Reggae Legends Headline 20th Annual Reggae in the Desert Festival in Las Vegas

- Kaati Gaffney, Contributor

The 20th annual Reggae in the Desert festival is set to bring a piece of Jamaican culture to Las Vegas on Saturday, May 6th. 

For one day, Downtown Las Vegas will become a reggae paradise with live performances, island-inspired food and craft vendors. The festival boasts an impressive lineup, including the headliner, 2x Grammy award-winning band Morgan Heritage, who will be joined by reggae superstar Eek-A-Mouse, performing for the first time in the U.S. in over 15 years. 

Other performers include the Legendary Wailers, Romain Virgo, Hempress Sativa, Junior Toots, Mellow Mood, local superstars Bonafide, and the host DJ Ramma.

Morgan Heritage, formed in 1994, is a Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae band that released their debut album, Miracles, in the same year. However, it took the music industry over 20 years to recognize their brilliance, despite millions of fans around the world. 

In 2016, their album Strictly Roots won the Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category. Their latest album, Loyalty, released in 2019, gives fans a chance to understand why the band has been around for so many years. 

According to the band’s member Peetah, “This album gives listeners a chance to take a deep dive into what the career of Morgan Heritage has given to humanity from our heart and soul for over the years.”

Eek-A-Mouse, a legendary Jamaican artist, is known for his unique vocal style, sing-jay, and his scatting style, which differs from the-then toasting deejays of the 80s. He established himself with an international audience with his 1988 album, Eek-A-Nomics, which featured a club hit with “The Freak.” Eek-A-Mouse recorded a song with hip-hop recording artist Ditch called “Smoke it up” (2007), which is featured on Ditch's CD Public Intoxication. 

The artist has teamed up with Bounty Killer and Damian Marley in “Khaki Suit.”

The Wailers, known as one of the few bands that can claim genuine legend status, have a place in essential music history. Their music was and is culture-defining, embodying the spirit of 70s-era reggae. The band will be performing a special set featuring incredible cuts from Bob Marley’s formidable back catalog along with a string of their greatest, classic hits. 

The Wailers released their first single off their album One World, One Prayer in late 2020. The album, which marks The Wailers’ return to the recording studios and the band’s first album in 25 years, was nominated for a Grammy in 2021.

Overall, the Reggae in the Desert festival promises to be a wonderful experience for all reggae enthusiasts in Las Vegas. The festival will be an opportunity to immerse oneself in Jamaican culture, savor the island-inspired food, and enjoy live performances by world-renowned reggae artists, including Morgan Heritage, Eek-A-Mouse, and The Wailers. 

This year's festival will undoubtedly be a celebration of reggae culture and the genre’s rich history.