Island Festival features Caribbean vibe
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Kalamazoo's 20th annual Island Festival has a new time and location this year, featuring a variety of Jamaican and Caribbean-inspired cuisine and live reggae music that ranges from the top local talent to well-known regional and national headliners.
The event runs Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 27-29—3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursday and noon to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday—at the Growlers baseball field at Mayors' Riverfront Park.
Admission on Thursday is $5. Admission Friday and Saturday is free until 4 p.m., $7 from 4 to 7 p.m. and $10 after 7 p.m. A three-day pass, new this year, will be $20. The cost is $5 for on-site parking.
Food, drinks, beer and wine are available with the purchase of tickets, each costing 50 cents for items usually priced between three and eight tickets.
Headlining Thursday and Friday will be Dub Tonic Kru, one of the top bands in Jamaica. Also, Friday will be Lazo, a former member of Bob Marley's Wailers. Saturday will include a performance by Pato Banton, from the United Kingdom.
Entertainment
Thursday, Aug. 27
- 3 to 6:30 p.m., recorded music
- 6:30 to 8 p.m., Rumblefish
- 8:30 to 10 p.m., Dubtoonic Kru
- 10:30 p.m. to midnight, DiMachine featuring Bunny Jackson & Devon Brow
Friday, Aug. 28
- Noon to 1:30 p.m., Uprizin Steel Band
- 4 to 5:30 p.m., Uprizin Steel Band
- 6 to 7:30 p.m, Midwest Hype
- 8 to 9:30 p.m., Gizzae
- 10 to 11:30 p.m., Lazo
- Midnight to 1:30 a.m., Dubtonic Kru, DJ Assane
Saturday, Aug. 29
- Noon to 1:30 p.m., Lion Height
- 2 to 3:30 p.m., Rhythm Life Collective (formerly Dunuya Drum & Dance)
- 4 to 5:30 p.m., Lion Height
- 6 to 7:30 p.m., Indika
- 8 to 9:30 p.m., Irie Trinity
- 10 to 11:30 p.m., Pato Banton & the Now Generation
- Midnight to 1:30 a.m., Zion Lion, DJ Billy the Kid & Arubis
For more information, visit islandfestkalamazoo.com.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.