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Waterfront Productions, LLC/Rhode Island Waterfront Events’ 8th annual Waterfront Reggae Festival, featuring Freddie McGregor, Anthony B, Junior Kelly, Kabaka Pyramid, Taj Weekes & Adowa and Natural Element, will kick-off the festival season at the new outdoor venue located at Bold Point Park on the East Providence, Rhode Island waterfront on Saturday, August 12th from noon to 10:00 p.m. Tickets for the Festival are $41 in advance and $51 the day of the show and are general admission. There are also exclusive $80 Rocksteady Passes still available in limited quantities that include all-day admission, access to a private lounge, cocktail service and a complimentary island cocktail or Red Stripe beer. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.riwaterfrontevents.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or by visiting Jordan’s Liquors at 199 Taunton Avenue in East Providence or Looney Tunes Records, 562 Kingstown Road in Wakefield, Rhode Island during regular store hours. On the day of the event, tickets will also be available at the RI Waterfront Events box office at Bold Point Park.
“Similar to our previous Reggae Festival locations in downtown Newport and then at India Point Park in Providence, the new venue will deliver a relaxed, casual, summer experience on the waterfront,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, Founder and President of Waterfront Productions, the parent company of Rhode Island Waterfront Events and Newport Waterfront Events. “In addition to showing off our new location, we are excited to provide Reggae lovers with 10-hours of music from six international and homegrown artists, authentic Jamaican food, a festive world marketplace and, of course, cold beverages and multiple bars.”
The Festival’s main headliner, Freddie McGregor is a Jamaican born, internationally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated singer who has helped shape Reggae music with his conscious lyrics and Philly-Soul style for more than 50 years. Equally adept as a romantic crooner or delivering strong cultural messaging, his undeniable vocal ability boasts hits like “Push Come to Shove”, “I Was Born A Winner”, “Lock Dem’ Down”, “I Am A Rasta”, “Walls of Jericho”, his signature tune “Big Ship” which catapulted him to the top of the reggae scene in the post-Marley era and American soul classics like “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” (by Main Ingredient) which made the U.K. Top 10 in 1987 and “Can I Change My Mind” (by Tyrone Davis).
McGregor’s album entitled, Anything for You, was nominated for a Grammy award in 2002. He received the prestigious Jamaican Order of Distinction in 2003 and a Sumfest Award for his contributions to Jamaican music and culture. McGregor latest release, True to My Roots, topped the United States and Caribbean Reggae charts and debuted at #10 on the Billboard Reggae Music charts.
Ever since his early days of conscious music and critically-acclaimed albums, including “Repentance Time” and “One Thing”, Jamaican-born Anthony B’s rich vocals and lyrics about suffering and salvation have carried a depth and substance which are rare in the industry. Now with more than 15 albums to his credit, collaborations with artists including Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg and Bone Crusher, and a captivating and energetic performing style, he is on the frontlines of the Reggae music scene. His latest album is entitled, Anthony B.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Keith Morgan, better known as Junior Kelly, is the younger brother of the popular, late DJ Jim Kelly. Having established himself in the mid-nineties, Junior Kelly had a breakthrough in 1999 when he enjoyed international chart success with the hit, “If Love So Nice” which topped the Jamaican chart for 13 weeks and led to a slew of global reggae hits, including “Jah Jah Live On”, “Can’t Get Away”, “Clean Heart”, “God Bless” and “One Day”. His latest album is entitled, Urban Poet.
Keron “Kabaka Pyramid” Salmon is a multi-talented artist and producer with a unique musical style blending the power, energy and melody of Reggae with the lyricism of Hip Hop. Having already released an impressive catalog, including the critically-acclaimed “Rebel Music EP” and the Billboard Top 10 charting “Lead The Way EP; singles such as “Free From Chains”, “No Capitalist”, “Mi Alright” and “Never Gonna Be A Slave”, Kabaka Pyramid is being touted by many as a leader in the new wave of powerful reggae artists coming out of Jamaica. In fact, in 2013 he was awarded Breakthrough Artist of the Year by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association. Following the global success of his impactful hit single, “Well Done” in 2015, Kabaka Pyramid recently released his “Accurate” mixtape presented by Major Lazer and Walshy Fire. He has toured exclusively over the past four years, carrying his “Rebel Music” to the largest stages around the world.
Taj Weekes & Adowa unites a true social consciousness with an unforgettable reggae groove. Blending in elements of acoustic roots rock and afro-folk, the band’s vibrant sound defies genre and has garnered critical acclaim and a wide audience across the globe. Born and raised on the island of St. Lucia, Weekes left home to fulfill his musical ambitions in North America. There he formed his band, Taj Weekes & Adowa which is driven to inspire conscious thought and provoke discussion through its lyrics. The band’s latest album is entitled, Love Herb and Reggae. Natural Element hails from Providence, Rhode Island and brings Reggae vibes infusing all the elements of true beat music, including Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk and Afro-Beat.
As the schedule stands currently, other announced events at Bold Point Park are: The Beach Boys on Wednesday, August 9th; moe. + Railroad Earth on Thursday, August 24th; the Blues & BBQ Festival featuring The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, The Silks, Barrett Anderson Band, Cannibal Ramblers and Cee Cee & The Riders on Saturday, August 26th; and Oktoberfest on Columbus Day Weekend, Saturday, October 7th. A September concert will be announced soon.
Waterfront Productions secured final approvals in February on a three–year lease of land at Bold Point Park in East Providence for a seasonal, open-air, waterfront entertainment venue with a capacity for 3,500 people for concerts and 5,000 for general admission festivals. The venue will feature annual concerts, music festivals and other events by national, international and local artists along with food and beverage options including full bars, lounge areas and local food trucks. Event-goers will enjoy beautiful views of upper Narragansett Bay, the Providence and Seekonk Rivers and the Providence skyline. Bold Point Park is located off Veteran’s Memorial Parkway on Waterfront Drive next to Tockwotton on the Waterfront (500 Waterfront Drive) and its address for GPS is 15 Pier Road, East Providence, Rhode Island. It is directly across the river from India Point Park in Providence. Please visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com for information on parking.
Waterfront Productions and Bold Point Park partners include: The City of East Providence, the East Providence Waterfront Commission, Tockwotton on the Waterfront, East Providence Chamber of Commerce, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island, KIA, Bank RI, Dunkin Donuts, Jordan’s Liquors, Heineken, Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer, Hilton Garden Inn, Arrow Prestige Limousine & Coach and Red Stripe.
Waterfront Productions LLC, headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island, specializes in event management/production and venue operation and is the parent company of Newport Waterfront Events and Rhode Island Waterfront Events. Formerly the event management team at the Newport Yachting Center in downtown Newport, Waterfront Productions LLC started in 2015 after the Newport Yachting Center was sold to Peregrine Group in 2014. Waterfront Productions owns and manages the Great Chowder Cook-Off, now held at Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island; the Waterfront Reggae Festival held in 2015 and 2016 at India Point Park in Providence, Rhode Island and a summer/fall concert series that originated as the Sunset Music Series/Newport Concert Series and has since migrated to other venues in the Providence area the past two years. The Waterfront Productions team also owns and operates The Newport Skating Center, an outdoor skating rink in downtown Newport open annually December through February. Other events that Waterfront Productions has co-produced over the past 12 years include the Volvo Ocean Race concerts at Fort Adams State Park in 2015, Newport Comedy Series, and the Newport International Boat Show. Waterfront Productions also offers event management consulting services.
For more information, please visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com, contact Michele Maker Palmieri, Founder and President of Waterfront Productions via email at mmaker@newportwaterfrontevents.com or call (888) 900-8640, Ext. 709. To receive future Rhode Island Waterfront Events and Newport Waterfront Events announcements, presale opportunities or exclusive packages, sign up at riwaterfrontevents.com and become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/RIWaterfrontEvents, Instagram/RIWaterfrontEvents and Twitter/RIWEvents.
