I’ve stated it earlier than and I’ll say it once more 100 occasions. Floating on a river by day, then catching a reside reggae present with 1000’s of your closest mates by evening, is an expertise unmatched by every other reggae competition on Earth! And this one was sorely missed.

It’s been 6 lengthy years for the reason that final Reggae On The River. Monetary hardships had been reported to have introduced this mighty competition to it’s knees. Certainly to it’s finish, all of us thought. There have been simply too many obstacles. The social gathering was over we had been all instructed.

However then a glimmer of hope! A partnership shaped between Sizzling Milk Leisure member Leo Ahern and the Mateel Group Middle to resurrect this nice occasion. In line with Ahern they tried to return it to it’s unique website. However the logistics simply couldn’t be labored out. So a neighboring website simply to the south of the venue was secured. And with that, and plenty of exhausting work behind the scenes, the competition was relaunched! And what a celebration it was. 

The unique swimming gap on the southern finish of the previous venue was now the North Seashore. Full with a River Stage and soundsystem. A soundsystem so good you may actually float on the river in your interior tube and hearken to the sounds as they washed over you. The brand new bowl space (predominant stage) was additionally fairly good. Not like the previous venue…the brand new one truly had a couple of timber on the southern aspect of the grounds to offer some degree of shading. It was nonetheless sizzling. Because it at all times is that point of yr in Humboldt/Mendocino County. However with the extra shade it made it far more bearable. 

And there have been definitely issues that might be improved upon. This was a brand new venue. Some new adjustments being carried out. Numerous new faces managing issues. Possibly a bit tremendous tuning available. However contemplating all of the obstacles that needed to be cleared, I used to be fairly impressed at how clean issues went. 

However none of that basically mattered to most. Our competition was again! It was all smiles and a return of “Pleased Reggae”. Listed below are a couple of pictures of a few of the motion. Can’t wait to do all of it once more in 2025.

– Eyeree