Ballina set to rock to the Raggamuffin reggae beat
Music fans are in for a treat and local service organisations should have their coffers boosted when the second annual Raggamuffin reggae festival is held in Ballina on Monday — Australia Day, January 26.
Headline acts such as Ziggy Marley and Arrested Development are on the bill at the concert, which will be held at Kingsford Smith Park.
Rural Fire Service Volunteers will oversee parking arrangements for the cost of a gold coin donation, while local surf lifesavers will help out on the admission gates, with festival organisers making a donation to the local surf club.
Ballina Seagulls Rugby League Club volunteers will be cooking up a storm on the barbecues and hoping to raise funds at the same time.
Ziggy Marley (pictured) is the headline act for Monday’s concert, and will take to the stage from 8.30pm. Other acts include Eddy Grant, Ali Campbell, Shaggy, Arrested Development, Inner Circle and Bonjah.
The first Raggamuffin event takes the stage at Perth’s Supreme Court Gardens on Saturday January 24 in a five-hour musical feast of reggae – with a healthy dose of funk, dub, hip hop and soul!
The seven-band tour then heads to Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina Seagulls Rugby League Football Club on Australia Day Monday January 26 before playing in Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney. The tour ends with a massive show at Rotorua Stadium, New Zealand on February 7 for 25,000 fans.
Ziggy Marley is, of course, the son of the one and only Bob Marley.
His set includes songs from the Melody Makers, his solo arsenal and a few of his father’s classics.
Ziggy is currently serving as executive producer of a documentary film about his father’s life, produced by Jonathan Demme (who shot Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold), planned for release on February 6 next year on the 65th anniversary of Bob’s birth.
Eddy Grant is looking forward to his first ever trip to Australia, whilst the voice of UB40′s Ali Campbell will debut his nine-piece Dep band to his many fans here.
After 20 million album sales and a Grammy award, Shaggy is still on the grind! His 2008 album ‘Intoxication’ has this dancehall master back at his best, while Arrested Development are always greetly warmly by their many Australian fans.
Add reggae legends Inner Circle and Melbourne-based NZ reggae/roots/funk five-piece Bonjah opening the shows, and no wonder reggae fans are excited.
Promoter Andrew McManus said the local Ballina community had got right behind the event since the move from Red Devil Park, Bryon Bay, was announced in mid-December.
In Ballina, gates open at 1pm and playing times are:
1.30pm – 2.00pm Bonjah
2.20pm – 2.50pm Inner Circle
3.10pm – 3.40pm Arrested Development
4.05pm – 5.00pm Shaggy
5.30pm – 6.30pm Ali Campbell
7.00pm – 8.00pm Eddy Grant
8.30pm – 9.30pm Ziggy Marley
Kingsford Smith Park is located at Bentinck Street, Ballina. BYO picnic, or food will be available on site. Strictly no BYO alcohol.
Check out the website www.raggamuffin.com.au for all the details.
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From www.ticketmaster.com.au & 136 100
October 14th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Is roots as popular now?