After a six-year hiatus and the cancellation of the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, anticipation for Reggae On The River’s return was reaching fever pitch. With a stellar line-up including headliners like Reggae legends Capleton, Anthony B, Collie Buddz, along with many other favorite artists, a good smattering of locally based Reggae artists, and an abundance of DJs and Sound Systems, this festival was looking to be something special.
Reggae On The River was established in 1984 as a non-profit event to raise funds for a new community hall in Garberville, California, after the original hall was destroyed by arson. Over the years, the festival became a beloved gathering for Reggae enthusiasts from Northern California and around the world, with many fans traveling great distances to attend. The event was set against the backdrop of the majestic redwood trees and the scenic Eel River. Despite facing challenges with location changes, Reggae On The River continued to thrive for many years. However, in 2019, the festival was canceled due to ongoing difficulties securing a stable venue and declining ticket sales. After the pandemic lockdowns were lifted in 2022, the event did not return due to issues with obtaining venue permits. Reggae On The River 2024 started with conversations between Hot Milk Entertainment and The Mateel organization a few years ago. Still, after many hours of negotiations, it was abandoned because of continuing venue issues. In 2023, it again came to the forefront, and with the “never give up” mentality of the entities involved, the venue issue was finally resolved. Reggae On The River 2024 was about to happen.
With a media pass to Reggae On The River 2024, I was able to set up my campsite on Thursday, the day before the general public was admitted. This gave me an insight into the preparations for the festival. The stages were being set up, the vendors were arriving and setting up their booths, and the multitude of volunteers were having training meetings for their various roles. The stage crew worked until 4 am Friday to ensure everything was in place and working correctly for the festival commencement at noon on Friday. I had been checking the weather forecast for a couple of weeks to see what temperatures to expect. Two weeks before, temperatures were predicted to be in the 60s F, but then it changed to the 80s F, which sounded perfect. Nothing prepared us for temperatures that reached the 100s F. The unexpected and extreme weather conditions, with temperatures averaging high 90s F to low 100s F, were definitely challenging and added a unique element to the festival experience.
Friday dawned extremely early, with a very loud “Happy Reggae” blasting out over the site. I did become used to it and slept through it after the first morning. The public started arriving at 10 a.m. It was exciting and inspiring to watch streams of excited Reggae fans, and their families pour past my tent site, towing wagons, strollers, and children of all ages, heading to the main gate.
The festival commenced with a Native American prayer and dance, a tradition of Reggae On The River, and the festivities began.
Three stages were set up: the Main Stage, the Positive Stage, and the River Stage. On Friday, the performing artists on the different stages were staggered with DJs playing between acts, so there was time to go from one stage to another without missing the artists performing on any stage. There were performances by artists like Chuck Fenda, who thrilled us with a stellar performance, especially when he performed from the stage scaffolding,
Pressure Busspipe, Perfect Giddimani, Nattali Rize, Yaadcore & Yaksta, and rising star 13-year-old Kailash, with performances spread over the three stages and DJs and Sound Systems playing in between.
The culmination of a magnificent first day of the festival was an outstanding performance by Anthony B, who had undergone life-saving surgery only days before. Despite this, his performance encompassed the usual exciting, energy-filled experience his fans have come to expect, but minus his iconic leaps and bounds.
Day two dawned bright and early. When camping at a festival, porta-potties become incredibly important. As seasoned festival campers have realized, hanging on until the porta-potty company has done its morning clean makes for a more pleasant experience. High five to the porta-potty company, which came several times daily and did its best to keep them clean. This was important to me as I was camped opposite a set of porta-potties. The festival provided a shower block; although small, this was a welcome addition, especially as it was so hot. By Saturday, weekend campers had made friends with their neighbors, and little families were formed with folks sharing and helping each other out. One of the most popular vendors of the weekend was the ice vendor, and columns of ice-carrying mums, dads, and kids were seen every morning making their way back to their campsite. The festival atmosphere was filled with a sense of camaraderie and shared experience, making it a truly unique event.
The second day of performances, in my opinion, didn’t flow quite as well between the stages. The artists performing weren’t staggered as they had been on Friday, so it took some planning to see all your favorites. The lineup for Saturday was packed with artists like Lutan Fyah, Konshens, Lila Ike, Chezidek, DeMarco, Isi Dube, and newcomer Jamaica’s female artist Tuff Like Iron, to name a few.
It was refreshing to see the unity between young West Coast artists such as Arkaingelle, Yungg Trip, Jahdon Blakkamore, and local Sound Systems, who introduced us to new artists by allowing them a guest appearance on their set.
The highlight of the day was the highly anticipated appearance of the legend Capleton with a magnetic performance that closed out the main stage. This was not the end for festival-goers, though. If you had enough stamina, the Kings Of The Earth Soundclash was scheduled, featuring Dynamq from South Sudan, Renaissance from Jamaica, and Heavy Hammer from Italy. This took place on the River Stage and started after the Main Stage closed for the night. Some people did not fully understand this staple of Jamaican culture and were disappointed that they couldn’t dance, but for those aficionados of sound clashes, a good time was had.
Sunday morning likely arrived a bit too soon for those who partied through the sound clash, with the Positive Stage and River Stage kicking off at 10:30 a.m. Thankfully, the Main Stage offered a gentler start time at 1:30 p.m. But the wait was well worth it. Sunday’s lineup delivered a spectacular finale to an unforgettable weekend, featuring an array of talent that electrified the crowd. Performances by Bobby Hustle,
Iba Mahr, the legendary Sister Nancy,
and the iconic “Ganja Farmer” Marlon Asher, set the tone. J-Boog, the high-energy Soul Ska Band, and Soul Medic, to name a few, with an assortment of DJs and Sound Systems keeping the vibe alive. The weekend reached its pinnacle with Collie Buddz, who had the entire crowd singing along to his classic ganja anthems. For those still eager to dance, the festivities continued at the after-party with Ashanti Hi-Fi and King Addies, followed by surprise guest DJs that kept the energy soaring well into the night.
Overall, the triumphant return of Reggae On The River was nothing short of spectacular. While a few fans raised eyebrows at seeing artists of Chezidek and Perfect Giddimani’s caliber performing on smaller stages instead of the Main Stage, this may be a hint at what’s to come for Reggae On The River 2025. Some disappointment lingered among Skarra Mucci’s fans when his visa issues prevented him from making the festival, but such hurdles are beyond the control of both the event organizers and the artist.
The festival offered a rich tapestry of experiences, with a diverse selection of vendors selling everything from clothing and art to food and drinks. Families enjoyed a dedicated children’s zone, while the Cannabis Area highlighted local growers and sponsors, even offering tours of the surrounding cannabis industries for the curious.
Reggae On The River still stands as a true multi-generational festival, celebrating the spirit of reggae and bringing together fans of all ages.
Reggaewerx PR LLC 