Reggae: Past, Present and Future

I got a note this afternoon from my old friend, Gregg (not the same Gregg mentioned below re: the Coco benefit by the way). This is Gregg McVicar, a longtime radio pro, in fact he had the first reggae-themed show in Humboldt County on KHSU way back in the '70s, but that's another story. He's down in the Bay Area now, runs a syndicated show called Undercurrents. He sent me a copy of a PSA that showed up in his e-mail this afternoon (I received the same one) with the following note:

Bob,

What is this all about? An injunction?

Gregg

Around the same time I got an e-mail from a friend in Fresno, someone I camp with when I go the Reggae.

He writes,
I'm confused. Is it going to be Reggae on the River or Reggae Rising? I'm going to guess Reggae Rising because of the article about People Productions and the owners of Dimmick's Ranch partnering up against the Mateel. But I like the line-up for ROTR better.

Sean

I have to admit, I don't have easy answers for either of them. I think I'll have to give Gregg a call to try to explain what's happened to the festival he attended with me one time a few years ago. I don't know that I have a rock solid answer to Sean's question either, nor can I tell him if any of the RotR lineup booked by 2b1 might be incorporated into Reggae Rising if that side prevails -- or vice versa.

One more thing, I was just a little bit taken aback when I read the subject line for this PSA, "Reggae Rising Moves Forward Unencumbered." Does that sound kinda familiar? (See the post below titled "This just in.")

the PSA:

EVENT: Reggae Rising, Festival
DATE: August 3rd, 4th and 5th
PLACE: Dimmick Ranch/ French’s Camp, Piercy Calif.
CONTACT: Yvonne Hendrix, People Productions


COURT DENIES PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
AGAINST PEOPLE PRODUCTION and THE DIMMICK RANCH
REGGAE RISING MUSIC FESTIVAL MOVES FORWARD UNENCUMBERED
ZIGGY, STEPHEN, and DAMIAN MARLEY ADDED TO LINEUP

[Humboldt County, CA April 27, 2007]

The honorable Judge Bruce Watson denied the Mateel Community Center’s request for a preliminary injunction against: People Productions, the Dimmick Ranch, and the Reggae Rising Music Festival. This highly-anticipated ruling clears the way for the Reggae Rising Music Festival to move forward unencumbered to bring you the best reggae festival of the summer.

The festival will benefit the Southern Humboldt community and carry on the 23 year tradition of being one of the largest fundraisers for its non-profits. Reggae Rising will take place on August 3rd, 4th and 5th at the Dimmick Ranch and French’s Camp in Piercy, California and will feature three days of camping and world renowned reggae music, situated along the picturesque Eel River.

This year's festival is dedicated to the “MUSIC” and the lineup promises to be unparalleled. We're proud to announce that ZIGGY MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY, and DAMIAN MARLEY have just been added. Each Marley brother will be performing their own set, backed by their own band. This is a first in the history of the Marley brothers!!!

In a recent interview, with the Eureka-Times Standard, Stephen Marley was asked: “T-S: As a performer, is that just another show, or is there a special vibe to that place?” Stephen: “No, it's not just another show. As you say, it's not really so much the name as the atmosphere, the people and the vibe. That's why it's not just another show, why it's special. It's just free. The vibe always free spirited, ya know? Down by the river, visit the people and pitch their tents. That type of free lifestyle, that, you know what I mean? When you hear my father say (singing), 'why can't we roam this open country,' it always remind me of that type of vibe, ya know, just being. You pitch your tent, the river is there, ya know, and the greenery, and the scenery. It get no better than that. So, it's not just another concert, but at the same time, it's not the name of it, really, but the vibe of it.”

Other artists confirmed are: STEEL PULSE, ABYSSINIANS, ANTHONY B, COLLIE BUDDZ, FANTAN MOJAH, FREDDIE MCGREGOR, HEAVYWEIGHT DUB CHAMPION, ISHI DUBE, MORGAN HERITAGE, QUEEN OMEGA, RICHIE SPICE, RICHIE STEPHENS, SLY & ROBBIE AND THE TAXI GANG with HORACE ANDY, TANYA STEPHENS, and WISDOM. Please check our website frequently as there are more acts TBA.

People Productions and its staff of coordinators have a two decades plus track record for hosting exceptional music festivals and will produce the event with the same expertise that has given them one of the best reputations in the industry.