Sat 5/24-Sun 5/25 @ noon-10PM
Once again it’s time for reggae lovers to gather in Voinovich Park for the annual two-day Cleveland Reggaefest. Each day features ten hours of music, starting at noon, with some of the region’s best bands along with national headliners.
]Lake Irie, one of the area’s younger reggae bands, formed in 2020, kicks things off Saturday at noon, followed by Columbus’s Flex Crew, magnetic Cleveland reggae singer JR Blessington, Boston’s Mighty Mystic, and New Hampshire’s Roots of Creation, which blends reggae with jam, rock, ska, electronic music and more.
The lineup Sunday should appeal to the area’s hardcore reggae fans, with four veteran bands every local fan of the genre knows: one of the its longest-running, Jah Messengers; Columbus’ Ark Bands, who are frequent visitors to northeast Ohio; Shake (pronounced Shaky) Ground, with seasoned musicians, most of whom were in the ridiculously popular Cleveland rock ‘n’ reggae band from the 80s and 90s, First Light; and First Light’s former front man Carlos Jones, with his ensemble the P.L.U.S. Band. Look for some intermingling of musicians; it usually happens. And that day is headlined by a noted reggae star, Birmingham, England singer/toaster Pato Banton who got his feet wet working with British two-tone reggae band the English Beat in the early 80s.
Of course, there will be food, drink and if precedent holds, other vendors as well. And kids under 6 are free. Get tickets here.