By: Katherine Nelson
Three days of nothing but reggae music filled the air at Butler Park last weekend. Austin, Texas celebrated its 21st year of the Austin Reggae Festival with a variety of food vendors and shops to those who came to the festival.
Usually held at Auditorium Shores, the festival had to change locations due to construction but is expected to be back next year.
Big- name bands such as Easy Star All Stars, Inner Circle, Rootz Underground along with local artists such as Don Chani came to share their love of reggae to unite everyone. Charlie’s Dub Corner, a sound system party organized by McPullish, attracted those who love both dub and reggae music.
“It’s [reggae is] something that brings everybody together, said Texas State student Kelsey Rivers. “You see people from all walks of life come together to listen to it.”
Austin Reggae Festival is known to be a safe and drama-free festival. Families come to merely listen to the music.
“The Reggae Fest is one of the most peaceful events Austin has ever seen”, said security guard Denny Fincher. “In the 16 years I’ve been doing it, we haven’t had a fight or any kind of thing you would expect to see at any kind of festival with this many people.”
Unfortunately, there was an incident that occurred on the first day of the festival where a volunteer of the Capital Food Bank was caught stealing more than $1,100. He was charged with a Class A misdemeanor for the act of theft.
This three- day festival helps raise money for the Capital Area Food Bank which helps feed hundreds of thousands of hungry families in Central Texas. Capital Area Food Bank raised $250,000 at last year’s Austin Reggae Fest. The festival is known as the largest donor to the food bank. They are still waiting to find how much was raised this year.
Next year’s Austin Reggae Fest will be held, drama free, at the Auditorium Shores Friday, April 17th through Sunday, April 19th. For more information visit their website.
Intertwine the Reggae Vibes 