Tribute to the Reggae Legends is on the move in 2012, according to Makeda "Dread" Cheatom, who announced the change of venue on the WorldBeat Center’s Facebook page.
After many years at the Valley View Casino Center on Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego’s largest reggae festival will call the Port Pavilion at Broadway Pier its new home. Next year’s theme will be Legends By the Bay -- 2012 New Beginnings, and will run two days, Feb. 18-19.
Continuing with roots, culture and conscious reggae artists, the Legends 2012 lineup will nearly mirror last February’s vibe, which resulted in a nearly sold-out crowd and featured the reggae icon Bunny Wailer. Cheatom understands what local reggae fans want and the lineups in recent years featured conscious music fare more than dancehall reggae artists (constant issues with work visas and anti-gay lyrics are still a problem for dancehall performers).
A partial list of performers has been announced and includes two former members of the famed reggae group Black Uhuru, Don Carlos and Junior Reid. The Wailing Souls will also perform and will be a must-see, as I discovered this past summer at the Del Mar race track. Adding a feminine touch, Sister Carol and Sister Nancy will take the stage, along with Prezident Brown and Big Mountain. The Itals and Salvia Real round out the performers so far announced, but more artists will be added to the bill.
Pre-sale tickets ($75) are available now for a two-day pass priced.
