The Charlemont Reggae Festival returns this Saturday after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. It’s now being referred to as the Charlemont Reggae Festival: Rooted in Love and Positivity. Presented by Greenfield’s Hawks and Reed and Resinate Cannabis, the organizers realized that we are living through some difficult times and could benefit from some relief. That’s where the Charlemont Reggae Festival comes in.
The family friendly festival, now in its 25th year as an annual event, will feature over ten acts performing on two stages. There will be activities for the kids, live art, and a variety of food and craft vendors. Berkshire Brewing will be on hand to serve up some cold brews.
“We decided to have the love and positivity tagline this year. To me, there is good music, and there is bad music. Good music makes you feel good inside, and to me, that’s what reggae music does; it brings out that love and positivity with everyone,” said Ben Goldsher, who with his father, Steve Goldsher, and a team from Hawks and Reed are the organizers of this year’s festival.
This year’s lineup, a mix of nationally known acts and local bands, is sure to share the spirit of love and positivity through the upbeat messages heard in their music.
“We are bringing in an amazing act from Kingston, Jamaica called EarthKry. They are an up-and-coming band with great sound who definitely won’t disappoint,” said Goldsher of the festival’s headliners. “We thought it would be a perfect fit, bringing the roots rock reggae to the festival as well as giving them a nice platform to expand their music. As soon as you hear their music, you will fall in love.”
EarthKry are in the middle of a U.S. tour that is taking them across the country.
Much like the iconic reggae outfit The Wailers, the band chose its name, EarthKry, “to signify its mission to voice the grievances of the downtrodden through the vibrations of their Legacy music.”
“We also have a really great band coming in from New York City called Sun Dub and a bunch of our local favorite reggae artists,” said Goldsher of the lineup.
These acts include the Equalites, Rebelle, Dave Noonan’s Green Island, Rhythm Inc., Burnie T from Amandala, Abdul Baki and Root Fiyah, Shanti Starr, SoulKeys, Wheel Out, Tuff Riddim International and I Anbassa.
Keyboardist Jason Metcalf first played the festival in 2005 , when he was a member of the Alchemystics and has performed there every year since. He said it’s a local staple and of his favorites on the scene for single day festivals.
He’ll be back this year, lending his talents to several bands. “I’ll be playing sets with Rhythm Inc., Green Island, Shanti Starr and Burnie T.,” he said. “This year, I also was able to put together a special tribute to Bob Marley and Dennis Brown (I Anbassa presents: The King and Crown Prince), bringing in some of my favorite people to play with.”
The longest running reggae festival in New England, this event has played a vital role in promoting the local reggae scene and reggae music in general. RasJahn Bullock, of the pioneering reggae band, Loose Caboose, and later a member of the Alchemystics, held the first festival in 1985 as a one-off event. Then in 1995, musician Abdul Baki, who is performing at this year’s event with his band, Root Fiyah, founded the current reggae festival that has continued to this day. Back in those early days, a lot of people weren’t all that familiar with reggae music and the festival helped change that.
RasJahn, and his wife Elizabeth Loving along with a dedicated team eventually took over running the event. When RasJahn passed away in 2017, it was difficult for Loving to continue overseeing the festival.
Ben Goldsher was a lifelong reggae fan who had experience booking reggae acts at Hawks and Reed including legends like the Wailers, Lee Scratch Perry and Yellowman, so it made perfect sense for Hawks and Reed to step in.
“We got involved because we wanted to keep the legacy of what this awesome event has meant to the community,” said Goldsher, about Hawks and Reed taking over the festival in 2019. “And we couldn’t do it without all the support from the community, we have some great partners, especially Resinate cannabis dispensary.”
He added that a big part of their involvement was also because they wanted to carry on the legacy of RasJahn and all he did for the reggae community.
“I knew him as the papa lion, he was the man who kind of made the scene and made things happen for a long time so we dedicate this festival to him this year and years to come,” said Goldsher of RasJahn, who also graced the stage at Hawks and Reed many times over the years.
After sitting things out for two years because of the pandemic, the organizers are excited to be back and ready for the upcoming weekend.
“A lot’s gone on in the past couple of years and there’s so much still going on in the world,” said Goldsher. “This gives us a moment to enjoy ourselves and listen to music, be with the community and spread the love and positivity.”
Gates open at noon, music begins at 1 p.m. Advance tickets are available at https://www.hawksandreed.com/event/the-charlemont-reggae-festival-rooted-in-love-and-positivity/
Kids twelve and under admitted for free.
If you are interested in catching some live music this weekend, the hill towns are the place to be. Not only is the Charlemont Reggae Festival happening, but the Heath Fair is this weekend (Aug. 19 to 21) and anyone familiar with the tiny agricultural fair knows that every year they have a fantastic lineup of music.
Robert Bourke is responsible for booking the bands and said he couldn’t assemble such a great lineup without the help of the local town’s cultural council grants.
The music kicks off on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. with the string band, Uncles of the Pioneers, a group of Hilltown based musicians – John Clark on bass, Rob Adams on guitar and Dennis Avery on dobro – that play jazz, gospel, rock and more. At 7 p.m it’s the Zydeco Connection with the Bourbon Street Blasters, who will bring a touch of New Orleans to Heath with their spicy danceable music.
Saturday is a full day and night of music that begins with the Trouble Sisters at 11 a.m., a folk group that includes Karen Brooks from Heath. Then it’s the Deep River Ramblers at 1 p.m, the trio consisting of bassist Paul Kochanski and multi-instrumentalists Jim Henry and Chris Brasher. This group came together earlier this year to play a Doc Watson Tribute show at the Back Porch Festival and had such a good time stayed together. (These guys are so good, you may even want to skip the Cow bingo to catch their set.)
Doug Wilkins will play a special show for kids at 3 p.m, followed by Zara Bode and her Li’l Big Band at 4 p.m. Bode, of the Sweetback Sisters, is a powerhouse vocalist and with this project she’s assembled a full band, including a horn section, to put their own spin on some old radio hits. According to Bode, “dancing is not required, but be forewarned your feet may be inspired.”
The night concludes with the Whiskey Treaty Trio at 7 p.m. A pared down version of the band this set will feature Billy Keane, David Tanklefsky and Greg Smith, delivering the same great music we’ve come to expect from this group.
The music begins early on Sunday, with the string band The Slide Gliders at 10:30 a.m. Opal Canyon, led by Debra DeMuth and Dave Houghton, bring Americana music to the stage at noon. The weekend concludes with the roots music of the Meadow Brothers at 2 p.m.
All of this great music is included with fair admission which is $12, $10 for seniors and children ten and under free. For more information, including directions: heathfair.org
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.