(Rock Island, IL) Ya Maka My Weekend - Reggae in the District returns on Friday, August 14, and Saturday, August 15, 2015. This unique two-night festival brings the atmosphere of the Caribbean islands to downtown Rock Island.
Ya Maka My Weekend, one of The District's signature events, will be held on the Great River Plaza, Seconnd Avenue between 17th and 19th Streets, in downtown Rock Island, IL. Admission prices are $9 for a one-night ticket and $14 for a two-night ticket, and children 12 and under enter free. Ya Maka My Weekend will start at 5 p.m. on Friday, and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
What makes Ya Maka My Weekend so unique is the island vibe that you get the minute you walk through the gates. The aromas of Caribbean food will drift through the leaves of live palm trees, while reggae music captivates your ears. Eleven food vendors will be serving a variety of dishes, including authentic Caribbean food. You will want to stop in at the open-air market place and find something special to take home. Another distinctive characteristic about Ya Maka My Weekend is that it is set in the middle of downtown, allowing for a free-flow of people from festival to entertainment establishment to art gallery to restaurant and back to the festival. It also means that if the weather is inclement, you can head inside for a break, and never leave the fest grounds!
Local rock/reggae band Rude Punch will start the music off each night with a performance starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening and 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The music will continue on two stages, featuring a variety of reggae bands, until 12:30 a.m. both Friday and Saturday nights. Dubtonic Kru will take the stage at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday night. Dubtonic Kru has developed a new breed of Jamaican music featuring heavy basslines, one drops, psychedelic guitar riffs, echoing keyboards, popping percussion, and conscious lyrics. In 2010 Dubtonic Kru was honored by the United States House of Representatives and presented with a Congressional Proclamation for their contributions through music to varying communities. Dubtonic Kru continues to give medicine to audiences through outstanding performances locally and across the world.
A strong connection to Jamaica will come from the Augustana Jamaica Program, who will be volunteering at one of the beverage stations and also at the merchandise to fundraise for three schools located in Jamaica (Alpha Boys School, Alpha Academy, and Alpha Primary). Participants in the Augustana Jamaica Program learn about the island and its culture, travel to Jamaica, and engage in voluntary, service-learning work with inner-city Kingston students through placements in three schools run by the Convent of Mercy. The Alpha Boys School has been referred to as "roots of reggae" by British Broadasting Company, because of the long list of prominent Jamaican musicians coming from the school. Leave them a tip, and support these schools in Jamaica!
Friday, August 14
Plaza Stage
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Rude Punch
7:45 - 9:15 p.m. Jumbies
10:00 - 11:15 p.m. Irie Trinity
11:30 - 12:30 a.m. Indika
Jumer's Stage
6:30 - 8:00 Ifficial Reggae Movement
8:45 - 10:15 p.m. Gizzae
11:00 - 12:30 a.m. Lazo
Saturday, August 15
Plaza Stage
3:30 - 6:00 p.m. Rude Punch
6:45 - 7:45 p.m. DiMachine
10:00 - 11:15 p.m. Gizzae
11:30 - 12:30 a.m. Lazo
Jumer's Stage
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Irie Trinity
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Indika
7:45 - 10:15 p.m. Dubtonic Kru
11:00 - 12:30 a.m. The Flex Crew
Ya Maka My Weekend is presented by The District, and sponsored by Jumer's Casino & Hotel, Holiday Inn Rock Island, WHBF, Dispatch/Argus, Rexroat Sound, Dphilms, River Cities Reader, Guitar Center, and Hi-Nee Huts.
For more information call (309) 788-6311 or visit www.yamakamyweekend.com and www.ridistrict.com.
The Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District (The District) is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization established in 1992 by local downtown merchants. The District's mission is to establish and manage downtown Rock Island as a creative and innovative experience by focusing on the development of the arts and quality special event management. It features retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art galleries, and several entertainment venues. Rock Island is located on the Mississippi River, three hours west of Chicago in an area known as the Quad Cities which straddles the river and the Illinois/Iowa border. It is at the intersection of Interstate highways 74, 88, and 80 and is served by the Quad City International Airport in Moline, IL.
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