|
|
55,000 Reggae Fans and Reggae Industry folks receive this publication each thursday!
|
|
Volume 23/Issue 33
Media Coverage of Reggae Since 1995
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS - Click on it to jump to that section
|
|
|
|
THIS WEEKEND - Humboldt County, CA - August 14-16 - REGGAE ON THE RIVER 2026 - A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF SOUND, SOUL, & RIVERSIDE MAGIC - It's here!
|
 Are you ready for the ultimate summer gathering? Whether you're heading to the river solo for the music or bringing the entire family to make lifelong memories, the moment to lock it in is NOW!
CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS
Reggae On The River 2026: Legendary Music and Culture Festival Returns to Humboldt County’s Eel River for 37th Year HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA (August 14 - 16, 2026)
Reggae On The River 2026: Legendary Music and Culture Festival Returns to Humboldt County’s Eel River for 37th Year HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA (August 14 - 16, 2026)
Following its triumphant return, Reggae On The River is set to welcome reggae enthusiasts from around the globe to the iconic banks of the Eel River from August 14 to 16, 2026.
VENUE
Hosted at the scenic County Line Ranch in Piercy, CA, the 37th annual celebration will bring three days of world class music, culture, and community to the heart of California’s majestic redwood forest. This year’s lineup features a powerhouse roster of reggae and dancehall icons. The line up includes Burning Spear, The Movement, Kabaka Pyramid, Don Carlos, Cham, Ding Dong and Ravers Clavers, Dezarie, Jah9, and many more.
Attendees can expect dynamic, timeless performances celebrating the roots and future of reggae music. "We’re coming with positive energy, roots reggae music, Life Energy," shared featured artist Leaf of Life. "This show is a very unique show within the legacy and the culture of Jamaica and California unity... and the world." Artist Mighty Mystic added, "I feel like I’m part of history in the making."
Founded in 1984 as a benefit for the Mateel Community Center, Reggae On The River has grown into a cornerstone event for Northern California and a global pilgrimage site for music fans.
GLOBAL
Thousands travel each year, driving from across San Francisco, Sacramento, and Southern California, with dedicated attendees flying in from as far away as Guam, to experience the festival's spirit of unity, resilience, and connection. The 2026 festival features three stages of live music alongside legendary late night sound system culture at The River Stage. It is powered by the mighty Basscraft Sound System alongside global heavyweights O.B.F from France and Iration Steppas from the UK.
MARKETPLACE
Festival goers can explore the Jah Mall Marketplace, a vibrant one stop shop featuring artisan craft vendors and an array of international culinary options. Families will also enjoy the Communitree House Family Zone, a dedicated space offering kid friendly activities, games, snacks, and puppet shows. It is all set against the backdrop of scenic riverfront camping. Reggae On The River 2026 invites fans of all ages, from longtime loyalists to first time visitors, to experience a legendary weekend of music, nature, and community. Kids 12 and under enter free with special pricing for teens and seniors, and single day, weekend, and 3 day passes are available now at ReggaeOnTheRiver.com.
Tickets will also be available at the door. Come down and join us for Reggae!
Instagram
Tik Tok
Facebook
Twitter / X
Youtube
|
|
 St Croix, US Virgin Islands - Fire Chanter Jah Rubal had passed away. Reggae Festival Guide sends condolences to family, friends, & fans worldwide. Known also as "Puppa Locks", Jah Rubal previously toured with Midnite, & released several songs on Midnite albums.
The fiery chanter Jah Rubal also released albums with producers such as Ras Elyment Records in St. Croix and HigherBound Productions in California, “Fire Chariot” and “Chase Vampido” and more.
Those who knew him appreciated his Livication to JAH, his majesty Haile Selassie I, Rastafari way of life, and his sense of humor. Soar inna Zion Jah Ruby.
|
|
THIS WEEKEND - Louisville, KY - 6th Annual Reggae Reunion - Free
|
 6th Annual Reggae Reunion brings Jamaican music and food to Louisville
Louisville’s 6th Annual Reggae Reunion at the Park will feature live reggae music, Jamaican food, Caribbean vendors and free family entertainment on Saturday, August 15 at Carrie Gaulbert Cox Park in Louisville.
It is expected to blend music, culture, food, and entertainment for both locals and visitors alike.
The event is free to attend and will take place from 12 pm to 8 pm at 3730 River Road. Jamaican Yard Vibes will be among the vendors, offering the island’s and Caribbean’s dishes for festivalgoers throughout the day.
FACEBOOK
|
|
NEW SOJA ALBUM 'WITHOUT SURRENDER' OUT NOW!
|
 NEW SOJA ALBUM 'WITHOUT SURRENDER' OUT NOW!
LISTEN / BUY
1. Highway
2. We All Need Love (feat. Kolohe Kai)
3. Water (feat. The Elovaters)
4. World That We're Livin In (feat. Kabaka Pyramid)
5. It Felt Like
6. Catching Up To You (feat. Nick Hexum)
7. Lion
8. Whisper (feat. Iration)
9. Take It Back
10. Time Won’t Wait (feat. Di Ferrero)
11. Nothing Lasts Forever (feat. Hirie)
12. When We Rise
13. Did I Wait Too Long (feat. Maoli)
14. Rush
Out NOW ATO Records, Without Surrender follows SOJA's Grammy Award-winning Beauty in the Silence and finds the eight-piece collective expanding its musical universe through collaborations that span continents and genres while remaining rooted in the band's enduring message of hope, empathy, and human connection.
It features collas with Di Ferrero(NX Zero), Maoli, HIRIE, Kabaka Pyramid, Nick Hexum (311), Kolohe Kai, The Elovaters and Iration, reflecting SOJA's continued commitment to building bridges across cultures through music.
Taking its title from the opening lines of Max Ehrmann's poem Desiderata—a longtime source of inspiration for the band—Without Surrender captures SOJA's nearly three-decade philosophy of finding resilience, compassion and optimism, even through life's uncertainties.
LIMITED EDITION FAN EXCLUSIVE PURPLE VINYL BUY NOW
CHECK OUT THE LATEST MUSIC VIDEOS:
SOJA ft. Di Ferrero “Time Won’t Wait” (Animated Video)
"HIGHWAY" Official Lyric Video
SOJA ft. Kabaka Pyramid - "World That We're Livin In" (Official Music Video)
SOJA ft. Maoli - "Did I Wait Too Long" (Official Music Video)
SOJA ft. Kolohe Kai - "We All Need Love" (Official Music Video)
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Aug 15 Pawtucket, RI - Island Rhodes Festival
Aug 29 Reno, NV - Brighter Daze Festival
Oct 9 Maui, HI - Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Oct 10 Honolulu, HI - Aloha Tower Marketplace
Oct 17 San Diego, CA - Mission Bayfest
Nov 15-19 Miami, FL - Sublime Reef Madness Cruise
Jan 9-13, 2027 Riviera Maya, MX - Closer To The Sun
TOUR TICKETS - CLICK HERE
Follow the "COMPLETE: SOJA" playlist on Spotify to listen to the full SOJA catalog and stay updated on new music!
Facebook
X
Instagram
Website
|
|
Arcata, CA - CANNIFEST 2026 - September 12 & 13 - The Humboldt Weekend Where Music, Culture, and Community Collide - Melvin Seals & JGB, Sister Carol, Brett McFarland, and more...
|
 Some festivals chase trends. Others create moments that linger long after the final encore. Cannifest 2026 belongs firmly in the second category. On September 12 and 13, the historic Arcata Ballpark will transform into the beating heart of Humboldt County, where four stages of music, local art, independent makers, and one of California's most distinctive communities come together for a weekend that feels equal parts concert, street fair, and cultural homecoming.
Forget endless asphalt parking lots and corporate branding stretched across every fence. Cannifest is rooted in place. The towering redwoods are just down the road.The Pacific Ocean isn't far beyond them.And everywhere you look, Humboldt's fiercely independent spirit shapes the experience—from the musicians taking the stage to the artists hanging their work and the farmers sharing the harvest that has defined this region for generations.
This all-ages event really centers on creating a safe space for multiple generations to relax and enjoy—or get involved in the many activations in the Family Interactive Zone (FIZ). Face painters, Tie dye workshops, Hula Hoop making activities,Art Projects and so much more! The music, naturally, is the centerpiece With top-tier production stages running throughout the weekend, Cannifest creates the kind of musical journey that rewards curiosity. One minute you're caught in front of a powerhouse headlining set.
The next you're discovering a local band that somehow hasn't exploded beyond Northern California yet. Instead of funneling everyone toward one moment, Cannifest invites festival-goers to build their own soundtrack. It's a reminder of what music festivals used to feel like before algorithms started deciding what everyone should hear. Then there's Arcata.
In an era when many festivals require shuttle schedules, rideshare apps, and strategic parking plans, Arcata offers something refreshingly simple: you can walk almost everywhere. The city is compact, vibrant, and built for wandering.Downtown radiates and the fest is just half a block away from the historic Arcata Plaza, where independent cafés, record stores, bookstores, breweries, vintage shops, and locally owned restaurants create an atmosphere that's more neighborhood than tourist destination. That walkability changes everything. Wake up, grab breakfast at a local café, browse a record store, stroll through the Plaza, and make your way to the festival without ever climbing behind the wheel. After the last encore, the night doesn't abruptly end in a sea of traffic.
Instead, it spills naturally back into town, where conversations continue over walks to the afterparty. It's the kind of festival experience that's becoming increasingly rare.Cannifest also refuses to separate music from the community that surrounds it. Makers, artists, educators, farmers, and local businesses are woven into the weekend rather than pushed to the sidelines. The result feels less like a touring event dropped into a city and more like Humboldt opening its front door and inviting everyone inside. That authenticity is impossible to manufacture. For decades,Humboldt County has occupied a mythical place in California's cultural imagination—a landscape of ancient redwoods, rugged coastline, sustainable farms, creative independence, and people determinedto do things their own way.
Cannifest channels that same energy. It's ambitious without feeling overproduced, expansive, without losing its local soul. Guests from all around the world are set to fly into the ACV airport, or climb the Cali coast in tour buses to share their knowledge, create content, taste the delicious local food and beverages and cultivate a true sense of human connection. As festival culture continues to evolve, events like Cannifest remind us why people gather around live music in the first place.
It's not just about the lineup. It's about the conversations between sets.The unexpected discoveries.The places you explore.The strangers who become friends by the end of the night. Cannifest 2026 promises all of that—and something even harder to find:a genuine sense of place. For one weekend in September, Arcata won't simply host a music festival. It will become one. Leading the charge is Melvin Seals & JGB, bringing the enduring spirit of the Jerry Garcia Band to Humboldt with the soulful Hammond grooves and improvisational fire that have made Seals a jam-scene legend. Joining them is Sister Carol, the Grammy-nominated reggae icon whose commanding voice and conscious lyrics have made her one of the genre's most respected performers.
Tickets available at cannifest.com along with other details including how to get involved. Follow @cannifest for other exciting news and sponsor spotlights!
|
|
REMO FEST '26 - Blanco, Texas - Saturday, September 19, 2026
|
 REMO FEST '26 - Blanco, Texas - Camping • Reggae • Good Vibes - Saturday, September 19, 2026
Get ready for Texas' biggest grassroots reggae and soundsystem gathering!
Remo Fest '26 returns to the beautiful Hill Country Caribbean Vybez in Blanco, Texas
A full day of live reggae, dancehall, roots music, DJs, and sound system culture with artists from across Texas, Jamaica, Belize, and beyond!
SKILLINJAH, SGT. REMO, RAS INDIO, MICAH SHALOM, SOULFIYA, many more!
Camping
Make it a full weekend experience with on-site camping under the Texas Hill Country stars. Enjoy Caribbean food, cold drinks, local vendors, positive vibes, and a welcoming community of music lovers from Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and beyond.
Tickets
Tickets and campsites are limited. Secure yours early and be part of the movement as Texas reggae comes together for one unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and community.
Get Tickets HERE
About Remo Fest
Remo Fest is Texas' grassroots reggae and sound system festival, built by the community and for the community. Now entering its 5th year and its 3rd year.
Click here to read more
~Where Texas Reggae Connects~
Get tickets and reserve your campsite now at www.sgtremo.com
|
|
San Diego, CA - Saturday, August 22, 2026 - Marcus Garvey Day featuring Dezarie
|
 Saturday, August 22, 2026
Marcus Garvey Day featuring Dezarie - 8pm - 11pm PDT - $25 Adv
Sunday, August 23, 2026 - Passport to Wellness
11:00 am - 6:00 pm - Donation
WorldBeat Cultural Center, San Diego, CA - ALL AGES
Dezarie Performing at World Beat Center in San Diego on August 22 in Celebration of Marcus Garvey
~Passport to Wellness Day with Dezarie on the Following Sunday~
Dezarie Performing at World Beat Center in San Diego on August 22 in Celebration of Marcus Garvey.
Marcus Garvey, a visionary Pan-African leader, educator, and champion of Black self-determination, will be celebrated during an unforgettable evening of conscious roots reggae at WorldBeat Cultural Center.
This year’s celebration features internationally acclaimed reggae artist Dezarie, whose powerful voice and uplifting lyrics have inspired audiences around the world for more than two decades. Hailing from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dezarie is celebrated for her spiritually grounded music, messages of justice, African consciousness, self-love, and cultural pride. With beloved songs such as Gracious Mama Africa, Love in Your Meditation, and Strengthen Your Mind, she has become one of the most respected female voices in modern roots reggae.
WorldBeat Cultural Center is located 2100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA. It is an all-ages venue. Tickets are $25.00 in advance (plus fees) at https://events.humanitix.com/dezarie-marcus-garvey-day. Tickets are $5 more at the door.
On Sunday, August 23, 2026, Dezarie will be conducting sound healing at Passport to Wellness Day from 11am to 6pm. Many workshops, consultations, and demonstrations will be available, including mindful movement classes, incense making, sacred fire and crystal hologram activation workshop and more. Donation.
Founded in 1984 as WorldBeat Productions by Executive Director, Makeda Dread in San Diego, CA. WorldBeat Cultural Center serves the community as a non-profit community center, performing arts center for classes and showcasing, museum, gift shop, cafe and outdoor classroom. Join us for a daily dance or percussion class, an annual event, lecture or book the venue for your own event!
For more information and tickets visit, https://www.worldbeatcenter.org/.
|
|
Oakland, CA - Reggae On Fire: Donny Rasta & JAHBUDDA! w/ Native Elements August 22
|
 Reggae On Fire: Donny Rasta & JAHBUDDA! with Native Elements - Saturday, August 22
Get ready for Live Reggae Music at Oakland's largest cannabis lounge w/Donny Rasta & JAHBUDDA l Native Elements bringing the Jammin Beats!
Reggae Town Music presents Reggae On Fire, a Cannabis-friendly live reggae experience featuring two generations of Bay Area reggae talent:Donny Rasta & JAHBUDDA!
Bay Area reggae veteran Donny Rasta brings more than 30 years of experience in the Roots & Culture reggae scene. Known for powerful vocals, conscious lyrics, energetic performances, and a message rooted in unity, love, and cultural awareness, Donny Rasta will take the stage with his full band, JAHBUDDA!
Expect a powerful live set filled with authentic roots reggae, uplifting messages, deep rhythms, and the unmistakable energy of a seasoned Bay Area performer.
Joining the show is San Francisco reggae powerhouse Native Elements. The band has kept the Bay Area’s energetic, feel-good reggae tradition alive for more than three decades, blending reggae with influences from rock, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, lovers rock, and soul. Their horn-driven sound, instrumental improvisation, and uplifting stage presence have made them longtime favorites throughout Northern California.
Donny Rasta & JAHBUDDA! and Native Elements will deliver an unforgettable night celebrating Bay Area reggae, community, culture, and positive vibrations.
The Perfect Oakland Setting
The concert takes place at ROOT’D in the 510, an equity-owned Oakland herb business located at 4444 Telegraph Avenue in the heart of the Temescal neighborhood. ROOT’D was created to serve the local community and offer a welcoming Oakland cannabis experience.
Come ready to enjoy live music, powerful reggae rhythms, community, and cannabis-friendly vibes in one of Oakland’s most distinctive settings.
Doors open: 7:00 PM
Location:
ROOT’D in the 510
Address: 4444 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
21+
TICKETS
|
|
August - Jamaican reggae and dub artist JAH9 coming to California
|
Get ready for an international Jamaican reggae sensation JAH9 bringing her powerful energy to California!
Blending deep, heavy roots-dub sonics with smooth jazz phrasing and profound lyrical storytelling, from her legendary anthems like "New Name" and "Avocado" to the soul-stirring reflections of “Note to Self” and her brilliant new “Open Heart Project”.
This isn't just a concert—it’s a high-vibrational, conscious musical movement that will move your body and elevate your spirit.
Tickets are moving fast, so grab yours now and witness one of contemporary reggae’s most compelling, powerhouse voices live in session!
Catch this foundational reggae revivalist perform at the 37th annual Reggae on the River Festival
on Saturday, August 15, 2026 – Main Stage. TICKETS
also these Southern California dates:
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 - Los Angeles Dub Club
Opening: Rik Jam and Dub Club DJs
Doors 9:00 PM
Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(Enter on Glendale Blvd. at the alley near 1154)
21+ • Tickets start at $30 TICKETS
Thursday, August 20, 2026 - The Harp in San Diego
Opening: Kat Hall
4935 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
Doors: 8:00 PM/Showtime: 9:00 PM
21+ Tickets start at $40 TICKETS
Follow Jah9 on Insta
|
|
Attention Reggae Bands and Labels - August Savings - Special Advertising Packages.
|
Three Discounted Ad Packages to choose from; something to fit every budget. CLICK HERE Don't know how to get started? That's where we shine. Contact us today You make music...we deliver it! Kaati & Joana and the rest of our RFG Crew Text/Whats App: 775-846-8238 Email |
|
Featured Video — BEST OF BURNING SPEAR NONSTOP REGGAE MIX
|
|
|
CLICK IMAGE TO ENJOY VIDEO - BEST OF BURNING SPEAR NONSTOP REGGAE MIX - catch Spear this weekend at Northern California's Reggae on the River!
|
|
|
|
Attention Reggae Artists — Free listing opportunity
|
Greetings Reggae Artists,
Please give yourself a FREE link on our top-ranking website: www.ReggaeFestivalGuide.com
Here is the direct link to post your info: (easy and free – takes 2 minutes)
https://reggaefestivalguide.com/orders/link.php
Your info will appear in our LINK DIRECTORY — another way for fans and industry folks to find you!
|
|
Hey Reggae Fans ~ Follow Us On Socials>>>>>
|
|
Our Email DataBase Reaches Thousands of Reggae Festival Promoters and Venues
|
|
Call Kaati or Joana today: 775 846 8238
|
|
Attention Artists and Festival Promoters...Use Our Services To Build Your Platforms And Your Following...
|
DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL — WE ALREADY HAVE THE DATABASES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS OF THE FANS AND INDUSTRY THAT YOU WANT TO REACH.
~Are your social media platforms non-existent or under-utilized?
~Would you like your name and music to get out there to new reggae fans?
If so, we can help! We have over 31 years of experience in marketing reggae bands and reggae festivals and offer these services and more:
- Social media development (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
- Create descriptive written content (press releases, band bios, sponsor packages, etc.)
- Develop digital marketing strategies to increase your customer base
- Custom Global PR services
- We can also build your Electronic Press Kit for you (EPK)
If you have questions about what online marketing techniques would work best for you, Give Us a call today for a free consultation ~ 775-846-8238 or Email
Kaati and Joana - RBA PUBLISHING & PUBLICITY
|
|
In Jah's Name We Pray - Sending Prayers to Those Who are being affected by extreme weather conditions.
|
|
|
Sending Prayers to all of our Sisters & Brothers
who are suffering from the extreme heat, fires, floods and tornadoes.
Please know you are in our hearts!
|
|
|
Richie B's Jamaican Reggae Airplay Charts
|
|
|
Jamaica Music Countdown
By Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess
JMC Charts -
|
TOP 25 Dancehall Singles,TOP 25 Reggae Singles, and TOP 10 Albums/CD Chart
JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess
Aug 7 - 13, 2026
|
|
|
Ital Statistics This week in Reggae and Nubian, Rasta, herb and related history
|
|
|
| |
| August 12 |
| 1961: |
Roy Hay [Culture Club; guitar] is born in Southend, Essex, Great Britain. |
| 1977: |
Bantu Stephen Biko, leader of South Africa's Black Consciousness Movement, is arrested. |
| 1985: |
Kyu Sakamoto, Japanese singer ("Sukiyaki"), passes away (killed in a aircraft disaster).
Japan Airlines Boeing 747 carrying Kyu Sakamoto crashed in Osutaka Mountain, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, during a domestic flight, killing 520 people.
|
| August 13 |
| ----: |
DJ Red Fox (Gareth Shelton) is born. |
| 1960: |
Central African Republic proclaims independence from France. |
| August 14 |
| 1946: |
Vivian "Yabby You" Jackson is born in Kingston, Jamaica. |
| 1969: |
Thriller U (Eustace Hamilton) is born in Kingston, Jamaica. |
|
|
|
|
If You Missed Your Latest (Or Any) Copy of The Weekly Reggae Festival Guide,
You Can Find Back Issues In The Archives
|
|
Reggae Marketing Specialists since 1993 - Trusted, Reliable ~ Creative
|
|
|
 2026 marks the 32nd year that Reggae Festival Guide has been the leading media company in the reggae industry!
Our parent company, RBA Publishing & Publicity, is based out of Humboldt County, CA (formerly Reno, NV). For 25 years, we produced the annual Reggae Festival Guide print magazine. Although we don't publish the annual magazine anymore, we have our top-ranking website: www.ReggaeFestivalGuide (41,000 unique monthly visitors), and this weekly reggae e-publication Reggae Festival Guide (55,000 weekly subscribers). Please follow us on Socials for up-to-the-minute reggae news and music: We have 450,000 fans that follow us on Facebook (please join us there), 40K that follow us on Instagram, and another 9,000 that follow us on Twitter.
We offer you many ways to help you get your fix of reggae music, history, lifestyle, current news, and of course, festivals, all year round.
Our publicity & marketing company keeps growing and adding elements to bring you trusted coverage of reggae happenings from around the world.
We love what we do and look forward to input from you with your suggestions, critiques, questions, etc.
Also contact us to find out how you can promote your band/business/festival in this e-newsletter or on our website.
Kaati Gaffney, Publisher
We also offer Publicity & Graphic Services for bands and festivals:
band bios and interview written, social media management, website consulting design and maintenance, EPKs created, graphics for advertising and social media branded videos, and more. Please contact us to find out how we can help you with your exciting projects.
One Love from our reggae-loving family to you,
Kaati, Joana, Irene, Michele, and Melisa
Information - both editorial and advertising - in the Reggae Festival Guide - is believed to be correct but not guaranteed - so check it carefully before you attend any event or send money for anything. We do not write the news, just report it.
Text or Whats App: 775-846-8238; or e-mail
RBA Publishing, Inc. in business since 1995, is a boutique reggae-specific PR and marketing firm based in Northern California. We help musicians, festivals, labels and music-related brands. Our digital campaigns target fans, industry and influencers. We are masterful at email marketing, social media, fan acquisition and long-term marketing plans. Our media services are supported by people who understand and love the reggae genre. Publishers of Reggae Festival Guide magazine and e-newsletter. Reggae industry leaders for over 30 years.
e-mail
Legal Disclaimer
|
|
|
|
Distributed by RBA Publishing Inc.
If you wish (and we really wish you wouldn't) like to be removed from this list, please reply with REMOVE in subject line.
It will make us very sad if you do, and perhaps your removal will be the one the makes us decide this no longer worth doing at all, and all the information we provide will go away forever and musicians will sit home alone at night and cry because they have no one to play for because no one knows about their shows or music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
