Australia Holds First Jamaican Music and Food Festival

The first Jamaican food and music festival ever held in Australia is schedule for November 6, 2016, in Williamstown at the Seaworks maritime precinct. According to DJ Stick Mareebo, the festival’s founder, the event will offer four stages of live entertainment and eight hours of music, including ska, rocksteady, dancehall, dub, roots and reggae. Mareebo was born and raised in Jamaica and wanted to bring “a little taste” of the island to the Melbourne area. He went on to say that all of the music at the festival will be related to music genres that evolved from Jamaica beginning in the 1920s through to the present day. There is a “big evolution” of Jamaican music, he noted, and he intends to capture all genres at the event, which will also give Australians the chance to try Jamaica’s national dish of ackee and saltfish. Festival goers can also enjoy curries and smoked meats.