Reggae on the River

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Reggae on the River (locally known as simply Reggae) was a reggae festival in Humboldt County, California, which occurred annually on the first weekend in August from 1983 until 2006.^[1] The festival began as a benefit for the Mateel Community Center, a nonprofit for southern Humboldt County. In 1983 the center's community hall in Garberville was burned down by an arsonist^[2], and the center charged then-board member Carol Bruno with organizing the festival to raise money for a new hall. It was held at French's Camp (a property located on a bend in the Eel River near Piercy, California) every year except 2006, the festival's last^[3].

[edit] 2006 Conflict

The 2006 concert brought in far less money than previous shows had, or that was estimated. Due to the move to a new site and the expenses incurred in removing equipment from the old location, the Mateel center saw no revenue from the 2006 event^[4]. In 2007, the festival was canceled in the wake of a legal battle between the Mateel Community Center, People Productions (the company started by Carol Bruno after leaving her position at the Mateel), and Tom Dimmick, the owner of the property which hosted the festival in 2006. The dispute centered around revenues, with the Mateel questioning why profits estimated by People Productions did not materialize, and why there was a discrepancy between the number of tickets approved and reported attendance^[5]. In the wake of the cancellation of Reggae on the River, People Productions in conjunction with Tom Dimmick produced their own reggae concert at Dimmick Ranch, which was called "Reggae Rising" and took place at Dimmick Ranch on the usual first weekend in August.

[edit] Media

Reggae on the River released a 20th anniversary CD in 2003, and a DVD in 2004.

[edit] References