Upstate Reggae on the River Eco Music Festival was held on Saturday August 23rd 2008 at the glorious and spacious Croton Point Park nestled on the beautiful and serene Hudson River in Croton on the Hudson .
Sponsored by Guinness, Red Stripe, In Ticketing, Forever Reggae TV, Caribbean Billboard TV, SONU Water and Baba Roots, LMJ Production, LLC produced the event to raise awareness about the environment and to create a niche within the cross culture of music. The family event boasted acts from all genres of music coming together for a wonderful event.
LMJ productions also booked Reggae act Luciano to headline the event but due to unforeseen travel issues The Reggae Messenger was unable to make the event in a timely fashion. “Luciano’s spirit was there all day, “said Sir Walford Sibbles, host of the festival.
“We were totally thrilled to be a part of the festival,” said Lydia Adams Davis, a folk singer who sang for the little ones. Sharing that same sentiment was Steve Newland, the lead singer of Rootz Underground, “We want to be a part of this again next year. I really love the vibes at this cultural festival.”
Rootz Underground ended the festival and delivered a radical presentation for the festival revelers and had everyone totally awed. They performed songs from their new album, “Movement,” including “Victim of a System.”
“I have a new respect for Rootz Underground,” says Mr. McBean. “Their music and performance were magnificent and they give new meaning to lyrical contents and stage presence.”
Latin rock super group “Seguida” lit up the park with there fusion of jazz, pop, and Latin which created the big band sound they were well received. Mystic Dub who drove in from Michigan was also well received by the audience.
The venue, now dubbed, “Little Jamaica,” was transformed into the various colors of Red, Green and Gold that wrapped the border of the river. All artists performed wonderful and were well received. Local acts, Songs of Solomon, Ragga Lok and Living Truth stole the hearts of the crowd as they spoke to the audience and encourage them to live “Green.” Other performers included folk singer Lydia Adams who sang for the little ones and Carlos “GoGo” Gomez .