Positive vibes for Miami Reggae Festival Since its inception in 2010, organizers of the Miami Reggae Festival have made it clear their main objective is to help reduce hunger and poverty in South Florida. They continue to fly that humanitarian banner.
On August 7-8, the event returns after a one-year break. The 2020 show was cancelled due to the Coronavirus.
Promoted by Afrikin Foundation and Rockers Movement, this year’s show carries the banner, ‘Healing the Community Through the Vibrations of Sound System Culture’.
In keeping with that positive theme, festival spokesperson and co-founder Alfonso Brooks said there will be no clashes.
“There’s a lot of negativity out there, and we need to get back to what reggae music is about --- love, good vibes and good feelings.”
A number of elite ‘sounds’ will be at the venue including Stone Love, Bass Odyssey, MetroMedia, King Addies International, and King Waggy Tee. Adonai Sound, Big Life Sound, Downbeat The Ruler, King Champion, Ontrack Disco, Overproof Movements, Poison Dart, Rocksteadyy, Soul Supreme, Super Storm and Warrior Sound International complete an impressive lineup.
Mutabaruka, the fiery Jamaican poet who is also known in sound system circles, will host the event.
Veteran artists Freddie McGregor, Brigadier Jerry and Michael Palmer are also expected to perform, Brooks disclosed.
While it has a strong music component, the Miami Reggae Festival’s primary focus is to gather food for the impoverished in South Florida. Brooks, a native of St. Maarten who was raised in New York, estimates organizers have distributed over 8,000 tonnes of food since the show was first held.
The Miami Reggae Festival was first held at the Bayfront Amphitheater in downtown Miami, with Bunny Wailer, Toots and The Maytals, Marcia Griffiths, Steel Pulse and Midnite the featured acts.
In 2019, Midnite and Jah9 were headliners.
Written By Howard Campbell