By snoadmin
Living legends of roots reggae and up-and coming artists took the stage this weekend at the Long Beach Arena for the 30th annual Ragga Muffins Festival.
The event bridged the gap between generations of listeners and continued the musical tradition of Bob Marley.
A few of the younger artists were awestruck sharing a stage with the some of the originators of the genre like Bunny Wailer, Don Carlos and Israel Vibration.
“It is a chance to learn,” said Caleb Keolanui, singer for the Hawaiian based band The Green. “We get to see firsthand what it takes to be at that level and try to follow in their footsteps.”
Don Carlos said of Rebelution, who cited Don Carlos as a major influence, “I admire them because they put out consciousness and positivity in their music.”
As dark clouds swelled over the Long Beach Arena Saturday afternoon, so did the anticipation for the start of the two-day reggae festival. People, commonly dressed in the Rastafarian colors of red, yellow, and green, filed into the entrance as Quinto Sol, of East Los Angeles, kicked off the festival. The revolving stage kept waiting at a minimum and music at a constant.
Outside, the reggae didn’t stop as Quantegy Sound DJs kept heads bobbing while people explored the various food vendors. Welcoming beacons of smoke billowed from open barbeques into the cool evening air, leaving behind smells of jerk chicken and Cajun sausage. People gathered around low wooden tables to enjoy the international cuisines of Jamaica, Thailand, India and Belize.
The otherwise spread-out crowd squeezed in tightly on the littered arena floor when Rebelution took the stage. Their instruments and amplifiers became lost in-between various plants that the band placed on stage as they played their hit “Green To Black.” The band members were all smiles when they brought out one of their musical idols, Don Carlos, to join them in a song.
Much of the crowd cleared out after Rebelution left the stage, while the rest anticipated the arrival of Bunny Wailer, the only surviving member of the musical trio the Wailers. After an eager wait, the crowd cheered as Bunny Wailer boogied on stage in all his glory, dressed in clean white pants and a dress shirt, layered with a shimmering vest of red, green and yellow, and topped with a knitted tie of the same colors. Wailer proved that he is truly the “dub master” with his performance of “I’m The Toughest.” He also brought the crowd back to his beginnings with the Wailers’ hits “Trench Town Rock” and “Simmer Down.”
The crowd of people, ranging in age and ethnicity, grew on Sunday, as a line wrapped around the front of the Long Beach arena under the afternoon sun.
Don Carlos looked like he was having more fun than the crowd as he skanked across the stage during his performance, never taking the smile off of his face.
“I get my energy from you – the audience,” Don Carlos said after his performance. “It gives me great joy and pleasure to give it back.”
His energy was well-received as the audience sang along to “Laser Beam.”
The Ragga Muffins Festival was host to more than just music. In Exhibit Hall C, vendors set up booths with Bob Marley merchandise, such as t-shirts, bags, records and onesies for infants. A drum circle echoed through the hall as a group of boys played an improvised game of football in the corner of the spacious exhibit area. Patrons perused the handcrafted earrings, shoes and hats before returning to the arena stage.
Veteran reggae artist Marcia Griffiths, known as the “Empress of Reggae music,” invited some audience members on stage to dance the Electric Slide with her as she sang “Electric Boogie Song.” Pockets of the audience joined, dancing across the arena floor – sticky with remnants of $12 beer and $6 lemonade.
Israel Vibration closed the festival, taking turns singing lead as they performed some songs off their new album “Reggae Knights.” The duo, who battled the polio virus as kids in Jamaica, harmonized their hits that made them a cornerstone in roots reggae. Israel Vibration sang about social issues and consciousness, a fundamental aspect of reggae music.
“We get our inspiration from listening to the news, from things that are happening in our community, and most of all from Jah,” said Cecil ‘Skelly’ Spence, singer of Israel Vibration.
The Ragga Muffins Festival brought positivity and unity to Long Beach, attracting reggae fans of various generations. For more information about Ragga Muffins, visit raggamuffinsfestival.com.
