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Reggae Fest comes back to the Ledges
By John Benson
A learning experience is how Promoter/Producer Patrick “Packy” Malley chalks up last year’s decision to take his annual Midwest Reggae Fest, which took place for years at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, to Cleveland’s Whiskey Island.
“There was a lot of transition at Nelson Ledges, while at the same time people were asking to go to Whiskey Island, so I thought I’d give it a shot one year,” said Cleveland-area resident Malley. “Everything was wonderful about Whiskey Island except the weather. It was cold and rainy. And the fact we didn’t have camping made it kind of like a one-day event.”
This explains why Malley is bringing the three-day 22nd annual Midwest Reggae Fest back to Portage County, where attendees can make this weekend more of a stay-cation with camping, swimming and a festive ambiance.
“There’s a camaraderie to the whole event, which is what people missed the most, and me too,” Malley said. “That’s why I’m really happy to be back at Nelson Ledges.”
This year’s lineup features headliner Yellowman, as well as Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill, Marty Dread, Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band, Flex Crew and more. Attendance is expected to be in the 1,500 to 2,000 range, which Malley said makes this event one of the premiere reggae festivals in the nation.
“A lot of people just love the fact that you can really count on good reggae for a few days,” Malley said. “Also, the fact that it’s all reggae is very important. Many festivals that have reggae have just one or two groups along with a lot of rock ’n’ roll bands or whatever.”
Malley called this year’s lineup top-shelf reggae acts, which he admitted may turn off some casual fans who believe a weekend of steel drums, dreadlocks and Rastafarians may be too much.
However, he said the weekend is a peaceful affair built around hearing good music in a scenic area. More so, he stressed any stereotype of a reggae event involving heavy drug use and unruly crowds doesn’t accurately depict the Midwest Reggae Fest.
“The reggae event is really unique out at Nelson Ledges, because it’s by far the most mellow crowd that’s out there for all of the concerts they have,” Malley said. “One of the biggest misconceptions about the reggae fest is that it’s wild but the security people say the Midwest Reggae Fest is the most family-friendly event with the nicest crowd.”