The 30^th annual Ragga Muffins Festival is coming to Long Beach, California February 19^th and 20^th. Reggae lovers can order their tickets now to this amazing event featuring top reggae performers coming to the Long Beach Area from Jamaica and other places around the world. This two day festival, held at the Long Beach Arena, originally went by another name – the Bob Marley Music Day Festival – and still continues in its tradition of paying homage to one of the greatest reggae performers and music icons in history, Bob Marley.

With 20 artists scheduled to perform over the two days of the event, concert attendees will have their fill of amazing reggae and dub performances. The line-up for this year’s festival, which could still be subject to change, currently has Bunny Wailer, Rebelution, Gyption, Half Pint, Horace Andy, Leroy Sibbles featuring The Lions, Etana, New Kingston, The Green and Qunito Sol slotted to perform on Saturday, February 19th. Sunday, February the 20th will exhibit the artists Israel Vibration, Gentleman, I-Octane, Marcia Griffiths, Freddie McGregor, Richie Spice, Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, Don Carlos, Cornel Campbell, and Tosh 1.

Buzz in the reggae community was huge once this year’s line-up was released. Jamaican born Bunny Wailer is celebrated as an amazing artist and reggae performer. As an original member of the group The Wailers, Bunny has performed with Bob Marley, his stepbrother, as well as Peter Tosh, and is renowned for his contributions to not just the reggae music scene, but the entertainment industry as a whole. Other highlighted performers for this year’s event include reggae and R&B/hip-hop chart topping regular Richie Spice, British born reggae sensation and award winner Don Campbell, and Freddie McGregor, whose reggae career has been going strong since the 1960’s when he got his start at just seven years old. 

MCs for this year’s festival are Amlak Tafari and Richie B.  Tafari got his start in reggae music when he joined his first band at the age of 14; since then the bass guitarist has gained huge notoriety on the music scene by recording with other amazing reggae performers and touring around the world in various different groups including The Reggae Revolution, the Yellow Wall Dub Band, and Steel Pulse (which happens to be the only reggae band to have ever performed at the White House). Richie B has also done very well for himself in the reggae music world; he is a constant reggae-chart topper and amazing performer. Both artists will be hosting this year’s event for the duration of the festival.

Anyone interested in attending this year’s show can arrange to purchase tickets ahead of time by visiting Ticketmaster’s website or calling 800-745-3000 and ordering them by phone. Additionally, certain retailers in Los Angeles and Long Beach have tickets on hand to sell; the list of retailers that allow attendees to purchase their tickets in person is available on the Ragga Muffins Festival website and includes addresses and phone numbers for those locations. Advanced ticket prices for General Admission Floor Tickets and Seated Tickets respectively are 55$ and 38$. Purchasing tickets on the day of the show is slightly more expensive with Floor tickets costing 60$ and Seated tickets at 45$. Children under 12 are allowed in free with a paid adult ticket.

Serious reggae lovers should consider the option of purchasing VIP lounge passes, available in limited quantity from Ticketmaster, for 68$, VIP GA Upper seat tickets, and $85, VIP GA floor tickets. VIP lounge passes include a commemorative Ragga Muffins Festival shirt and poster plus VIP lounge perks including select artist meet and greets, live reggae DJ entertainment in the lounge located at the Savor Beach Café, full bar service, and much more.

As mentioned, this year’s event is going to be held at the Long Beach Arena, which is one of the few ocean front arenas in the country. This beautiful location is absolutely stunning and the perfect venue for this festival. A list of venue rules, restrictions, and a code of patron conduct can be found at the Ragga Muffin Festival website. Attendees can also find directions to the venue on their webpage.

Event goers will also be able to choose from a long list of arts and crafts and food vendors that will be located at the arena. Arts and crafts vendors include Kathmandu Imports, specializing in Tebetan/Indian ethnic clothing, jewelry, scarves and bags; Rasta Youth, a children’s clothing company; and Rise & Shine Posse, who carry flags, incense, oils, bandanas and many more interesting items, among almost 20 other unique vendors. Food vendors are just as varied; the festival will offer a selection of local restaurants and traveling food vendors who specialize in Jamaican, Middle-Eastern, Belizean, Asian, and many other types of cuisines for festival attendees to choose from. Some local restaurants at the event include Joan % Sisters, Joe’s Universal Restaurant, Stone’s Restaurant, and CoCo’s Catering.