Annual spring skiing festival to feature eight bands performing on three stages over three days

CARRABASSETT VALLEY —

Now in its 26th year, the annual Sugarloaf Reggae Festival is one of the most highly anticipated events of the spring, attracting spring skiing and reggae enthusiasts for a weekend filled with non-stop live music, wild parties, and the deep spring snow pack that has made Sugarloaf’s spring skiing famous.

Hailing from Santa Barbara Calif., Iration features a deep-rooted reggae influence infused with elements of rock and pop to create smooth, original sounds. The group has released three full-length albums, No Time for Rest (2007), Time Bomb (2010), and its latest, Automatic, which debuted on July 2, 2013. Time Bomb reached #1 on the iTunes Reggae album chart and remains in the top 20 on Billboard’s top 20 Reggae chart.

The Hawaiian-raised band grew up together and reconnected years later in Santa Barbara where the band formed. Since that time they have toured the country, performing at several of the nation’s biggest music festivals, including Lollapalooza, Wakarusa, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and the Sunset Strip Music Festival.

Iration will headline a group of eight reggae artists, including Boston-based Renegade Soundstation, who will return to headline the free Friday night Reggae Rave on April 11. Now in its third year, the Reggae Rave will run from 9 p.m.-midnight in the King Pine Room and will feature professional lighting and sound, bringing a night club experience to the Sugarloaf Base Lodge.

Renegade Soundstation will also kick off the Reggae Fest festivities with a Thursday night performance in the Widowmaker Lounge.

The warm summery sounds of another Reggae Fest repeat band, Kiwi, will fill the Widomaker Lounge with performances Friday and Saturday night. After nearly a decade of entertaining audiences on the East Coast and in Brazil, this group has been hailed by columnists for “Redefining the subgenre of Tropicalia Reggae Music.”

The reggae music will continue throughout the afternoon on Saturday, with live performances from Green Lion Crew, Royal Hammer, and Catch a Vibe on the Beach in front of the Base Lodge.

All outdoor music on the Beach will be free and open to all ages, and Friday night’s Reggae Rave will be free and open to anyone 21 or over.

Good Vibes passes for Saturday night’s performance by Iration are $19 when purchased in advance, or $29 on the day of the show. Saturday night tickets will provide access to both the King Pine Room and the Widowmaker Lounge.

Thursday and Friday night’s performances in the Widowmaker Lounge are $5 at the door, and open to anyone 21 and older.

No outside alcohol may be brought into any venue, and all bags and coolers are subject to search.

For more information, visit www.sugarloaf.com/reggae.

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