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Spread the love

Get your charity groove on to great music at second annual Reggae Fest

By Nicole Fitzgerald

What: Reggae Fest

When: Monday, Feb. 26

Where: Buffalo Bill’s

Tickets: $10

It’s all about spreading the love.

Spreading the love of music, community and a helping hand at the second annual Reggae Fest Monday at Buffalo Bill’s.

“We are raising awareness and funds not to mention some fantastic music,” said festival spokesperson Jana Marie Dupuis.

The festival is presented by the Bands Against Hunger Society, a non-profit group led by musicians who aim to grow a musical family as well as raise funds for humanitarian causes.

Think locally, act globally is on the festival agenda with proceeds benefiting the Whistler Animals Galore animal shelter and the Whistler Food Bank as well as an orphan centre in Namibia, Africa. Whistlerite Kelly Maybey will personally deliver the much-needed funds.

Good vibrations will abound inside and out with this year’s lineup touting headline acts such as Tracey Saxby, The Arbutus Trio, and Kostaman and The Vibrations.

Saxby’s acoustic folk steps outside of the usual reggae vibe, but her music can’t be narrowly categorized.

“Everyone seems to hear something a little different,” said music critic Ben Preece of Australia’s Time Off. “For some, it recalls the coffeehouses of the sixties. Others hear roots, funk, soul and blues. Others detect a distinct element of rock… Saxby’s sound is difficult to categorize and simply can’t be lumped into any old box.”

The girl and her guitar are no stranger to gathering places in Rossland, Vancouver and Whistler. She toured extensively across Western Canada supporting acts such as Andrea Revel, Ben Sigston, Lotus and Pro’Girl.

The Arbutus Trio joins the roster, bringing Victoria’s newest dub rock band to the stage. Even with only a year of touring under their strings, the trio is wracking up the kilometres, raising their profile around Vancouver Island, Vancouver and inland B.C. Most recent accolades include opening for La Severa Matacera of Columbia Records, Chris Murray of L.A. and The Toasters of New York City.

The festival kicks off the band’s Canadian tour in support of their new album Arbutus Trio Meets Dub Guns , which gives reggae dub lovers something exciting to talk about.

Kostaman and The Vibrations need very little introduction in these parts. The band recently returned from a successful Tunes and Turns tour, tearing up resort music scenes in B.C. and Alberta. Their world-beat reggae grooves have once again returned to their regular shows every Thursday at Moe Joe’s.

Other festival talent to look forward to include DJ P-Star, DJ Phroh, Animal Nation, freestyle MC Decay, and The Whistler Musician Collective.

Advance $10 tickets are available at Buffalo Bill’s with plenty of door prizes to be won.