ALL Canadian Reggae Night – Sep 1/23

Friday, September 1,2023
ReggaeFest Presents Caleb Hart (BC),  Kairo McLean (ON) and  The Steadies (SK) for an ALL Canadian Reggae Night.
Caleb Hart has the ability to bring something fresh, honest and powerful every time he steps on a stage. 
Kairo McLean won the 2022 JUNO award for Reggae Recording of the Year with his debut EP Easy Now, making him the youngest person in JUNOS history to receive the recognition at just 13 years old. 
The Steadies  aren’t invited to the party—they ARE the party. This high-energy four-piece Canadian power band mixes pop-rock with world-beat, funk, and reggae, creating a sound they’ve dubbed ‘island-rock.’
Join us for a night of good vibrations.
Festival Hall – 1215 – 10 Avenue SE Calgary, AB
Doors: 7:30 pm, Show: 8:00 pm
Tickets: Advance $25 at AllCanadianReggae.eventbrite.ca (highly recommended), $35 at the Door

Luciano – Live in Concert – May 18/23

Arts Commons Presents and Calgary ReggaeFest bring you Luciano The Messenger LIVE in concert at the Jack Singer Concert Hall!

Get your tickets now for an unforgettable evening!

Thursday, May 18, 2023
Showtime – 7:30 pm

Known for his gospel and soul influenced sound and warm baritone voice, Luciano has a magnetic stage presence that is hard to match. His core reggae sound crosses over into blues, rock, R&B/disco, and country western, and he’s even been featured with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the Netherlands. In recognition of his immense talent, Rolling Stone Magazine listed Luciano as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, where he now ranks alongside one of his greatest influences, Bob Dylan.

With over 40 albums and two GRAMMY nominations, Luciano continues to spread his message of love through his deeply heartfelt music. For his Calgary appearance he will perform hits including Lord Give Me Strength, It’s Me Again Jah, and Sweep Over My Soul.

EarthKry – Live in Concert – May 12/23

ReggaeFest Presents EarthKry Live and Direct from Kingston, Jamaica. The new Roots sound of Jamaica.

Friday, May 12, 2023 at Festival Hall
Tickets: $25 in advance, $35 at the door

Rocksteady 7 LIVE in Concert – Sep 8/22

David Hillyard (of the Slackers) & the Rocksteady 7 are coming to Calgary from New York City to bring their unique style of Ska, Rocksteady, Jazz & Reggae to Calgary.
Hillyard is a tenor saxophonist originating from San Diego, California. He has performed in groups such as The Slackers, The Rocksteady 7, The Donkey Show, Hepcat, Stubborn All-Stars and has guested with the likes of Rancid, Victor Rice, and Skinnerbox NYC.
Joining the R7 will be Jory Kinjo & the Relays. Kinjo has performed Ska, Reggae, Blues and Soul music worldwide and has billed with the likes of Ziggy Marley, the Wailers, The English Beat, Fishbone, UB40, BB King, Buddy Guy and ZZ Top.

Sep 8/22 @ 8 pm

Dickens – 1000 – 9 Avenue SW, Calgary

Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
Click Here for Tickets

Antidoping LIVE in Concert – Aug 7/22

Pioneering Mexican Reggae Band Antidoping returns to Calgary to celebrate their 30th Anniversary!!

Considered one of the most important Latin American groups in the genre, Antidoping’s music combines elements of roots reggae fused with the cultural rhythmic mosaic of Mexico City and flavours of Rastafari, creating an alternative experience within the expressions of Mexico’s musical milieu.

Antidoping became part of Calgary ReggaeFest’s Family when they celebrated their 25th Anniversary at the festival in 2017.

ReggaeFest is excited to announce the return of Antidoping to Calgary, August 7 at the Ironwood Stage and Grill.

This is a Free family friendly matinee event.

The show starts at 2:00 PM and reservations are recommended – 403.269.5581 or reservations@ironwoodstage.ca

The Ironwood Stage and Grill is located at 1229 – 9 Avenue SE, Calgary.

Rise Up Weekend with ReggaeFest – Sep 26/20

Calgary ReggaeFest brings to you live on stage PowerHouze Band and The Steadies on Saturday September 26, 2020. Show time is 6:15 pm (Gates open at 5:15 pm). Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Join us for a safety-conscious and socially-distanced night watching some of your favourite local musical acts at the DRIVE-IN at Telus Spark. Hosted by RISE UP YYC and Calgary ReggaeFest, RISE UP Weekend is an opportunity to enjoy the festival music programming you missed this summer, live, from the comfort of your car. Reserving your spot is only $25 per car! Book early as spots are limited to 100. 

Brought to you by Calgary Arts Development and supported by Big Art Drive-in, Showpass & Bird Creatives.

Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/riseupreggaefest/

Riddim West Kicks off the Summer Music Festival Season

ReggaeFest Goes to University!

Calgary, Alberta – June 4, 2019

This weekend the re-imagined and re-branded Calgary ReggaeFest is set for MacEwan Hall in the heart of the University of Calgary. Riddim West, as the event is now known, will feature giant reggae hitters from Jamaica — Luciano, Cham and Hawkeye — with a supporting cast of exciting Canadian acts including Delhi 2 Dublin, Lynn Olagundoye and Phonosonics.

Riddim West is the culmination of ReggaeFest activities and runs from 3PM – 11PM on Saturday, June 8 at Mac Hall, followed by an after party in The Den featuring Dancehall legend Hawkeye along with Calgary’s own DJ Sherman Hype.

“It’s the same exciting family-friendly festival moved indoors,” says festival producer Leo Cripps. “The difference is that this is a more intimate and controlled setting where the audience can be up close and personal with the performers. By saving on production costs, we are able to redirect funds to bring in bigger names. Cham’s profile includes recordings with Rhianna, Eve and Alicia Keys, while Luciano’s travels have taken him all over including performances with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,” Cripps continues.

Other acts on the show include Calgary’s Jory Kinjo and Edmonton’s Waymatea and the Highlife Sound Collective, which is a supergroup of some of Edmonton’s best reggae and soca acts.

Riddim West will feature kids’ activities, a marketplace, a food truck serving up some tasty Caribbean delights and a beer garden with Village Beer to quench your thirst.

Can’t wait for Saturday to get your dose of Reggae? We’ve got you covered!

The Canadian premier of Babylon is at the Plaza Theatre on Thursday, June 6 where we are delighted to have one of the films financial backers who will talk a bit about the film and introduce it to Calgarians. Admission is $10.

Riddim West launch party takes place on Friday, June 7 at The Den, where you can meet and greet this years performers. Selfies anyone?! Admission is free.

Points to note:

Advance Tickets for Riddim West can be purchased online at https://riddimwest2019.eventbrite.ca or at the pre-events on June 6 & 7.

MacEwan Hall is located in the heart of the University of Calgary campus. Campus is easily accessed by Calgary Transit – bus or LRT (University Station on the Red Line). There are plenty of places to lock up your bicycles and for those that choose to drive there are over 3,000 parking spots within walking distance of the Mac Hall.

Babylon – Film Screening – June 6, 2019

Franco Rosso’s incendiary Babylon had its world premiere at Cannes in 1980 but went unreleased in the U.S. for “being too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension” (Vivien Goldman, Time Out). Raw and smoldering, it follows a young dancehall DJ (Brinsley Forde, frontman of landmark British reggae group Aswad) in South London as he pursues his musical ambitions, battling fiercely against the racism and xenophobia of employers, neighbors, police, and the National Front. Written by Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia) and shot by two-time Oscar® winner Chris Menges (The Killing Fields) with beautifully smoky cinematography that has been compared to Taxi Driver, Babylon is fearless and unsentimental, yet tempered by the hazy bliss of the dancehall set to a blistering reggae and lovers rock soundtrack featuring Aswad, Johnny Clarke, Dennis Bovell, and more.

Date: Thursday, June 6, 2019

Time: 7:00 pm show start time

Location: Plaza Theatre, 1133 Kensington Road NW

Admission: $10 (Eventbrite and at the door)

Film Rating: TBA, Run Time: 95 minutes
Film Trailer

Riddim West – June 8, 2019

Re-imagined and re-branded — ReggaeFest returns with Riddim West!

After a year off, Calgary ReggaeFest is back on a new date, in a new venue and with a new name.

On June 8, 2019, ReggaeFest presents Riddim West at MacEwan Hall in the heart of the University of Calgary campus.

Looking for Casino Volunteers

ReggaeFest is looking for Casino volunteers for March 10-11, 2019 at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino.

Sunday March 10
– Evening: Chip Runner x 1
– Count Room: 4 spots

Monday March 11
– Day: Cashier x 1, Chip Runner x 1
– Evening: Chip Runner x 2
– Count Room: 4 spots

Please contact crfinfo@reggaefest.ca to sign up or for more info.  Thanks for the support!