Written and Experienced By Mara Dobyns
As I sit here in October and reflect back on The Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival I attended in July for this upcoming edition of the magazine (if you’re reading this it must be January already, whew) all I can think about is how grateful I am for this time in my life. Time to reflect, time to look forward, but mostly how fast time flies and how important it is to be present in this exact time, the here and now.
As a mother I wouldn’t say festivals are my first priority in life. Don’t tell fifteen year old me that though, that version of me lived for sunny days spent dehydrating myself at Warped Tour and those fleeting moments of connection when you truly feel seen, heard, present, and alive. They may have been only a moment in time but that moment was enough to keep you going until the next one. It was enough to let you know that even though High School or life isn’t always fun, you aren’t alone, and there is so much more of the world out there to explore and enjoy. Those moments of connection when you’re bursting with love, energy, and good vibes. When you’re singing along to every single line of your favorite song from your favorite band with total strangers. In that moment those total strangers feel like family because you’re there for the same band, you’re passionate about the same songs, you’re at the same festival and it creates this unification because you know it’s all making this huge impact on their life too, and sharing that moment with those around you, that can mean everything in the world. That can shift everything in your world. Cue Rebelution’s ‘Feeling Alright’.
That’s exactly what Good Vibez Presents is aiming to create when they go into planning mode for their Annual Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival. From the beautiful souls that create the music all the way to the crafty food vendors, they strive to create an atmosphere that builds community and is welcoming in every possible way. A community that welcomes kids, so parents like me can share the good vibes with their littles. A community that takes care of each other and thrives together. A community that makes time to pause, attend a festival, and enjoy the present moment with incredibly joyful live music, amazing food, and like minded individuals. A community of good vibes and unforgettable times. To be honest, my words won’t do the experience justice, but I’m going to try anyways.
Let’s start from the beginning, shall we? The Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival is a two day music festival put on by Good Vibez Presents and hosted by Palisades in beautiful Lake Tahoe.
Good Vibez Presents is run by husband and wife dream team, Dan and Amy Sheehan who see themselves as “core-memory architects.” “Centered on their desire to use their platforms to elevate creatives in their community, their events are rooted in supporting local nonprofits and small businesses.” They make all decisions based on the experiences of fans and artists alike. They take care of you and leave you with an everlasting memory and love for the experience. Amy states “we want everyone to feel as though they are being welcomed into our home for the weekend. We strive to give artists a hospitable, safe, and comfortable environment where creativity can thrive. And we work to give fans the coveted you-had-to-be-there memory with every ticket, it’s more than just what or who is on stage; it’s the food, the drinks, the art installations, the commitment to safety, and the friendliness of the staff.” Now that I’ve witnessed these efforts come to life I know firsthand that it can make all the difference. Amy and Dan and the Good Vibez Crew believe community is everything and they are cognizant of the local impact of their actions on a micro and macro level. They choose local – whether its a produce provider, food vendor, or creative artist, whenever possible. Of course, they’re also committed to the planet and practice eco-friendly practices in their everyday business lives and at events. They even encourage you to bring in your own water bottle for the event and offer water refill stations placed throughout the venue. They have a goal in mind to leave everything better than they find it and they believe that together we can be better.
The Sheehan’s understand that music is one of the very few things that can truly bring people of various backgrounds, races, genders, etc, together. All are welcome, valued, and should feel safe at their events. Good Vibez hosts Cali Roots every year as well as a plethora of other dreamy, you-had-to-be-there festivals. They work hand in hand to bring you the best core memories and the most unforgettable experiences. If you see the name Good Vibez Presents… You can trust that it’s not an experience to be missed.
Palisades, formally known as Squaw Valley and considered one of North America’s best ski resorts, was renamed to stay true to it’s rich history as it’s within the traditional, ancestral territories and homelands of the Washoe people. Learn more here: washoetribe.us. Its on the North Side of the Lake and has been hosting stunning and iconic music festivals since the 90’s. The backdrop of insanely gorgeous, towering and jagged mountains, the water flowing beside us, the colorful and artistic shade wrap they installed (pictured above), art at every corner, even the grass they brought in, all contributed to the magic. Knowing that there was only one stage so I wouldn’t have to miss a single band that I wanted to see and also that ins and outs were a thing, made this all feel even more like a fairytale. Ins and outs? Where was this option my whole life? You mean if I wanted to go play in the water, run to my car for more sunscreen, or even take a break and grab an outside of the venue coffee, I could?! I LOVE this! Not that outside coffee was needed but it’s nice to have options. Speaking of options, I don’t even know where to start as far as theirs go. You definitely won’t go hungry. They had something for everyone, even your vegan friends! Not a vegan? Not a problem. They had a food truck called Bacon Mania that frequents their events and is dedicated to wrapping most of their delicious food options in bacon. This was actually one of the vendors Dan Sheehan mentioned on the phone when we spoke regarding the festival. It was worth all the hype. They had mini donuts, a local coffee vendor, salad and chicken wings and all the things. They really thought of everything. Go to the Xotic Juice booth if you want everyone to follow you around and ask you where you got the amazing looking pineapple drink. That’s right, it’s served in a pineapple, it’s made with fresh blended fruit, and it’s full of all the benefits you need on a warm day in the sun. And if that’s not enough and you find yourself exhausted from the heat like I did, hit up Kaliko’s Hawaiian Kitchen if they’re there. Their Poke bowl will completely refuel and revive you, having you ready for the night lineup in no time at all.
As far as the experience goes as a whole, it was unreal! From the second my fellow photographer and friend, Jessica and I walked in, we felt welcomed. A hired photographer for the event immediately had us posing and twirling in our dresses for the camera. She wasted no time at all in making us feel special and started our day one off right. What a first impression! LTRF is setting my festival expectations way too high, haha. Next, we wandered around the outdoor venue taking in all the smiles, exploring the vendors, and soaking in all the good energy. It seemed like everyone was there to celebrate the music and life in some way. It’s hard to find the words to sum it up; it was refreshing and empowering. Together, we basked in the magic of it all for two days straight, honoring the music, ourselves, and just the simple fact that we got to exist in the here and now. I think we all left a little more grateful with a renewed excitement for life in general.
As far as the experience goes as a whole, it was unreal!
The Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival features a perfect blend of old school and new school reggae. Good Vibez believes your favorite artist list should be ten miles long and they do an excellent job at rotating bigger names and smaller names alike, transitioning smoothly from the lesser known artists all the way to their headliners, like Pepper, Stick Figure, and Rebelution. For me personally, attending the 6th annual festival, the line up was unbelievable. Of course I was stoked to see Rebelution for my very FIRST time. Such heartfelt lyrics and danceable melodies that soothe the soul and spark inspiration all at once. But I was just as excited to see The Green, who came all the way from Hawaii, Iya Terra with their peaceful, rebel-hearted good vibes, Hirie with her fierce, powerful, and bubbly energy, sweet and adorable, Claire Wright who is actually local to Lake Tahoe, Bumpin’ Uglies who kill it every time with their strong-witted lyrics, bare feet, and catchy jams, with whom I actually had the pleasure to interview via email over the summer (Check our Summer 2 edition from 2023 online for the interview), and this was just the tip. The 2023 festival also included fan favorites; Tribal Seeds, The Expendables, Pipe Down, Dispatch, and The Elovaters. Each artist was unique and inspiring in their own way but worked together to provide the same goal they all had in mind for the festival: Good Vibez.
The lineup varies each year but will never disappoint. Good Vibez is too good at what they do for that to happen. On top of the Annual Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival – Summer edition, they recently added an additional Winterfest. The first annual winter adventure is set for Saturday and Sunday, February 17th and 18th of 2024 and will include artists: Damian Gong Jr. Marley, Stephen Ragga Marley, Stick Figure, local Tahoe band Miki Rae & The Hooligans, and so many more. Hopefully my family and I will see you there!
Winterfest Tickets are currently available here:
https://www.laketahoereggaefest.com/winter/tickets/
The upcoming 7th annual summer LTRF offers free bike valet, locker rentals with the ability to charge your phone, first aid, and many more experience enhancing features. Full details & tickets (once available) can be found here:
https://www.laketahoereggaefest.com/summer/
It is set for Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th of 2024. Bands have yet to be announced but you can safely bet that the lineup will be unforgettable. Tickets range from general all the way to VIP experiences and they even offer deals on lodging and travel packages.
For more LTRF info directly from their website:
https://www.laketahoereggaefest.com
For more info on Good Vibez Presents…:
https://www.goodvibezpresents.com
Follow them on Instagram for all the latest details at: