BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A singer who had two albums nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Albums will headline ArtsQuest's fifth annual One Earth ReggaeFest.
Jesse Royal, a Jamaican who blends traditional roots reggae with modern influences and socially conscious lyrics, will perform at the July 11 festival on the SteelStacks campus.
Royal will be among more than a dozen acts across three stages scheduled for the festival, set for noon-1:30 a.m.
Other acts scheduled for One Earth Reggae Festival include Latino reggae-rock Fayuca and Jamaican pop band The Big Takeover.
Admission to the festival is free.
There also will be food and craft vendors and a free all-levels yoga session on the Levitt lawn, "all within a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere rooted in peace, love and community," an ArtsQuest release said.
One Earth again will kick off with a free screening of the film “The Harder They Come” starring Jimmy Cliff, in Alehouse Cinemas.
“For its fifth consecutive year, One Earth Reggae Festival will bring the joyful rhythms of reggae back to the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks,” ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said.
“Bringing cultures together all while uplifting the community, is what this festival does best. From vibrant melodies to family fun, this is an event where everyone can come together, relax and enjoy the positive energy of the day.”
Headliners
Royal released his debut single, "Butterflies," in 2011, but gained far more attention for his 2012 single "Modern Day Judas."
He released his debut EP, "Hope & Love," in 2015, and that year Vogue magazine cited him as part of the Reggae Revival movement.
He released his debut full album, "Lily of Da Valley," in 2017, followed by 2021's "Royal," for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.
His latest album, "No Place Like Home," also was nominated for Best Reggae Album in this year's Grammys.
Phoenix, Arizona, reggae-rock/Latino group, Fayuca, had a song, "Por Que Seguir" win mtvU's The Freshman contest. The group also has been featured on MTV, Univision and FOX Sports.
Seven-piece New York band The Big Takeover plays original music rooted in Jamaican pop: reggae, rocksteady and ska.
Returning will be Space Kamp, the psychedelic-reggae duo whose 2020 album "Electric Lemonade" hit No. 15 on the iTunes Reggae chart, and 2022 's "Butterfly Effect" debuted at No. 7 on Billboard's Current Reggae Chart and No. 9 on iTunes Reggae Charts.
Space Kamp's Adam Viola also created this year's One Earth ReggaeFest poster.
Schedule
The schedule for the festival is:
12:45-1:30 p.m. — Marrissa Joy, Levitt Pavilion
1:30-2 p.m. — MSJR, Town Square stage
2-2:45 p.m. — IRIEspect, Levitt Pavilion
2-2:45 p.m. — Space Kamp, Williams Brew Stage
2:45-3:15 p.m. — Dylan Peters, Town Square
3:15-4 p.m. — GOE TROUPE, Levitt Pavilion
3:15-4 p.m. — Roots In Blue Stone, Williams Brew Stage
4-4:45 p.m. — Cultivated Mind, Town Square
4:45-5:30 p.m. — Space Kamp, Levitt Pavilion
4:45-5:30 p.m. — LNJ Sessions, Williams Brew Stage
5:30-6:15 p.m. — Unity Vibration, Town Square
6:15-7:15 p.m. — FAYUCA, Levitt Pavilion
6:15-7:15 p.m. — Hector “Roots” Lewis, Williams Brew Stage
7:15-8:15 p.m. — The Big Takeover, Town Square
8:30-9:45 p.m. — Jesse Royal, Levitt Pavilion
9:45-10:45 p.m. — Jah T Jr. & Ras Jem, Town Square
10:45-11:30 p.m. — DJ Bez Musiq, Town Square
11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. — DJ Romeo G & Host Naj, Town Square
