Saturday. Day Three. Reggae Rise Up Florida was in full gear. Attendees were halfway through the event and the energy had no indications of waning. From kicking off the day with local favorites Seranation until the rockin’ after-party with Bumpin Uglies, the day was packed with amazing music and experiences.
A great advantage of music fests is the opportunity to see artists that you might not be able to otherwise.
Some acts don’t tour in specific regions — or at all — and these large-scale events provide the chance for fans to see these bands live. Taking the stage early on Day Three was Landon McNamara, an example of one such artist. Landon’s distinctive vocals, layered with his full band arrangements, elevated his music for a live audience. This performance, without a doubt, deepened some onlookers’ appreciation for his work.
Similarly, while Tribal Seeds has been a longtime staple in the reggae rock scene, their live shows have been scarcer in recent years. Reggae Rise Up attendees often lean towards the ‘roots reggae’ side of the reggae spectrum… but even those who prefer more traditional reggae were excited for this performance. And Tribal Seeds delivered. It was great set that showcased their 20-year discography.
Kabaka Pyramid’s performance also encapsulated the spirit of reggae. Hailing from Jamaica, he brought an unmatched energy to the stage that was a perfect personification of his unique blend of reggae, hip hop, and Dancehall. Kabaka’s performance had the crowd moving their feet, delivering messages of social commentary in such an approachable means.
Another highlight of Saturday was SOJA’s two performances. Starting early with a special stripped-down set on the Sugarshack Stage, SOJA revealed a couple new tunes off of their upcoming album. And their set later in the day exuded pure, tangible joy. Like several other bands that talked about their long history of performing at Reggae Rise Up over the last 10 years, SOJA frontman Jacob Hemphill discussed how this festival was one of the band’s favorites and it seemed to show throughout their whole performance. This feeling was perhaps the most present as they performed “Fall Like Rain”, which Jacob introduced as his favorite song as videos and images from his childhood played on screens, chronicling all the way through the band’s early years.
This was truly a special moment shared between SOJA and their fans.
There were so many additional performances and moments that made the day a flawlessly executed experience — it’s hard to mention them all! Pepper displayed, yet again, how they “don’t want to be the best band, but your favorite band”. Coyote Island’s psychedelic, folky indie sound had the audience grooving. An osprey soared above the Vibes Stage as Fortunate Youth headlined, seemingly symbolizing how the members have just grown stronger over their years of performing. And, no matter how many times they headline or have headlined, Rebelution continues to enthrall crowds. Always a crowd-pleaser with a perfectly curated blend of old favorites and newer hits, the band highlighted their strengths with a spectacular live show. Overall, Saturday was a climactic day that was only going to get more epic on the final day of this 10-year anniversary event!
Photography by Rob Flagg @robflagg & Lauren Deluca; article thumbnail by Hello Atlas Media
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