Music

Pressure, Antidoping and Etana among the headliners for this year’s Calgary ReggaeFest

Organizers announce lineup of international, national and local acts who will perform at the annual event taking place Aug. 18 and 19 at Shaw Millennium Park.

It’s not often you can guarantee a forecast three months in advance, but, yeah, mark it: There will be heat the weekend of Aug. 18 and 19 in Calgary.

It’s a given, with the announcement of this year’s ReggaeFest lineup, which organizers dropped this past Saturday.

It’s another impressive collection of acts and artists from around the globe who will be showing up to Shaw Millennium Park for the annual celebration of music born from the island nation.

Some of the headliners include: singer and activist Pressure (a.k.a. Pressure Busspipe) from Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; veteran Mexican act Antidoping, who are leaders of the “Razteca” movement; Jamaican reggae vocalist Etana, The Strong One; acclaimed Caribbean-Canadian Lyndon John X; returning rising star Lenya Wilks, who mixes soul and pop into her sonic mix; dancehall legend DJ Louie Culture, known to many as Mr. Gangalee; Juno-nominated Saskatoon artist Kirk Diamond; Toronto singer Corie “Al-Beeno” Moodie, also dubbed Prince Yellowman; fellow T.O. performer and conscious reggae practitioner Natural Fyah; and Calgary faves PowerHouze and Aktivate.

The festival itself actually kicks off on Aug. 17, with a free lecture at the King Eddy by Dr. Jason Wilson, who, as part of this nation’s 150th, will hold a talk called The Gold Era of Canadian Reggae Music.

Tickets for the outdoor element on the weekend, which also features the Village Beer Garden, food vendors and, on the Saturday, a kid zone, are on sale now from eventbrite. The early bird price for those 13 and up — 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult — will cost you $25 (plus GST and service charge) until June 14, with it rising to $35 after that or, if you want to chance it and get them at the gates, $45.

For more information and a complete list of artists, go to the ReggaeFest’s official website.

Tags: