Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae makes a welcome return this year, on 10 & 11 September, after the pandemic made it impossible for the event to go ahead last year. And they’re back with an incredible festival lineup.
Since the Reggae festival’s inception in 2016, Positive Vibration has become one of the country’s most exciting and eclectic festivals. It’s played host to internationally renowned bands, legendary sound systems & selectors, and some of the best up and coming talent.
The festival is a stand out on the Liverpool scene due to the programme of events they host during the festival weekend. Not only is the music schedule packed, but there’s also the annual Art of Reggae exhibition, family activities and workshops, as well as the Jamdown food, drink and crafts market.
Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae Music Lineup
Legendary reggae artist, Dawn Penn, will grace the stage at this year’s festival, joining an already stellar line-up, which includes Asian Dub Foundation, Mad Professor, Hollie Cook, Twinkle Brothers, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Zion Train, General Levy, Congo Natty, Mungo’s Hi Fi, Neville Staple, Jah Wobble, Tippa Irie and Benjamin Zephaniah.
One of the original queens of reggae music, Penn released her first single “When I’m Gonna Be Free” in 1966. “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” has become one of reggae’s most iconic songs.
With six stages to choose from, audiences will be spoiled for choice by a wide range of reggae acts around every corner.
The full music line-up includes:
Asian Dub Foundation // The Twinkle Brothers // Mad Professor // Gentleman’s Dub Club // Dawn Penn & The Maticians // Hollie Cook // Zion Train // Tippa Irie // Congo Natty // General Levy & Joe Ariwa // Don Letts // Channel One // Horseman & The Upper Cut Band // Mungo’s Hi Fi // Benjamin Zephaniah & The Revolutionary Minds // Ruts DC // Kiko Bun // From The Specials – Neville Staple Band // Krafty Kuts Ft. Dynamite MC // Jah Wobble & The Invaders of The Heart // Iration Steppas Ft. Murray Man // The Nextmen Ft. Gardna // DJ Vadim Ft. Jman // O.B.F Ft. Sr. Wilson // Charlie P // Sister Aisha // Congo Dubz & Iron Dread // Sinai Sound System // Kioko // Aleighcia Scott // FutureDub Orchestra // Oxman // Adam Prescott // Dub Link Up Ft. Mc Mad-X // Count Skylarkin’ // Kingston Express // Levi Tafari // Rubber Dub // One A Penny // DJ Fadda B // Buddha // Keith Marley // The Liquidator V Ska-Lette Fever
Positive Vibration 2021 Timetable
Additional Festival Events
The Art of Reggae exhibition, a collaboration between Positive Vibration and the international Reggae Poster Contest, will once again showcase a series of reggae-inspired posters designed by illustrators & artists from across the globe.
Additionally, there’s an action-packed weekend of family activities and workshops, including dub poetry, drumming & movement, dance, capoeira, arts & crafts and screen-printing.
The activities and workshops will be hosted by Levi Tafari, Katumba, Capoeira For All, Movema, Square Pegs, The Paper Moon and Curtis Watt. There will also be a special live performance from festival favourites, Staged Kaos.
Children and young people are welcome to the festival on both days, with free entry for kids under 12. However, please note, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and there’s a curfew of 9pm on both days.
Also at this year’s festival DJ, filmmaker & broadcaster, Don Letts will be bringing his ‘There and Back Again’ book tour to this year’s Positive Vibration Festival. There will be a book reading, signing and Q&A hosted by award-winning music journalist and friend of the festival, John Robb.
And if you’re still after more, then the Jamdown Market will be on hand with a host of traders offering a diverse selection of food, drink, records, clothes, arts & crafts, jewellery, health and well-being.
Positive Vibration Festival founder Rory Taylor said:
“The past 18 months has been a long hard slog and extremely challenging at times, but we can see the light, and couldn’t be happier that Positive Vibration Festival is returning to the Baltic Triangle next month.
We’ve got an incredible line-up of bands, artists, sound systems, DJs & selectors, celebrating the best in reggae, roots, dub, dancehall, 2tone, punk, jungle, drum n bass, rub a dub and steppas. We’ll also be hosting the Liverpool leg of Don Letts’ There and Black Again Book Tour, as well the Art of Reggae Exhibition and loads of fantastic workshops & activities, including dub poetry, dance, capoeira, drumming, beatboxing, screen-printing, and arts & crafts.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces, catching up with old friends and meeting new people. I also can’t wait to feel the heavyweight bass. I’ve missed it!”
Tickets are still available for Positive Vibration Festival here.