Music has a way of bridging together communities.
People of different backgrounds can come together for Marley Fest, a celebration of reggae musician Bob Marley. The festival is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Jay D Birds on the Water, a campground and restaurant at 19240 SE Highway 42 in Weirsdale.
The free Marley Fest celebration is meant to spread the legacy Marley left of promoting peace, unity, love and social justice.
Shawn Estep, one of the owners of the campsite, said the event felt like a perfect fit because of their love for reggae music and the diversity of the audience who attend events at Jay D Birds on the Water.
“We thought it would be appropriate to celebrate the impact (Marley) had on the community,” Estep said. “We pride ourselves of having a very diverse group of people who come here. We have 20 to 30 year olds come from Daytona, our older residents from The Villages, and the locals of Ocklawaha that come out. It’s people from all walks of life just having a good time.”
The festival will feature performances by reggae artists who were influenced by Marley, as well as upcoming artists “who continue to carry the reggae torch,” according to the event description. There will be vendors, food trucks, live music performed by Rising Lion Band and a full bar available during the event.
Seedfromatree, a reggae and folk music band based in St. Augustine, will perform an unplugged acoustic show opening for the Rising Lion band.
Justin Love, singer and song writer for Seedfromatree, said the audience will enjoy the authentic sound the band provides.
“They will really enjoy our spiritual message about freedom, love and the struggle,” he said.
Daniel Lott created the Rising Lion Band in 1993. Along with sharing important messages to the audience, Lott said the band brings a lot of different elements, including rap and R&B, into the sounds of reggae the group brings.
“As musicians, we bear the responsibility to watch what we say,” Lott said. “To portray music that is conscious and brings people together. Reggae is a platform for talking about social conscious ideas. We look at the tough issues in songs. People should be conscious of their rights and what is going on in the world.
For those who miss the festival or enjoy reggae, they also can attend the High Vibes River Reggae Festival from April 18 to April 20 at Jay D Birds on the Water.
The festival, which makes for an unique camping experience, aims to create a positive atmosphere for people to enjoy reggae and other forms of Caribbean music along the Ocklawaha River
During the art and music festival, there will be performances by Rising Lion, Propaganjah and more.
“People love the vibe of the venue,” Estep said. “From the decor and we are on the water, it just creates a beautiful scenery. It’s a very open and loving environment, like reggae.”
Early bird tickets for the festival are currently on sale for $59 for a one-day general admission pass. For those interested in camping, tickets are $150 for a three-day general admission pass with camping and $229 three-day pass with reserved secluded camping.
For more information about the event, visit jaydbirds.com or call 352-298-7978.Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
