Sugarloaf Reggae Festival

The 30th annual Bud Light Reggae Festival will return to Sugarloaf on April 12-15, 2018! 

The festival will bring four days of non-stop music, parties, and beer to the base of Sugarloaf Mountain. This year will feature two headliners on Friday night and Saturday night in the King Pine room, an outdoor headliner on the beach, nightly music from The Widowmaker, reggae DJs, and much more!

The Lineup 

(From the official website for Reggae Fest. Visit for more info.)

The Movement

The Movement's new single "Cool Me Down" was released Jan 19 on Rootfire Cooperative, and debuted at #1 on the iTunes reggae chart. This is the followup to 2017's "Siren" (feat. Stick Figure), and 2016's #1 Billboard reggae album, GOLDEN, and is the band's first collaboration with producer Johnny Cosmic.  

Formed in 2003 by a trio of Sublime and Pixies fans, Joshua Swain, Jordan Miller, and John Ruff, aka DJ Riggles, launched The Movement with their "alternative reggae" debut album, ON YOUR FEET. In 2008, the group met Chris DiBeneditto, a Philadelphia-based producer who had worked with like-minded acts such as Slightly Stoopid and G. Love & Special Sauce. Relocating to Philadelphia, they recorded SET SAIL at DiBeneditto's Philadelphonic Studios. The Movement expanded with the addition of Jason "Smiles" Schmidt on bass and Gary Jackson on drums. In 2012, they released SIDE BY SIDE, debuting at #2 on the Billboard Reggae Chart. In 2014 The Movement released BENEATH THE PALMS, a surprise acoustic album as a free gift to their fans. Shortly thereafter they began working on what would become their finest album to date, GOLDEN (Rootfire Cooperative), which hit #1 on iTunes and Billboard Reggae charts and was voted 2016 Album Of The Year by Surf Roots Radio. Keyboardist Ross Bogan joined the group in Spring of 2016.

Check out their website here.

Through the Roots

From what was once a dream inspired by close friends, to humble beginnings filled with living room jams, late nights writing songs in the garage, backyard house parties and countless complaints from neighbors, San Diego-based reggae/rock band Through the Roots was born. 

By coincidence in early 2008, Evan Hawkins and Taylor Boatwright met at a local guitar center. It was there that Evan shared his vision with Taylor, which eventually led to the beginning of TTR. 

Evan and Taylor came from different musical backgrounds but shared some similar musical tastes, and both were very moved by reggae. They believed TTR would provide them with the perfect vehicle to spread their message and adopted a Cali reggae/rock concept. 

In late 2008, Through the Roots added Brady O'Rear to round out the group's core. He brought his own musical tastes, complete with Hawaiian Islands reggae, and mixed them with those of Evan's and Taylor's to give TTR a broader range of ideas and influences to draw from. 

Through the Roots quickly moved from the streets and backyard shows to touring in 2010 and soon hooked up for West Coast and national tours with some of the reggae/rock genres top headliners. The San Diego band eventually added Corrick Watson (lead guitar/vocals) and Budda Foster (bassist/keys) from Los Angeles to the talented, five-man mix. 

With the band set, Through the Roots looks forward to continue spreading its positive messages, and showcasing its high energy shows to a growing legion of fans. 

Check out their website here.

New Kingston

New Kingston formed in 2006 in the basement of their Brooklyn home, when brothers Tahir (keys), Courtney Jr. (drums) & Stephen (guitar) began covering music by the likes of Bob Marley, Earth Wind & Fire, Dennis Brown, Michael Jackson, The Whispers and many more. The three brothers, under the watchful eye of their father (and bassist) Courtney Panton Sr., called themselves New Kingston to appropriately reflect a combination of their Jamaican heritage and their present lives in progressive New York City. The musical styles of both places informed their sound and songwriting. 

"We used to come home from school and we'd be marched right down to the music room by our dad," said Stephen. They began performing in other basements and small backyard parties around town, all the while developing their skills and beginning to write their own original music. Talent rises to the top, and soon enough New Kingston started a heavy touring cycle supporting reggae stars such as Rebelution, The Green, SOJA, Matisyahu, Beres Hammond and Collie Buddz, while also securing spots on notable festivals such as the California Roots Festival, Reggae On The River, Summer Jam (Germany), and Uppsala Reggae Festival (Sweden), to name a few. For a while, they joined Collie Buddz to tour as his backing band, which exposed them to international audiences, while continuing their education on what it takes to make a great live show. It also helped them realize they had tons of their own original material and they quickly moved from that role to being a headliner on their own. The band's background and upbringing are reflected in their approach to the industry, as well: they are truly a U.S. reggae band, part of the movement that has revitalized and evolved the genre domestically, with a focus on digital marketing, heavy national touring, and never sticking to a stale formula for what reggae should sound like. As second generation Jamaican-Americans, they are able to just as easily hold their own with the traditional reggae scene. New Kingston self-released two full-length albums: In The Streets (2010) and Kingston University (2013).  The band recently announced the signing to New York-based reggae label Easy Star Records and will release their third studio album Kingston City on January 27, 2015.  The record features collaborations with Tribal Seeds, Kimie Miner, France's Dub Inc., Sister Carol, The Wailing Souls, and the late, great father of dancehall, Sugar Minott. If that guest list doesn't give you a snapshot of the combination of the old world and new horizons that New Kingston is all about, nothing will.  

Check out their website here.

The Late Ones

Based out of Laie, Hawaii, brothers Tui Avei (Lead vocals), and Tau Avei (Vocals), along with cousin Josh Brunson (Vocals) are the voices. Built on a roots reggae foundation with influences from various genres like Hip-hop, R&B, and jazz, The Late Ones' unique blend of style, and harmony shapes a youthful, yet old school reggae vibe.

Born in Gardena, California, The Late Ones harness something undeniably special. Rooted in Samoan culture, and complimented by the group's African American heritage, the familial bond between the three members transcends throughout the group's conscious lyrics and catchy melodies.   

The name "The Late Ones" pays tribute to all of the late and great revolutionaries who have come and gone like Bob Marley, Tupac, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Biko, John Lennon and also present day legends including Jurassic 5, Steel Pulse, Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul just to name a few. It is the fusion of each revolutionary story, struggle, and message that inspires and resonates with The Late Ones' own story, struggle, and love for all genres of music. 

Check out their website here.

The Elovaters

The Elovaters are Reggae/Rock/Funk band hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. The band is fronted by lead singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist Jackson Wetherbee who has toured internationally. The Elovaters also feature musicians formerly of New England Music Award winning bands; The Aldous Collins Band and Last Call. The sound is similar to that of UB40, The Police, Sublime and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their show is fun, energetic and has festive crowds dancing, grooving, and singing along.

Check out their website here.

The Big Takeover

Since 2007, the New York six-piece The Big Takeover has been fulfilling the mission implied intheir name: packing clubs in the city and upstate and building their brand and reputation on the road and in the studio. A far cry from the pop-punk of American ska, The Big Takeover take their cues from Desmond Dekker and the first wave of Jamaican pop music as well as from the soulful energy and sophistication of Motown. At the center of this tight, grooving ensemble is the live-wire singing and deceptively subtle songwriting of the Jamaican-born NeeNee Rushie, a power house performer who makes the audience feel like accomplices more than spectators.Traditional and experimental, The Big Takeover's global blend reveals deep fluency in reggae and world music, hints of soul, and a pop classicism that is their own thing entirely. In New York's musically hopping Mid-Hudson Valley, they are only the band around that is welcomed and honored at all the major national-circuit rooms: the indie/experimental haven of BSP in Kingston, the jazz and blues gem that is the Falcon in Marlboro, the classic rock mecca of the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. The Big Takeover packs them all. On the road, the band has played nearly 700 shows, sharing stages with The Original Wailers, Jefferson Starship, Eek-a-Mouse, English Beat, the Slackers and more. The band was selected to participate in a Converse Rubber Tracks Session in Brooklyn NY. Most recently, the band toured around the US on their 4th studio record "Silly Girl", in August of 2017. In October 2017, 'Silly Girl' was placed on Relix/Jambands.com charts They are currently working on an upcoming EP in the studio.

Check out their website here.

The Duppy Conquerors

The Duppy Conquerors, are dedicated to the spirit of Bob Marley's Music.

Duppy Conquerors are the quintessential testimonial to Bob Marley. Named after Bob Marley's hit song entitled "Duppy Conqueror," the term Duppy Conqueror means "killer of bad spirits," and that they are! The Duppy Conquerors will, "Lively up yourself," as you're jammin' to Bob Marley's music!  Collectively, Duppy Conquerors have performed or shared the stage with: The Wailers, Ziggy Marley, The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo, U-Roy, Black Uhuru, Mikey Dread, Sugar Minott, Sly & Robbie, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, Steel Pulse, Toots & The Maytals, Roland Alphonso, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Lloyd Knibb, Laurel Aitken, Lord Tanamo, Gil Scott Heron, Babatunde Olatunji, Richie Havens, and many more!  

The Alchemystics

Fueled by their passion to explore beyond the edges of traditional musical boundaries and their diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds, the Alchemystics blend reggae, politically infused hip-hop, gritty soul, hard-driving rock, and pulsing Jamaican, Cuban and Trinidadian rhythms into an utterly unique and distinctively original new sound. The result is modern-day roots music with global appeal - an alchemy of ancient musical traditions; intricate, intelligent wordplay; elementally raw soul; irresistible hooks; deep, driving rhythms; and old-school vocal harmonies - fired by the Alchemystics' unique blend of intensity, passion, and sheer artistic chemistry into a powerful, contemporary, and unmistakable sound.

Check out their website here.

Gorilla Finger Dub

Gorilla finger is a 6 piece reggae band from Southern Maine. The groups sound is an aggressive take on roots reggae while maintaining a very relaxed atmosphere. Originally inspired by the late Bob Marley the band quickly fell into it's own releasing an original record titled cool it down. Over the last 7 years the band has shared the stage with many top ranking acts such as Ziggy Marley, J Boog, Steel Pulse and Inner Circle. 

Check out their Facebook here.

Green Lion Crew

At the controls of a potent dancefloor experience that draws from reggae dancehall, hip hop and the synthy beats of urban electro, producer/DJ Green Lion is a sonic craftsman at home both on the decks and in the studio. Honed in the heated atmosphere of Jamaican sound system culture and a constant schedule of live club and concert dates in the United States, all Green Lion productions-on record, over the air or live and direct-are energetic affairs designed to set bodies in motion. Green Lion's movements are coming fast and furious now as charting success and critical acclaim for recent productions with reggae and crossover tastemakers such Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Beenie Man, Mr Williamz and Collie Buddz lock in spots on international sales charts and heavy rotation on commercial radio around the world.

Check out their website here.