Fri 3/13 @ 6:30PM
The Rock and Reggae Fest had its roots in the late ’70s as an informal musical get-together in the parking lot of the Free Clinic on Euclid Avenue, intended to draw attention to and raise a little money for the clinic’s work.
But it really became a THING in the mid ’80 when two of the era’s biggest local bands — rocking reggae group First Light and Grateful Dead-style jam band Oroboros — took it on as their cause. During the golden years, it was an all-day event at Meadow Ridge Farm where people could picnic, play Frisbee and groove on the good vibes. (Longtime Rock and Reggae supporters probably want to forget the year at Blossom Music Center, too formal an environment for the low-key festival, where security guards made people stay in their seats and stop playing hackysack on the lawn).
First Light and Oroboros both broke up in the late ’90s, but Rock and Reggae carries on in the same spirit. For the last seven years, it’s been at the Beachland Ballroom, with one of First Light’s most beloved members, Carlos Jones (pictured), headlining, as he is again this year.
He’s usually joined by the JiMiller Band, led by Oroboros singer/guitarist Jim Miller, but they’re booked elsewhere this year. Still, the bill includes quite a variety pf local music: family-friendly jam-style group Big Ship, Akron soul band the Admirables, Americana singer/songwriter Maura Rogers, fingerstyle acoustic guitarist Doug Wood of Cellocentric, and Tastycakes.
“The Free Clinic has been such a Cleveland institution and such a worthy cause,” says Jones. “Jim Miller and myself both wanted to keep it on our plate as something we wanted to contribute to. It’s something for the benefit of Cleveland people who might not have other resources. It’s such a humanitarian cause.”
He recalls that they were there for him back when he was young and broke and had no health insurance.
“They pulled me through some health scares,” he says. “They definitely helped out when help was needed.”
“The Rock and Reggae event is a tradition almost as old as the Free Clinic,” says clinic executive director Danny Williams. “This music festival is a celebration of diversity and inclusiveness, communicating in a spiritually uplifting and universal language. Rock and Reggae is really an extension of the Free Clinic’s healing mission of being available to all people in need of care.”
Jones says to expect music in that uplifting, inclusive — and unpredictable — spirit.
“Whenever we get on stage the set list is just a suggestion because we’re going to go how we feel,” he says. “It’s likely I’ll be jamming with someone else at any given time and just enjoying the night.”
Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.