

Somewhere between the charisma of Frank Sinatra, the empathetic tone of Bob Marley, and the smooth and sultry vocal runs of Lauryn Hill, lives the warm and kind voice of Sammy Johnson. An Australian native, Sammy Johnson embraces his Maori and Polynesian roots to create positive and uplifting music. Blending together island reggae, soul and jazz vibes with heartfelt lyrics, Sammy’s sound is exhilarating and intoxicating.  

Sammy Johnson has been waving the flag for the Pacific Island sound, and has quickly become a leader of the scene alongside new school artists like J Boog and veterans like Katchafire. Sammy Johnson got his big break via Youtube after his video for “Don’t Say Goodbye” became a viral sensation, racking up over 10,000,000 plays. Not too long after, a Hawaiian-based producer contacted Sammy and offered him a record deal with Island Empire Records, home to groups like Common Kings, Tenelle, and Fiji.

Sammy has toured extensively on his own and with genre-leading artists like The Wailers and Common Kings. He continues to hone his live show with international tours and impressive festival slots, bringing his enlightening music to a live audience of anticipatory fans and new fans alike.

About Leihoku Fest Eugene

The Hawaiian word “leihoku” means “a lei (or wreath) of stars” and describes how the people work together to strive in pursuit of high aspirations. The organizers chose leihoku to represent the courageous Polynesians voyagers who, in ancient times, ingeniously navigated thousands of miles over the Pacific Ocean by leihoku, using a “lei of a stars” in the sky to guide them to distant islands.

This September 2023, leihoku will serve to represent the thousands of miles that entertainers, athletes, fans and supporting institutions, as “voyagers”, will travel to Eugene as ‘ohana (extended family) in the spirit of lokahi (of one mind, in unison, to bring about unity, to make peace), in Autzen Stadium, the Cuthbert Amphitheater, and storied Hayward Field.