Reggae Reflection Favorite Festivals in 2013

By Empress K  for Reggae Reflection 

Here are five  top festivals that Reggae Reflection covered in 2013 and recommends for you to put on your list for 2014.  Each one offers a slightly different blend of musical genres in various locations.  We are looking forward to see the forthcoming line-up announcements for 2014.  Check the official websites below for more information on each festival.  For more photos of covered events check out our Photo Gallery. 

The annual 9 Mile Music Festival is a day long festival taking  place in Miami in the February / March timeframe.  Always a great get away to escape from the cold Northeast and see members of the Marley Family perform as well as favorite Reggae singers.  Last year the festival celebrated their 20th milestone with a star-studded line-up including Daniel Bambaata Marley, Luciano, Capleton, Konshens, Mavado, Machel Montano, Future, 2Chainz, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley and Damian Marley.  

Reggae Reflection Coverage:  Keeping-the-mission-alive-for-the-20th-year-at-the-annual-9mile-festival-with-a-blend-of-reggae-dancehall-soca-and-rap.html

Official Website:  www.9milemusicfestival.com   The 21st Annual Festival will occur on February 15, 2014 and will include performances by  Chronixx, Mavado, Lauryn Hill,  Sean Paul. Tessanne, Julian Marley, Stephen Marley , Damian Marley and more. 

For the first time, Reggae Reflection covered the Hangout Festival. This is a not to miss 3 day festival taking place on the beautiful Gulf Shores of Alabama.  The festival which started in 2010 boasts 5 stages featuring a great blend of Rock, Reggae, EDM, R&B, Hip Hop, Folk, Country and everything in between.  

Official Website:  www.hangoutmusicfest.com   This year the festival takes place on May 15 – May 17th.  The 2014 festival line up will be announced on 1/15. 

Reggae Reflection Coverage & Photos by Day:   Coverage includes Toots and the Maytals, Big Galactic,  Public Enemy, Imagine Dragons, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Slightly Stoopid, The Roots, Tom Petty and more. 

Day 1  The-hangout-festival-experience-day-1-2013-reggae-reflection-photos.html

Day 2  The-hangout-festival-experience-day-2-2013-reggae-reflection-photos.html

Day 3  The-hangout-experience-day-3-2013-reggae-reflection-photos.html

The annual Groovin in the Park Concert takes place every summer at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, NY.  Featured acts include the best of Reggae Rhythm and Blues.  Over the years that we have covered the event it has  included Mavado, Babyface, Machel Montano, Jimmy Cliff, Boyz II Men, Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Gladys Knight and last year featured Queen Ifrica, Half Pint, Steel Pulse, Barrington Levy, Patti Labelle, and TGT. 

Official Website:  www.groovininthepark.com   This year the 4th annual day long festival will take place on Sunday, June 29, 2014.  
Reggae Reflection Coverage of Groovin in the Park 2013:  Groovininthepark-2013-delivers-another-winning-combination-of-reggae-and-rhythmblues.html

The annual Caribbean Summer Concert Series takes place at the Six Flags Amusement park in Jackson, NJ.  A ticket to the concert includes all access to the popular theme park. In 2013, we attended the 8th edition of the event.   Since we’ve been covering this festival it has included acts such as Beres Hammond, Wayne Wonder, Anthony B, Mavado, I-Octane, Barrington Levy and last year featured Laza Morgan, D’Angel, Mr. Vegas, Bunji Garlin, and Beenie Man.  

Official Website:  www.caribbeanconcerts.com   This year the 9th annual event takes place on Sunday August 10, 2014

Reggae Reflection Coverage of Six Flags Caribbean Summer Concert: Photos-at-8th-annual-six-flags-caribbean-summer-concert-series.html

The Montreal Reggae Festival takes place in August in the beautiful location of the Old Port of Montreal.  This is a three day festival which just celebrated its 10th anniversary milestone last year.  

We’ve officially covered this event since 2011 and have seen this festival continue to grow into the quality event that it is today.  Over the years that we’ve been covering it the line-up has included Beres Hammond, Wayne Wonder, Third World, Jah Vinci, Gyptian, Konshens, Christopher Martin, Jimmy Cliff, Tarrus Riley, Assasin, Popcaan, and Cham.  In 2013 MIRF had an extra special 10 year celebration featuring Morgan Heritage, Sustane, Tifa, Mr. Vegas, Kes The Band, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Yellowman, Serani, Alaine, Cocoa Tea and Freddie McGregor. 

Official Website:  www.montrealinternationalreggaefestival.com   The 2014 festival is expected to take place August 15 – 17th 2014.  Check the site for official dates to be announced. 

Reggae Reflection Coverage of the Montreal Reggae Festival: Photos-montreal-reggae-festival-celebrates-its-tenth-anniversary-in-style.html

Empress K is the Founder, Primary Photo-Journalist and Editor of  www.reggaereflection.com.  The Reggae Reflection team has gained international recognition with quality coverage of premier reggae events in Jamaica, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Barbados, Guyana, and Nigeria as well as numerous completed photography assignments  for notable  reggae events in the New England area, NY, Alabama, and Florida region.   Festival coverage has included Groovin In the Park, Six Flags NJ Caribbean Concert Series, IRAWMA,HangOut Festival Alabama, 9Mile Festival Miami, Rebel Salute, Sunfest FL , www.oneheartfestival.com and more. 

• * Awarded Best Digital Media (nominated along with 9 other Media Outlets)  Linkage Awards in NY 3/11/12
• * Nominated by The Association of Independent Reggae Music (AIRM)  for the “Most Reggae Outlet” in NYC

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