Local reggae fans are in for an unforgettable weekend this August, according to the president of the third annual Ottawa Reggae Festival.
“We hope that the community comes out to support this event,” said festival president Benjamin Williams at the official media launch Wednesday. “We’re geared up and ready to go.”
Williams would not predict how many people they expect attend the festival, but he hoped the lineup would be exciting to the whole city.
In its short life, the festival has quickly become one of the best known of its kind in Canada, he said.
The festival features a family-friendly mix of local performers sharing the stage with international stars.
This means artists have to opportunity to reach thousands more fans than they would even see in the smaller club, said local artist Ras Lee.
Ottawa has a vibrant and growing reggae scene is that is struggling to find venues to perform, said Jamaican-born Lee.
“There is people here that loves the music and we need to have more venues that promote reggae music,” he said. “There is quite a few reggae artists are here that wants work, looking around for places to play. We don’t get enough.”
