Reggae on the River Festival

Festival Location: Piercy, CA, USA

Festival State: Californian Festivals

Festival Type(s): Reggae Festivals, Parties

Reggae on the River Festival - Feel the Pressure Drop

by © Jorge Jackson Jr 2009

As if running from the weight of a giant mechanical beast that is pummeling towards you, we departed San Francisco to a destination unknown ... something about a Reggae Festival on a river.

Hyped by some as the best Reggae and World Music Festival in the United States, we couldn't bear passing up the opportunity to hear tunes from countries such as Brazil, Chile, Cuba, England, Jamaica, the U.S., St. Lucia and Mexico.

What really hooked us though, was the combination of live entertainment in some of the most beautiful settings California has to offer. Sure enough, as we approached the Redwoods Gateway, we witnessed with wonder how the hilly terrain, blanketed with several hundred year-old Redwood Pines, invited us deeper and deeper into an ancient California. Must have been something special in the brew.

Reggae Day One. Getting up early to the song of various species of birds, our first morning was deliciously slow. No rush, no place to go. We immediately tuned our radios to 'Reggae Radio,' the official (?) live broadcast of the event. The delight of anticipation was overwhelming as we boarded a bus called the 'Spirit' - and with the first push of the accelerator, our driver turned up the music; Our first indication that we'd come to the right place.

Super sized puppets roamed the festival grounds, dancing with children and adults alike. Local artisans and traveling artist/merchants had also made the festival their home. Within this alternative market one could find beads, drums, garments, paintings, masks, and endless assortments of homemade glass-blown pipes.

Friday's Lineup

Femi Anikulapo-Kuti & the Positive Force (Nigeria)
Cyril Neville and Uptown Allstars (New Orleans)
Tubesteak Jones (USA)
Casper from Hopiland & Bad Moon Rising (Kykotsmovi)

Reggae Day Two. "Tea is ready," called out Josi. Couple grunts are heard several yards away from our stirring crew. The sun is creeping towards their tightly shut eyes. Now this is getting fun, I'm awake now, can't wait to take a splash in the river this morning. Lots of laughs coming from the troops now, as I overhear the chatter: "it's a long hike by foot from the festival grounds to our campsite, especially at 2am with no flashlight!"

"Pressure Drop! Oh pressure drop, uoa' pressure gonna drop on you'oh' uaoh. Pressure, oh pressure ... uoah pressure gonna drop on you'oh' uouaoh!
Jimmy Cliff"

Those are words to a song that played a particularly starlit Saturday evening here in Northern California. Jimmy Cliff sings it here as if he knew the topic intimately, and unquestionably so. It was a fight to call back the tears, and apparently I was not alone. Peering out the corner of my eye whilst I danced my feet away, I felt both exposed and safe; an oxymoron, perhaps. But, we were (and I speak for me-self only) blanketed by a wave of 'that nice feeling' so light and generous, that even the musicians were aware of it. They played better for it, and made bountiful offerings to a thirsty crowd. Some cried, some danced, but we all were there.

Saturday's Lineup

Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica)
Toots and the Maytals (Jamaica)
Positive Black Soul (Senegal)
Ismael Isaac (Ivory Coast)
Johnny Dread (USA)
Bunny Wailer & Solomonic Orchestra (Jamaica)
Tony Rebel (Jamaica)
Anthony B (Jamaica)
Chico Cesar (Brazil)

Reggae Day Three. Sitting on a large rock in the middle of the Eel River, occasionally diving in to retrieve a small round stone for skipping, I silently noticed my scales had fallen off. The shedding was complete and the more I felt the warmth of that joyous sun on my naked back, the closer I got to hollering like a dog.

To this day, I continue to ask myself: Given the diversity of people attending this event -- drawing from all ages and walks of life -- what happens in such a place that allows people to act this way? To come together at their best, to collectively rekindle the loving, free spirit we once forgot. Of course, part of it comes from the commitment of festival coordinators and the local community to set the tone for what I'd call "freedom with respect." In other words, "Reggae on the River 2000 was dedicated to the attendees who take seriously their responsibility to care for their personal environment as well as the global environment. People showing respect for each other and themselves are what create the true spirit of Reggae on River." - ROTR

The 17th Annual Reggae on the River was brought to us by the Mateel Community Center Inc. and People Productions, in conjunction with an amazing team of volunteers.

This year, along with the classic Reggae talent that has made Reggae on the River world famous, they marked the millennium with a celebration of the African Diaspora.

Check out Jorge's classy travel writing site featuring some great content from a number of authors at http://www.kinetictravel.net

by Jorge Jackson Jr