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World-renowned Skatalites top billing for 6th annual Reggae Fest

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The Skatalites, who emerged and took fame along with Toots and The Maytals and "The Wailing Wailers," perform Saturday at the Governor's Inn Reggae and Craft Beer Fest. (Courtesy photo)

The Governor's Inn 6th Annual Reggae and Craft Beer Fest this year features pre-eminent and reggae precursor band the Skatalites, who shared the stage back in the '60s and '70s with reggae immortals like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

This year's festival will boast five internationally renowned reggae bands in all, 10 hours of music, arts and crafts vendor booths, open grills with barbecue like jerked chicken and scores of craft beers to sample.

Ska was a style of popular music having a strong offbeat that originated in Jamaica in the 1960s as a forerunner of reggae and was practically created by the festival's top-billed band the Skatalites, Governor's Inn owner Herman Ejarque said today.

"The band lineup this year is incredible," Ejarque said. "You could pay $30 a ticket for any one of these bands, and we've got five."

The festival begins Saturday at noon with the music starting at 1 p.m. on the inn's garden stage behind the Garage Restaurant.

Other bands include The Alchemystics, Duppy Conqueros, Taj Weekes & Adowa, and Dread Rocks.

From the adjoining garden artisan vendors will showcase hand crafted art and jewelry. Beer tents will pour a multitude of craft brews, and from under the grove trees grilled burgers, Jamaican Jerk Chicken and the Garage's award winning barbecue will be served.

Headlining the festival are The Skatalites - the legendary band from Jamaica in the '60s performing with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, still with original vocalist Doreen Shaffer.

The Skatalites emerged and took fame along with Toots and The Maytals and "The Wailing Wailers" - groups recording on the new beat called ska, which had an infectious rhythm that was catching on like wildfire.

Eventually, the beat slowed down into rocksteady, and then into reggae. This wildfire spread unstoppably around the world, developing into a huge musical tree with many stylistic branches, including lovers rock, dub, dancehall/ ragga, ska-punk, and others. Hugely popular groups, like The Police, The Clash, The English Beat, Sublime and No Doubt, all have their roots firmly planted in the music of The Skatalites.

The Alchemystics is a large reggae band infused with hip hop and modern roots music with old-school vocal harmonies. The Duppy Conqueros is a Bob Marley band - not a look-a-like band. Returning is the band Dread Rocks named Boston's top reggae act with their fiery lyrical deliverance, heavy drum and bass-infused reggae infused with soul, making everyone want to dance.

Also on stage at the Aug. 5 fest will be international reggae start Taj Weekes, a dreadlocked Rastafarian musician and creative, poetic singer-songwriter who fronts a dynamic reggae band named Adowa. A major humanitarian, Weekes is also a titled UNICEF activist.

All-day tickets for the festival are $30. Tickets are available at The Governor's Inn and online at www.governorsinn.com

The festival is kid- and family-friendly and is a rain or shine event with the Inn's tents. There is limited seating for those arriving early - others are recommended to bring lawn chairs or lawn blankets. The Reggae Festival is part of the Governor's Inn Summer Music Festival, made possible by area businesses who invest back in their community: Metrocast, Allstate Insurance, Broadview Animal Hospital, Poulin Auto, Healey Auto Repair, Spence & Matthews Insurance, First City Auto, Hervey's Tire Company, Independence Financial Advisors, Tri-City Towing, Holy Rosary Credit Union, Studleys, and The Rochester Opera House.

For more information on all Governor's Inn events, band links and a schedule of the full three-month lineup including the Reggae fest, visit www.governorsinn.com or call the Inn at 332-0107.

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