Reggae Rise Up Florida 2021: Day One

On Thursday, October 21st, it was finally time for Reggae Rise Up to come back to Florida! You could tell everyone was ready to be back by the lines going for blocks, all waiting for the gates to open. Big props to the RRU staff for how fast they got everyone in and taken care of! While we were all getting in to start this amazing music festival, The Reefers were kicking things off with some sweet vibrations. Sowflo was on the list for 2020, yet the band fell apart during COVID; turns out, three of the Sowflo members ended up still making it for RRU with this new band called The Reefers and they did an awesome job kicking the vibes off. They are definitely a band to watch out for! Artists were starting on spectacular artwork all around the park and vendors were set up everywhere… so much to do and see that you will get lost in a blissful feeling!

Kash’d Out was up next and they never disappoint.

Another local Florida band from Orlando, Kash’d Out is one of my favorites. They rocked the stage till the sun set, filling the sky with beautiful colors as everyone screamed for more. After that awesome set, it was time for some J Boog, all the way from California with his island music that got everyone dancing into the night. Boog’s spectacular voice and smooth island vibes were off the charts while he dropped all kinds of hits. If you haven’t heard his music before, you need to check it out!

To finish the night off, all the way from Jamaica, Stephen Marley came out with a powerful performance that made you feel the presence of his father Bob. Everyone was up singing and dancing as far as the eye could see; it was simply mind-blowing. You could feel the positive vibes in the air with nothing but reggae family all around. What an epic way to start off this nonstop four days of reggae music… and it’s only just getting started! Each day will be even bigger from here on out with two stages and pop-ups everywhere. Don’t miss the Sugarshack guys always capturing the best video recaps of the RRU events, also with their own pop-up stage and merch tent near the water. Everyone was leaving with so much joy, smiles on faces everywhere, all looking forward to starting again tomorrow. 

Photography by Brian “Porkchop” Nicholson

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