Feel a Caribbean vibe at Island Fest

KALAMAZOO – For 20 years, the sounds of the Caribbean have brought the islands to West Michigan and they’ll be heard again starting Thursday.

The 2015 Kalamazoo Island Fest begins at 11 a.m. Thursday at Homer Stryker Field, 251 Mills St. It’s an event billed as the biggest reggae festival in Michigan, and director David Bauman said people have to go to Chicago or Detroit to find anything that compares to it.

“It’s a very fun, positive, high-energy festival,” Bauman said. He added there will be food vendors with Caribbean, African and other international foods, an African market, and a general vibe intended for everybody, including families.

For the uninitiated, is it somewhat surprising there’s a large, successful reggae festival just off downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan?

Bauman said the festival’s been successful here partly because of the presence of Western Michigan University.

“Most college towns have a reggae radio show like Western does,” Bauman said. “You also usually have a good selection of reggae music in a college town, too.”

Musicians, though, speak to the power of reggae as a way to connect with everyday people and what’s happening in their lives as a reason for the festival’s — and the genre’s — popularity.

Reggae musician Lazarus Finn, better known as Lazo, said the Midwest loves the reggae sound in his experience, which includes performing in Kalamazoo. Partly, he said, that’s because of the way the music can comment on anything from politics, to history, to economics.

“It’s a voice, the ears and a mouthpiece for the downtrodden people,” Lazo said. “So the music is a vehicle to carry the messages around.”

Musician Pato Banton, who is also on the 2015 lineup, pointed to the titles of his albums “Stay Positive” and “Never Give In” when asked if his music connects with common struggles.

“The people who like music with a positive message, that’s one thing you can always guarantee with reggae music,” Banton said. “There’s a great, great message in the music.”

Banton also said there’s a strong Midwest reggae scene; of course, people around Kalamazoo know about local reggae group Zion Lion.

Then, of course, there’s the music itself. Bauman said even with the festival, reggae is still uncommon in the area when compared to blues or rock, which can be found in any bar across the region every weekend.

“I always say you need to bring your dancing shoes because it’s pretty hard not to dance to reggae music,” Bauman said.

Lazo described his sound as eclectic, building on reggae as a base. He said most people associate the music with Jamaica; as a counterpoint, he said he’s originally from Dominica.

“So it has some of the same influences, which is definitely going to add different textures and colors to the sound,” Lazo said. “It’s a different sound from the everyday Jamaican sound, but it’s reggae.”

Banton said he’s got a seven-piece band that delivers an uplifting, family friendly show.

“People can expect a very positive, high-energy, reggae-vibration show,” Banton said, laughing.

Contact Andy Fitzpatrick at 2369-966-0697 or afitzpatrick@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @am_fitzpatrick.

If you go

•WHAT: Kalamazoo Island Fest.

•WHERE: Homer Stryker Field, 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo.

•WHEN: 11 a.m. Thursday to 12:30 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m. Friday to 1:30 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. Saturday to 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

•COST: Admission is free before 4 p.m. each day; $5 4p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; $8 after 7 p.m. Thursday; $7 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $10 after 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Kids 12 and younger are free. A portion of admission fees are donated to Special Olympics.

•INFO: For a full schedule of activities, go to www.islandfestkalamazoo.com. For more information on Pato Banton, check out www.patobanton.com, find him on Facebook and YouTube, and download free music at www.reverbnation.com/patobantonandthenowgeneration. More on Lazo can be found at www.lazomusic.com.