Reggae fest draws thousands to Oil City

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Salt River Acres was once again host to one of the most amazing spectacles of
good times and good music, the 12th annual Rock n’ Reggae Bash.
The sold out show featured an eclectic gathering of individuals that resembled
a Spring Break crowd, all of whom had arrived with the sole purpose of relaxing
and having fun.
The parking area was perhaps the most interesting area to observe considering
the collection of vehicles was just as diverse as the crowd. Everything from sports
cars to Winnebagos could be seen in the seemingly endless array of transporation.
There were even a few enterprising individuals who had gone to the trouble of
renting Ryder and U-Haul trucks to satisfy their large group’s party needs.
However, the stage area was where all of the music and most of the action was
taking place. A sea of people with blankets and folding chairs crowded the space
reserved for those who had come to enjoy the stage performances.
The lineup of bands featured Immunity, Motherbird, Indika, Sprout & The Orange,
19 Wheels, Duke Tumatoe & The Power Trio, and a special tribute to Bob Marley
featuring a group of reggae artists from Jamaica. Salt River even went to the
trouble of adding a second stage so that the music could flow from act to act
and keep the good times going.
The main concourse near the stage featured a variety of vendors all seeking to
sell everything they had to offer. Food stands offered a variety of items to choose
from, including polish sausage, hot dogs, hamburgers, and even veggie pitas.
All of the bands proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with in the music
industry. Each performed their own special brand of music for the crowd, which
was well appreciated among the audience members. However, the band that stole
the show was the Jamaican group who featured their tribute to Bob Marley. Each
song was perfromed true to the style of the original, but unique unto itself because
of musicianship and heart that was put into every number played.
However, Rock n’ Reggae Bash would not be complete without the T-shirt giveaway,
which was done in great style with the “Cannon,” which was a six-foot
long air cannon that blasted the shirts out into the crowd. It was definitely
one of the more interesting parts of the bash, whether you were trying to catch
a shirt, or watching 20 other people all crowd together to try and snag the freebie.
Overall, Rock n’ Reggae Bash showed itself to be one of the greatest forces
in the mid-Michigan party scene. Good music, a fun atmosphere, and a chance to
meet new people all fell into the grand scheme of what the bash is all about.
Most of all, Rock n’ Reggae bash proved that a common theme such as music
can serve to unite thousands of people under the banner of peace, love, unity,
and respect.