Miami Reggae Festival 2011 Photos & Highlights

It’s been another good day for Reggae Music & also for people in need of food in the Dade County area, thanks to Curley’s House, a food bank in Miami that supports those experiencing food deprivation and the people of Miami Reggae Festival and of course ROCKAZ MVMT!

They collected more or less 25 tons of cans. To attend the concert, that was free, patrons were requested to bring food cans. MissGaza [with her food cans] got there a little late so missed a couple of really cool acts like All Spam All Stars and Soul Flower, sorry & big ups for the cd!

The day was blessed because it looked like every minute could start the biggest storm but not a drop of water came till the last gig was over.

The park was crowded and colorful and there was this super cool Irie vibe everybody shared: families, tribes, crews, youth, adults, elders, little kids...

Is that magic atmosphere you can just find at Reggae Festivals: people of all ages… which is something generally you don’t find when you go to other music events, because they generally talk to the same age’s group of people.

What I’m really trying to say is that Reggae music is so Universal it really reaches out and caters all ages and status. Which is simple but always magic to me.

Reggae is the Future, hear me on this!

Future is a word I can safely link to the Miami based Reggae Band Jahfe’! Their performance was so good :they really killed it on that stage. 

Their live show was great, well calibrated, Esther, the main voice of the band, was in perfect shape and delivered amazing songs to an enchanted crowd singing and dancing along with them.

They are the future because they are complete artists, musically and lyrically, with touchy songs on solid riddims and music that mixes reggae sounds with many cool  contaminations. A cultural but also edgy and roots band. They have a formula for smooth fusion of roots reggae with rock, dub, hip-hop, and r&b, among many other musical styles.

They are the future because they are humble and ready to go on big stages as well on little lounges and perform with the same professionalism and perfect formula of sounds keeping it real and never loosing the link with their audience.

They will make you dance, sing along, reason, laugh and jump without stopping paying attention to real issues and real stories.They are the future because they are  still growing to full potential and exploring with an open mind a string of good sounds, they are original and they can become addictive! You will hear more from them.

Currently in Haiti doing their thang! Bless!

Cultura Profetica went on after Jahfe‘ announced by super hectic and multitasking Lance-o, the band offered an amazing show case and  rocked the stage for more than an hour receiving a lot of claps, big ups, requests and playing some sweet chunes that  most of the audience knew. I was able to witness first hand their unique style, rich in sounds going from reggae roots base with touches of jazz, salsa, hip-hop, ska, funk.

I&I was recharging batteries and networking in the media area where guests were greeted with promotional material and new releases from VP Records and free amazing food and libations.

The food itself would deserve a chapter a part since the whole park’s perimeter  was packed with food stands and vendors where you could buy the spiciest  and yummiest caribbean foods  but also music, clothes, books, zines,  or subscribe to legalization campaigns while bumping into friends you didn’t see in a minute.

When Morgan Heritage band got announced and went on stage and they started singing “You don’t haffi dread to be Rasta This is not a dreadlocks thing Devine conception of the heart” the patrons started singing along one of their favorite Morgan Heritage’s song and screaming Yes Rasta!

Blown away together with other hundreds of dancing, singing, smiling, dreaming rastas of all ages and colors with or without dreadlocks. They didn’t forget to talk about Buju Banton and his situation neither.

Jamaican Reggae artist Luciano was originally supposed to perform at the Miami Reggae Festival, but for visa issues he couldn’t make it and Morgan Heritage band, temporarily put their solo projects aside, and came together to save the festival, putting in their efforts to support the food drive and help the needy. 

Morgan Heritage Family delivered a perfect performance that hypnotized Coconut Groove’s Peacock Park  and this giant reggae act  played the best of its repertory with an incredible energy that everybody felt and brought home.

Next time I need a flag myself! I give big thanx for all that  good music and energy, everybody was aware of the power and the lasting sense of unity that such events bring in the community.  More Events Like this!  Big Ups to Curly House, all the artists dem and the promoters and the volunteers.