Reggae In The Desert Presents “Reggae On The Bay” Featuring Common Kings, Maxi Priest, Fortunate Youth and more at Mandalay Bay Beach Oct. 1-2
Reggae in the Desert, Mandalay Bay and AEG Live and have just announced their first ever two-day music festival, Reggae On The Bay, which will take place at Mandalay Bay Beach Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2.
Performances are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Acts include reggae stars Common Kings, Maxi Priest, Fortunate Youth, Hirie, Freddie McGregor, Sister Carol, Lady Reiko and DJ Green Lion. Daily lineups and an additional headliner will be announced soon. Tickets and two-day passes for the festival go on sale this Friday, July 29 at 10 a.m.
Along with an unforgettable musical environment, Reggae on the Bay promises to bring much more to festival goers. Fans will be able to enjoy a taste of the islands with authentic Jamaican, Hawaiian and Island food and drink, as well as traditional clothing, Caribbean arts & crafts and more. Locals can also take advantage of convenient and free parking at Mandalay Bay.
“I’m very excited to embark on a great partnership with AEG and Mandalay Bay for Reggae in the Desert. As a 15 year standalone event locally, collaborating with heavy hitters like these two strong companies is a wonderful opportunity and can only lead to more promising possibilities for reggae fans,” said Frédéric Apcar, President of Frédéric Apcar Productions. “Reggae in the Desert is known for some amazing performances over the years. So with the bonus of the beach location and the two day event, fans can expect some musical surprises, unique food and craft vendors and an entirely elevated experience altogether to hit the beach this October.”
Common Kings’ style and music is a collection of inspirations orchestrated into an array of head rocking beats, feel good vibes, and emotional fever. Their crazy, fun-loving attitude compliments Common Kings’ live sound, producing phenomenal pop hits with rock, reggae, and R&B influences. These influences originate from each band members love for various genres, and widespread knowledge of music. With the current success of reaching over 350,000 single downloads, partnered with a live performance matched to none (recently showcased as a supporting act on Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 World Experience Tour), Common Kings looks to keep the momentum alive after dropping their first album, Hits & Mrs.in October 2015.
Maxi Priest is the first reggae artist to have a #1 hit worldwide, including the U.S. Billboard charts. His signature lovers’ rock sound has launched him to international success, and his latest album, Easy to Love, featuring the lead track of the same name, was a #1 hit on the reggae charts in the summer of 2014. Maxi has been tugging on heartstrings ever since the mid-80’s, when he dominated the UK reggae charts with hits like “Should I” and “Strollin’ On.” Now, with over 15 million albums sold worldwide, he is the most successful solo act in British reggae history and has earned the respect of fellow artists from all over the world.
Fortunate Youth is a collaboration of South Bay reggae stand-outs. Their rootsy vibes and boisterous guitar solos separate them from every other mainstream reggae band. Their most recent album, “Don’t Think Twice” was released in 2015 to critical acclaim.
Hirie debuted in 2013 and made waves as the newest female sensation to the West Coast reggae scene. Her passion for writing and performing music continues to be evident as she tours with reggae’s top artists and continues to earn spots in music’s largest festivals and events. Her second album, Wandering Soul will be available August 19.
Freddie McGregor is an internationally-acclaimed, Grammy-nominated singer who has helped shape reggae music with socially conscious lyrics and Philly-Soul style for over 50 years. His classic singles include “Push Comes to Shove,” “Guantanamera,” “Big Ship,” and “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely.”
Sister Carol is a Grammy-nominated singer, DJ and songwriter from Kingston, Jamaica. Also known as “Black Cinderella,” she has been a trailblazer for women in reggae with a career that has spanned 35 years.
Lady Reiko is a Las Vegas-based 11-piece group of musicians known for their dynamic instrumentation, conscious message and unique ability to get any crowd moving. They have been inspiring the West coast since 2008.
DJ Green Lion is a Las Vegas local DJ, songwriter, musician and reggae lover who has worked his way up to spin alongside major performers such as Hirie, Tribal Seeds & Pato Banton.
Single-day and two-day passes will be available for purchase beginning Friday, July 29 at 10 a.m. at www.MandalayBay.com or www.Ticketmaster.com. Single-day passes start at $40 and two-day passes start at $75 (all tickets subject to additional fees). VIP packages are also available for both nights.