UNT’s Reggae Fest features Caribbean music, food

by Stephanie Daniels of North Texas Daily

The University Program Council of UNT is hosting the first-ever Reggae Fest on campus today.

Emergency management junior Jonathan Hall, the council's vice president of the arts, planned the festival for what he calls his big event of the year.

"I'm beyond excited," Hall said. "I got the idea about this time last year and started contacting bands since October. I thought the Reggae Fest could break away from the normal and catch peoples' attention."

The event will feature six bands, including The Wailing Souls, the same headliner of the Austin Reggae Festival taking place Saturday and Sunday. Others include $9word, Champa, Grimy Styles, Subrosa Union, The Movement and the event's master of ceremonies, DJ Ebou.

Ebou has been a disc jockey for festivals just like Reggae Fest for about 20 years and moved from Gambia, West Africa, to live in the U.S. about 15 years ago. This will be Ebou's first time not only at NT, but also in Denton, he said.

"I'm very excited about it," Ebou said. "I can't wait to see Denton."

The Arlington-based DJ said he has been the master of ceremonies for many reggae festivals, including one held every year at Paul Quinn College in Dallas.

Several of the other bands, including $9word, Champa and Subrosa Union, are Texas-based bands.

The Wailing Souls are from Jamaica and have been recording reggae music since the late 1960s and continue to perform in the U.S.

"It took me over 30 bands to get the final six," Hall said. "I planned the Reggae Fest right before Austin to score the headlining band for half the price."

In addition to the free music, the event will include $5 jerk-chicken sandwich lunches noon to 2 p.m. Vendors will also sell traditional island clothes and jewelry.

Reggae Fest will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Library Mall outside of the Willis Library. If bad weather persists, the festival will move to the Super Pit.