This weekend is the weekend that every reggae fanatic (or reggae snob, as the case may be) in Southern California waits for -- the annual Ragga Muffins Festival in Long Beach.
Now in its 29th year, the Ragga Muffins Festival (formerly Bob Marley Day) has a stellar lineup that includes classic roots performers from the 1970s -- Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth and the Mighty Diamonds -- and dancehall superstars like Capleton, Frankie Paul, Yellowman and Shaggy. The fest features North America’s largest international crafts and food fair and free admission for children 12 and younger when accompanied by a paid adult.
Admittedly, I am one of those reggae snobs. I've waited years to see the one and only Big Youth -- who was Bob Marley's favorite Jamaican musician -- in concert. I'll be there with bells on.
Ragga Muffins Festival, Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Feb. 20-21, doors open at noon, $38-$60
-- Richard Metzger
Photo: Concertgoers at the annual Ragga Muffins Festival at the Long Beach Arena. Credit: Ringo H.W. Chiu / Los Angeles Times.
Capleton, scheduled for the "Ragga Muffins" festival at the Long Beach Arena on February 21, 2010, is another of the "kill LGBT" reggae dancehall performers, like Buju Banton.
ReplyDeleteExamples of Capleton lyrics include "All boogamen (gays) and sodemites (can refer to gays and lesbians) fi get killed" and "Yow, string dem up and hang dem up alive."
For more information see the "Dancehall Dossier" at http://tinyurl.com/2xax3b
Capleton signed the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007, promising not to promote hate and violence http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/reggaecompassionateact-capleton.htm
He violated that agreement before the end of 2007
http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2008/11/capleton-concert-cancelled-in-basel.html
Capleton had scheduled performances canceled in California in West Hollywood, Santa Cruz, Arcata and San Francisco in 2004 and in Los Angeles in 2005.
This man promotes hatred, violence and murder in his music.
See http://tinyurl.com/yzr5qgs
Capleton is no longer listed on the "Ragga Muffins" Festival webpages for either Long Beach or Oakland http://www.raggamuffinsfestival.com/