Calling all Ragamuffins
Michael Wilson, Staff Reporter
mwilson@csumb.edu
Hear the reverberation of the horn section and the vibrations of the bass guitar echoing all-around bouncing back and forth around the arena. The rapid-fire riffs of the lead guitar wail and whine intermittently. Along with the rhythmic syncopation sound bellowing out “this is reggae music;” or maybe mesmerized by the voice of announcer Rocky Allen Bailey as he fires up the crowd with his famous chant of “Calling all ragamuffins.” Monterey‘s 15 Annual Monterey Bay Reggae Festival is coming to town in July this year. It is normally held at the end of August early September. This three day event will run from Friday July 30 through Sunday August 1, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds.
The Reggae fest is an event respected by most cultural groups. The Robert Brown Jr. newly renovated stage is named out of respect to the founder who started this festival 15 years ago. Dennis Jarvis head of security for the Monterey reggae fest said, “It was started due to the fact that Robert had a vision to bring the positive vibes of Jamaica to the central coast, to foster the cultural roots and beliefs of the Imperial Emperor of Ethiopia HaileSelassie. From Roberts’s perspective it was about educating people from every walk of life; he loved and respected the people.”
This Reggae fest is looking forward to having more than 15thousand people at the Monterey fairgrounds. There will be well over 20 entertainers and including Kymani Marley son of the legendary Bob Marley. He will be there playing songs from his new album Radio featuring the hit single “One time.”
Besides musicians and DJs, the festival includes a woman’s three on three basketball game and a men’s tournament, a bounce house, a giant slide and face painting for children. For those who are over 21 there will be a bar.
Ticket information:
Weekend three day passes are $95 in advance and $110 the day of the show. On Friday tickets are $30 in advance and $40 day of the show; also an upgrade will cost $80. Saturday $40 in advance and $50 the day of show and that can be upgraded to VIP $90. Saturday and Sunday will cost $40 in advance will run $50 for each day of and be upgraded to $90 as well; and on VIP Friday $100 in advance and $115 day of show. On VIP Saturday and Sunday $120 in advance and $135 the day of show. More information: http://www.mbayreggaefest.net/2009festival.html
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