Humboldt County, Northern California
Highlights of Reggae on the River 2025
from our Media Partners.
We work with our Media Partners for several months prior to Reggae on the River. They announce the festival on their radio shows, their socials and websites. They do ticket giveaway campaigns and artist interviews. Many of them even do street promotions (postering and flyering). Then, once they arrive at the festival, they continue working: interviews in the KMUD Press Tent, taking those images we see all year round from the photo pit, and overall networking... all to forward Reggae. Then after the festival, they spend hours editing their photos and writing their reviews. I reached out to some of them and asked if they had an extra minute to share with us what their favorite moment of Reggae on the River 2025 was...
and I share their thoughts with you here. Enjoy!
Kaati, Media Coordinator - Reggae on the River
____________________
 I have been going to Reggae on the River since the late 1990s, so I have stacked up a lifetime of moments, but here is one from 2025 that stands above the rest. It was late afternoon, with golden light pouring over the Eel River. I had just finished a set and was catching my breath, watching the crowd from the side of the stage. The river shimmered, people danced barefoot in the dust, and the unmistakable smell of festival food and sweet herbs hung in the air. Then it happened. The air shifted. The ground seemed to lift beneath my feet, and the bass rolled through the valley like distant thunder waking the hills. The crowd became one massive heartbeat. Strangers locked eyes and laughed like old friends. People swayed, children ran through the grass, the elders nodded in time, and I swear the river itself was moving to the riddim.
I felt it all at once. The years, the history, the long drives, friends gained and lost, and the music that has carried me through every chapter of my life. For a moment, nothing else existed. Not bills. Not heartbreak. Not the outside world. Just this perfect collision of sound, soul, and scenery. It was pure Reggae on the River magic, the kind that cannot be planned, cannot be recreated, and only exists if you are right there in it. That is the moment I will carry forever.
Rich 'DJ Spleece' Moore KSQD Santa Cruz, KSQT Prunedale/Nice Up Radio/realitysounds.com
____________________
They say the best artists are the ones that come and perform. Its one thing to come out and stand in front of a mic and just deliver the song. Its another thing to come out and bring your fans a great PERFORMANCE. And, with that in mind, my favorite act of the weekend was Kenyatta Hill and Pure Roots over at the Stay Positive Stage. These guys (and gal) absolutely poured it all out from start to finish. And it was a performance of a lifetime for Kenyatta! As he said himself “I am my fathers son, but I am not my father.” And that was evident. They brought all of the Culture classics and definitely brought the spirit of Joseph Hill along. But Kenyatta’s performance was all his own. And it was absolutely masterful.”
My most spectacular moment was observing Kenyatta Hill channeling his father with his heart wide-open, and then pausing the music, stepping to the edge of the intimate Stay Positive Stage and declaring “I am my father’s son. But I am not my father.” I literally had goosebumps running up and down my arms.
Lee Abel - www.leeabelphotography.com
____________________
 This year’s Reggae On The River was one for the books! An epic weekend filled with love, unity, and positivity shared by all. And of course, MUSIC!! One of my highlights was seeing Third World. It took me back 21 years to my first Reggae On The River where I saw them perform. Full circle moment; memories to last a lifetime.
Jessica Sloan DJ KZYX - HIGH VOLTAGE
____________________
The food is one of the best things at Reggae. I look forward to the Jerk Chicken stand every year - so generous with their portions. A huge piece of salmon, spinach, rice, beans, and the best fried plantains! So much to love. ROTR 2025 was a huge success! So many people wait all year long with anticipation for this very special weekend. I think one of the best things about it is the people. So many friends are made. I was standing near the stage and was struck by how many people kept coming up to the security guard and giving him a hug. At what festival do you see that? It’s a huge extended family that comes together each year for a reunion. My best friend took me to my first Reggae 20 years ago. Every year I meet new people. My favorite conversation was with Mark of KMUD. We had a fantastic conversation about Jubba White and his affiliation with Mighty Diamonds. Mark shared some excellent stories about local life in Humboldt. I shared a band from Poland, Jabbadub I was trying to bring to Reggae next year. He was very excited and asked me to share their music. Collaborations made at Reggae are important. People meet each other; artists meet new connections. People coming together sharing a love of music, sharing their knowledge. So much fun being surrounded by so much Reggae knowledge and history at ROTR. Thank you to all the volunteers who make the festival.
____________________
 ROTR 2025 was spectacular! All the people that came together to enjoy the vibe and the music are what was my favorite. I experienced generosity from everyone that I encountered. I enjoyed Alton Ellis's son, Christopher Ellis on the River Stage, a lovely little stage w/ BIG sound and killer views of the Eel River. I also got the opportunity to get a photo with Luciano --I thanked him for his music. See u in 2026! - DJ Tiffany KZSC, S.C. 88.1 fm "Joy in the Morning" Thurs 9 to noon pst.
____________________
It is really hard to pinpoint one exact moment that was the highlight of reggae this year - as all of it felt totally magical, with the authentic irie vibes I've only been able to feel up here annually - on the Eel river in our beautiful community here nestled in the redwoods that tumble into the ocean. I felt like the festival was very well organized - from the volunteers to the media, to security, Jah Med and Jah kitchen, parking etc. - I was so impressed with how it felt like a well-oiled machine. you can tell this was Not our first rodeo! I have to say though as far as a show moment goes - three stood out. On Friday, Alborosie was so particularly strong and had such a powerful show and presence that I was duly impressed. Julian Marley was so impressive it was delightful to hear everyone in the bowl singing "Sweet songs, of melody pure and true".  On Sunday, the win goes to Queen Omega who is a total empress-goddess and is the embodiment of strength, grace. When she sang "Llioness" I was in tears. I was duly impressed with the sound system down by the river - it's stellar - and I enjoyed watching the djs, dancers and revelers soak up the Friday night reggae vibes until 5 in the morning!! I also loved chilling with a bunch of empresses and my king in the VIP area. I was delighted to meet DJ Lady J from down south, as well as DJ Kush Kulture hailing from Albuquerque. I was super impressed with the selection of vendors - it's so beautiful so see how the creativity thrives on the north coast - and of course had to make my daily trek to get my ice coffee from KMUD. - DJ Irie Adina - Rocksteady in the Redwoods 100.3fm
The Point Suns 3-5.
____________________
 Skadanks on the banks of the river by Bob Doran
While there were plenty of bigger names on the main stage, one of the highlights for me was on the Stay Positive Stage, where Skadanks played "New York City progressive roots" music. I was familiar with bandleader Rocker-T (Toby Sorensen) from a singjay set at ROTR in 2000, which came after he relocated to the S.F. Bay Area. However, I wasn't familiar with his roots in ska. The original band's history goes back to the 1980s, when Rocker-T and bassist Alex Valenti started a band that played reggae-adjacent tunes and worked the N.Y. club circuit. They released the album GIVE THANKS in the '90s, which was produced by hip-hop legend KRS-One. Reunited recently, the band delivered a powerful set at ROTR 2025 (with production by Stay Positive Sound). It was highlighted by their new song, "Down! Banks of the River," which features conscious lyrics delivered with style by Rocker-T. What better place to deliver their message than at the premier festival on the "Banks of the River." Bravo! Bob Doran - host of The Hum > Radio on KHHA 94.7 lp-fm, community forward radio from Arcata’s Creamery District in California. Bob is also a contributor to Mad River Union newspaper. Find him on IG @bobdoran.
____________________
 One of my favorite highlights of ROTR was enjoying the musical set of Christopher Ellis, (son to the Godfather of Jamaican Rocksteady, the late Alton Ellis). Chris sang songs like “Here We Are” and “Still go a Dance”, from the Marley Brother’s Ghetto Youth International Label. He also performed Alton Ellis classics like “Willow Tree”, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”, “I’m Still In Love With You”, to name a few. Set along the backdrop of the Eel River, fans and festival goers danced and sang songs word-for-word while he performed on the River Stage. For me, having him all the way from the UK, was not only a highlight, but it was surely a favorite moment that gave me a glimpse into Jamaica’s Reggae Royalty and Legacy. Lady J - 91.9 FM KCSB radio,
Santa Barbara - www.kcsb.org
 ____________________
One of my favorite moments was early Saturday morning around 3am at the Dancehall. Leo “Octagon” Ahern stepped away from slaying the Guerilla Takeover decks, approached the Reggae Massive, and started talking about love and unity and about how we all traveled from different places to be one, here, now. Then he asked the young man sitting on the speaker to his left “Where are you from?” The kid looks up, smiling ear to ear and exclaims “Grants Pass, Oregon!” My face lit up and I laughed…. that’s where I’m from! Then I look behind me and see Mista Chief and others with him that I recognized from our area were also here, now. Standing firm. And I thought to myself, what a OnederFull World…. Southern Oregon Represent!!! Happy Reggae!!!!! ❤️💛💚
Joe McLaren, www.RogueAgentPhoto.com
____________________
Reggae on the River 2025 was such a blessing. With all the ugliness and evil going on in the world, for 3 days you felt the love and positive vibes and the reminder of what it is to be a human being. As Leo from Hot Milk Entertainment said, "All the artists gave 1000%!!!" No matter what stage you were at it, was magical. And the young people got to experience real reggae from Jamaica. As staff photographer for the Mateel Community Center, I took close to 3000 photos. In the artist's photos you can see their emotions coming through. I’ve been to every ROTR and each time there is a group or performer that blows you away, and this year it was T.O.K. Their harmonies were out of this world!! But it’s the picture below that says it all! Agnes Patak @eyeofagnes (instagram) flickr.
Check Reggae Festival Guide Facebook page to read more
Favorite Moments from the Reggae Media folks
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our Media Partners for working
so hard and helping on make Reggae on the River 2025 a success.
It takes a village...
Kaati Gaffney
RBA Publicity
Reggae Festival Guide
Media Coordinator for Reggae on the River
www.ReggaeontheRiver.com
|
