Palm Beach Reggae

PALM BEACH REGGAE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF REGGAE IN DOWNTOWN DELRAY BEACH

Originating on the Caribbean island of Jamaica, reggae music has evolved into a global cultural force, recorded, performed, and embraced by people of diverse ethnic and geographic backgrounds. From the United States and Latin America to the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa, reggae has transcended borders and influenced numerous musical genres worldwide.

Celebrating this rich legacy, the PALM BEACH REGGAE Music & Arts Festival is a vibrant, multicultural, multimedia event presented at Old School Square in Downtown Delray Beach, Florida. The festival features live music, film screenings, and visual arts that showcase the evolution and global influence of reggae music and culture. Designed to both entertain and educate, the festival serves residents and visitors of Palm Beach County alike. The festival is directed and coordinated by Lloyd Stanbury, a Jamaican entertainment attorney, music business consultant, and Palm Beach County resident, in partnership with the Delray Beach–based nonprofit organization, the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. The PALM BEACH REGGAE Music & Arts Festival is a beneficiary of support through the Bright Ideas Sponsorship Program of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, funded by the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council.

Stanbury is the author of “REGGAE ROADBLOCKS: A Music Business Development Perspective” and has resided in Royal Palm Beach since 2003. He is also the co-founder of the world’s first all-reggae radio station, IRIE FM in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and a recipient of the Order of Distinction (O.D.) from the Government of Jamaica for his contributions to the music and entertainment industry. “South Florida is home to Bob Marley’s widow, Rita Marley, and several of his children and grandchildren,” said Stanbury. “Palm Beach County is also home to several pioneers who helped shape reggae’s global reach, making it a fitting home for this festival.” The City of Delray Beach is uniquely positioned to benefit from the festival through its iconic Old School Square complex and Stanbury’s extensive music industry expertise, international contacts, and deep knowledge of reggae music and culture. A collaboration among Old School Square, the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, and Bigg Zound Productions, owned and operated by Ian Lewis of the legendary Bad Boys of Reggae, Inner Circle, supports the design, management, and delivery of the festival. The PALM BEACH REGGAE Music & Arts Festival opens on Friday, March 20, with a screening of “INNA DE YARD: The Soul of Jamaica” at the Old School Square Vintage Gymnasium. On Saturday, March 21, the Old School Square Amphitheater will host a live concert featuring top reggae bands from South Florida, Jamaica, and Latin America, including Inner Circle (The Bad Boys Of Reggae), The Resolvers, Xperimento, and Yvad & Legal Roots, with DJ/MC Lance-O of Kulcha Shok.

The festival concludes on Sunday, March 22, with a screening of the award-winning film “PLAY IT LOUD! How Toronto Got Soul” at the Old School Square Vintage Gymnasium. Part proceeds from the festival will be contributed to a South Florida based non-profit to support their hurricane rebuilding efforts in Jamaica.

Early Bird discount tickets go on sale for Reggae Month from February 1 to February 28 via Eventbrite. For additional information, visit www.palmbeachreggae.org