ReggaeFest - There’s only one day to Reggae

Calgary’s ReggaeFest isn’t just for Reggae fans. It’s a full day family event that transcends racial, cultural and musical boundaries. With live performances from international Reggae artistes, ReggaeFest features a beer garden, separate youth area, and plenty of arts & crafts. Or get a taste of Rasta culture from the many food vendors.

Date: Saturday, August 15
Time: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Location: Shaw Millennium Park – 1220 – 9 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta

Advance Tickets: Available at all Calgary Co-op Food Stores and online at Ticketweb.ca (service charges may apply)

Featuring: Beres Hammond, Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill, Culture Brown, Friendlyness and the Human Rights, Idlers, Korexion, Lenya Wilks, Mello Man, Shabuungo Ouda Ouda, Rastrillos, Tasha T.

Edmonton Fans! Ride the Reggae Bus

If you are interested in a bus / ticket package to ReggaeFest please contact Mertella at (780) 907-6105 or email us at edmontonbus@ReggaeFest.ca. Package for $70.00 will include a General Admission ticket to ReggaeFest, After Party admission and a same day bus trip from Edmonton to Calgary return.Book and pay by July 15 to ensure that there is a Reggae Bus.

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Beres Hammond

Considered Jamaica’s greatest practicing singer/songwriter, Beres Hammond is hailed as one of the finest Reggae musicians, a distinguished artiste with a career expanding over 35 years. Beres’ voice, rich and flavourful, creates sounds ranging from sultry R&B, gospel, jazz to roots reggae, maintaining lyrical freshness and vocal excellence. My Space | Harmony House Music

Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill

Kenyatta Hill’s debut single, “Daddy” confronts the emotional pain and uncertainty he felt after the loss of his father. Joseph Hill, the front man of the legendary vocal trio Culture, whose 1977 record “Two Sevens Clash”, helped define the roots reggae genre. In August 2006, while on tour in Germany, Joseph Hill suddenly fell ill and passed away. Rather than cancel the rest of the tour, Kenyatta, who had served as Culture’s sound engineer since the age of fifteen, decided to step in for his father. Culture Web Site | My Space

Culture Brown

Culture Brown was born in the parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica, moving to Kingston at an early age. He found his start in Reggae music as a member of the Black Star Sound System, openingdoors for him to become a powerful figure on the Reggae scene. Culture Brown has just recently released his highly anticipated double album "Poor" which is available this summer on CD Baby and digitally on iTunes, Amazon and Napster. My Space

Friendlyness and the Human Rights

Friendlyness and the Human Rights carry a heavy sound with songs of freedom, justice and equality, all the while rooted in the substance of the love of JAH. Friendlyness is a former winner of DJ of the year award, recipient of a Canadian Reggae Music Award, nominated for a MuchMusic Video Award and a Juno Award with Truths and Rights. My Space

Greg Crowe & The Scarlet Union

Greg has been a contributing member of the Winnipeg independent music scene since 1992. After humble beginnings in local hardcore outfit XchoplogicX, Greg turned to the ska idiom and hasn't looked back since. From 1993-2000, Greg fronted local ska outfit Whole Lotta Milka. During those seven years, Whole Lotta Milka released two full length albums (Got Milka? and Al's Diner) for Montreal based Stomp Records. He has toured and collaborated with such artists as The Planet Smashers, King Django, Chris Murray, King Kong Girio, and The Kingpins amongst others. My Space

Idlers

Idlers are an eleven-piece reggae circus from St. John's, Newfoundland. Their unique sound comes from a love for reggae, ska, and afro-beat, peppered with a little Celtic. Ringmaster Mark Wilson fronts a solid rhythm section, and heavy horns, bringing audiences to frenzy. Website | Electronic Press Kit | My Space | Listen to the CD

Jon Bone with the Karuna Movement

The Karuna Movement is a jam band laying down a mix of reggae, funk, rock and world grooves, colouring them with catchy melodies and deep lyrical content. Backed by a solid and energetic band, Jon Bone (song writer, producer, lead vocalist and guitarist) delivers a captivating stage presence. Jon Bone Web Site

Korexion

Winner of the 2007 Juno Award for Best Reggae Recording, Jamaican born Keipher Scott a.k.a Korexion draws upon reggae, hip-hop and pop styles to create an appealing musical hybrid. Now residing in Toronto, Korexion has taken his musical message international. In his performance he has lived up to his reputation and his stage presence has entertained spectators both locally and worldwide. Korexion uses his love and talent for music to communicate his message to his audience.My Space

Lenya Wilks

Lenya Wilks, considered a bonafide vocal powerhouse (just ask mentor Beres Hammond), has been inching towards a music career for years. Since her collision with fame on the televised talent series “Digicel Risings Stars” in 2008, there has been no looking back. After months of concert performances and popping up at other sold-out showcases, 19 year old Wilks is ready to start recording a debut album, with a summer release in sight, as she gears up to embark on a successful solo adventure... And with all the musical treats she is about to serve up, this St. Catherine, Jamaica born singer might help change the music industry - one note at a time. Lenya will grace the stage in Calgary as part of the “ A Moment in Time” tour with Beres Hammond and Culture.

Mello Man

Born Cornelius Hibbert from St. Thomas, Jamaica, Mello Man (aka Mr. Sweet Voice) is one of the most authentic reggae singers in western Canada. Now based in Winnipeg, Mello Man started his singing career in 1989 with the Jah Vibes band at the Black-o-Rama festival’s tribute to Bob Marley. He has toured with many major reggae artists, such as Third World, Frankie Paul, and Chevelle Franklin. My Space

Rastrillos

Rastrillos, a dynamic reggae band hailing fromMexico, is made upof musicians from differnt parts of the world (Celaya, Cuba, Argentina, Tepalcates, Coyoacanos) Playing for almost 20 years, Rastrillos has played withmany international artistes like Alpha Blondy,Pato Banton, Black Uhuru, Israel Vibration, Jimmy Cliff and Los Lobos. This summer Rastrillos are on tour across Western Canada. Come check out this hot sound at ReggaeFest! My Space

Roger Steffens

Roger Steffens is a Brooklyn, New York born actor, author, lecturer, editor, reggae archivist, photographer, producer. Roger is perhaps best known for his reggae archives, in particular his archives of Bob Marley. Six rooms of his home in Los Angeles house his archives, which include the world's largest collection of Bob Marley material. Based on these archives Roger lectures internationally with a multi-media presentation called "The Life of Bob Marley". Roger's radio career began in New York in 1961, and was co-host of the award-winning Reggae Beat on KCRW in Los Angeles and was syndicated on 130 stations worldwide in the 1980’s.

Shabuungo Ouda Ouda

Calgary's own Shabuungo Ouda Ouda developed his musical skills as a result of listening to the elders in the business, such as the late-great Bob Marley and Burning Spear. Hailing from Jamaica, Ouda is a charismatic and charming artiste with an extensive musical background. Ouda Ouda naturally moves people in a positive way, and has been performing at clubs and festivals in Calgary and throughout Western Canada for many years. He is currently working on his first full length album. My Space

Tasha T

Since her remarkable debut at the age of fourteen, Toronto based artiste Tasha T has been delighting audiences in Canada, the US and Jamaica. With the release of her self titled debut album, ‘Tasha T’, she is poised to leave a lasting impression on reggae lovers everywhere. Tasha T Web Site | Tasha T My Space

The Soulicitors

The Soulicitors are a five-piece Edmonton band, dying to save Canada from the rock music doldrums. Their sound is a unique blend of reggae, roots and soul music that is bound to twist your ear and get you out of your seat and dancing. Pushing good vibes and a party atmosphere, The Soulicitors will capture you with their intricate percussion and harmonized melody lines. My Space | Electronic Press Kit

REGGAEFEST 2009 – There’s only one day to Reggae
August 13-15, 2009 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ReggaeFest 2009 Impressive Line Up

CALGARY, ALBERTA… June 11, 2009…. Impressive, vibrant, dynamic, diverse! REGGAEFEST 2009 unveils a solid line up of Reggae artistes for the three-day summer event, August 13-15. Reggae lovers get ready to rock away to performances from local, national and international artistes. From Roots to Culture, Dancehall to Lovers Rock, the line up for REGGAEFEST 2009 has it all!

Hailed as one of the finest living Reggae musicians, from Jamaica, Beres Hammond brings his Moment In Time tour to REGGAEFEST 2009, along with Culture featuring Kenyata Hill and Lenya Wilks. Representing Canada’s East Coast will be none other than Newfoundland’s The Idlers, with their eleven-piece ska, Reggae and Celtic circus. Out of the hot Toronto Reggae scene comes former Truths and Rights front man, Friendlyness and the Human Rights, Juno winner Korexion and Canada’s dancehall queen Tasha T, three impressive musical acts. Alberta talent The Soulicitors and Shabuungo Ouda Ouda are definitely crowd pleasers with their unique up and coming sound. From Mexico City REGGAEFEST 2009 welcomes Los Rastrillos, a dynamic 12 piece Reggae band that is sure to bring audiences to their feet.

"I believe I might say this every year but this year’s line up is our most ambitious yet!" says ReggaeFest producer Leo Cripps. “Everyone is so excited about seeing Beres Hammond and Culture, but it’s bands like The Idlers from Newfoundland and Los Rastrillos from Mexico that really get folks eyebrows raised”, Cripps continues.
Other artistes selected for REGGAEFEST 2009 include Jamaica’s Culture Brown, Winnipeg based Mello Man & the Satta Massive Band and Greg Crowe & The Scarlet Union, West Coast Reggae group Jon Bone with the Karuna Movement, California’s Roger Steffens and Calgary’s own Bambalamb! and the Vibrations of Jah. Toronto’s Ultimate Crew completes the line up as the festival house band.

Pre REGGAEFEST events will run on Thursday, August 13 at the Ship and Anchor Pub and on Friday, August 14 at Olympic Plaza (Cultural District) and Cantos Music Foundation. On Saturday, August 15, REGGAEFEST 2009 will deliver 12 hours of non-stop family friendly Reggae entertainment at Shaw Millennium Park. Activities throughout the day will include an interactive youth area, food and craft vendors and the Big Rock Beer Garden.

Tickets are now on sale online at www.ticketweb.ca and at all Calgary Coop food centres.

REGGAEFEST 2009 is presented by: Global Calgary, Vibe 98.5 fm and the Calgary Reggae Festival Society (CRFS).

The CRFS is a 100% volunteer group and it is diligently working to ensure that REGGAEFEST 2009is the best family friendly summer festival in Calgary this year.

For More Information Please Contact:
Calgary Reggae Festival Society
TELE: (403) 355-5696
EMAIL: More information