Everything ‘irie’ at Reggae in the Desert festival
In the shade of trees in the Clark County Amphitheater, Edgar Tunson sat relaxing on his air mattress, bobbing his head to the beat of reggae jams.
“I’ve been to every one for the last five years,” the 57-year-old Las Vegas resident said, referring to Las Vegas’ local reggae festival. “Best concert I’ve been to in Vegas. I mean I love it.”
Tunson was one of hundreds of people sitting around the amphitheater Saturday afternoon for the 15th annual Reggae in the Desert Festival at the Clark County Amphitheater. Reggae musicians took center stage as food and accessory vendors bordered the grassy space.
Tunson and his girlfriend were the only pair who brought along air mattresses, which he bought for $28 at Wal-Mart.
“Every year, everybody who walks by says ‘Oh that’s a great idea.’ This is the way to go,” he said, gesturing to the blue air mattresses surrounded by a sea of blankets.
Tunson, who was wearing a tie-dye shirt and long yellow socks, said the mellow vibes of the event kept him coming back.
“People sit and do what they do,” he said. “I’ve never seen a disturbance here.”
In the shade, attendees sat on blankets, singing along to songs and enjoying an occasional desert breeze. The smell of Caribbean food filled the air. Despite the heat, fans danced around the stage in the sun, limbs flying as they sang along.
“How you feeling?” the emcee asked the crowd around noontime. “Yup, you’re still chillin’,” he continued after receiving a quiet response from the crowd.
Frederic Apcar started the festival in 2001 as a way to bring a different type of community and artists to Vegas. Last year, about 3,500 attended the festival, he said. He said he expects to see about the same amount of people this year.
Apcar, who wore red, yellow and green socks to the event, said he’s worked to create a festival that brings a community event to Vegas.
“Everyone’s happy, everyone’s cool. It’s just a nice day for everyone to leave worries at home and (enjoy) positive vibes,” he said.
Cameron Schuyler, 31, had a tent set up filled with paintings he’d started and completed during concerts. The Orange County native does live art, drawing on a canvas as musicians played sets.
He said he came back to the festival for a second time because of the musical line up.
“The music, obviously, is my biggest inspiration. I’m passionate about reggae so this is a perfect fit for me,” he said. When the band New Kingston went on stage, Schulyler could be found off to the side under a green umbrella, painting away.
Sisters Monique Timms and Donna Hart sat in the shade of the trees, wearing homemade pink flip-flops covered in red, yellow and green frills.
Timms, 46, said they’ve been returned to the festival for the past five years for the “good people, love and happy feelings.”
Hart’s lips were painted red, yellow and green, matching her flip-flops and earrings. The 45-year-old said the pair arrived when the event opened, and will be there until it closes at 11 p.m.
The self-proclaimed “groupies” agreed that they were excited to see Don Carlos and Capleton, who would perform later in the day.
“Why else would we come out in this heat?” Timms said with a laugh.
Onstage, the emcee encouraged the group to keep the energy up, reminding them to keep positive vibes in the desert.
“Peace and love is inside of everyone,” he said.
Contact Melissa Gomez at mgomez@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0278. Follow @melissagomez004 on Twitter.