Steel Pulse & friends end the OC Fair season in pure reggae style

Reggae fans came together at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa for a night filled with great music, positive vibrations, and important sociopolitical commentary as legendary reggae band Steel Pulse brought their Reggae Against Racism World Tour to Orange County.

The show featured a stacked lineup of semi-local and worldwide favorites. Common Sense opened the evening, followed by Eli-Mac and Long Beach Dub Allstars before Steel Pulse closed the night as the headliner. The lineup brought a mix of reggae, dub, rock, and surf-inspired sounds to the OC Fair for the final night of the season.

As someone who has seen many reggae artists at this venue, the atmosphere never gets old.

Every show is a perfect mix of relaxed meets ready to party energy. Fans of all ages filled the venue this night, with many enjoying the rather warm evening. Being at the Pacific Amphitheatre during the OC Fair added to the overall experience, with concert-goers able to go in and out of the venue freely to enjoy the fair. 

Orange County’s own Common Sense got the night started, with a reggae rock sound that got people moving. Songs including “Skankin’ With The Worm” and “Rise Up” helped create an upbeat and easygoing start to the show before Eli-Mac’s unique Hawaiian style was showcased onstage. It was pleasing to hear the variety of artists throughout the night, as each performer brought something different before the headlining set.

Long Beach Dub Allstars was next, turning up the heat.

Their SoCal blend of reggae rock, ska, and dub had the crowd skankin’ to well-known songs like “Rolled Up”, “Listen to DJ’s”, and “Kick Down”. Long Beach Dub Allstars always knows how to work a southern California crowd!

The energy and the crowd count peaked, though, when it was time for Steel Pulse to make their way onstage. The British reggae group has spent decades using their music as a mouthpiece for unity, human rights, and social justice, making the Reggae Against Racism Tour a real fitting name. Now, more than ever, is a time where reggae music can really bring people together to speak out against global issues.

Politics aside, the band’s set included favorites such as “Worth His Weight in Gold”, “Chant a Psalm”, “Roller Skates”, and “Steppin’ Out”. Although their tracks usually have much deeper meanings behind them, Steel Pulse performances still feel fun and worth celebrating.

Overall, Steel Pulse’s stop at the Pacific Amphitheatre was an unforgettable night for reggae fans in OC. Reggae is more than just music — it carries many important messages! Steel Pulse just announced their fall dates for their current tour run, so get your tickets if you haven’t seen them live yet. See below to claim yours!

Photography by Celeste Basich

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