February 2025
Wow what a weekend of love! Good Vibez brought a super lineup for the 2025 Lake Tahoe Winter Reggae Festival. Taking place over Valentine’s Day weekend, love was definitely in the air but in South Lake Tahoe friends and families were enjoying the vibes just as much. The lineup was completely fresh from the previous year with the newer venue, Tahoe Blue Event Center playing host to the fest.
The Event Center had lots of room for floor and VIP viewing as well as seats for those able to sit down when they just wanted to enjoy though much of the crowd was out of their seats to dance and partake in the show experience. Plenty of bars at various locations throughout to keep the drinks flowing. Delicious food locations, all reasonably priced. Vendors had plenty of space to set up and merch right at the front door to get your memorabilia for making the show. Now let’s get to the bands.
Saturday was Day 1 of the two day event, and the excitement was in the air as the crowd began to show up early anticipating the doors open for a weekend of reggae music from 10 bands.
Pipe Down eagerly opened the fest with an incredible energy and delightful presentation. These boys are Tahoe locals from the North Shore, they are gaining fans by the day. You definitely want to check out a live show if you can.
Fortunate Youth are reggae veterans who always deliver a great show. They love the crowd energy and give it right back to their audience. Lead singer Dan Kelly is always so gracious with his words, and performs to the crowd as if you’re hanging out in his backyard.
Rome Ramirez performed his debut show solo following his tenure fronting Sublime. He brought a band of good players to give us a great set. He did of course play one Sublime song, “Badfish” but it was nice to see him do his own thing. He broke out an acoustic guitar for a sweet song he dedicated to his mom. Rome really has such a good voice and was just so genuine.
Iration was in the supporting spot and Tahoe loves these guys. They really got the crowd moving. This band knows how to transport you like you’re sitting on the island in the sun. Good groves for days. Common Kings joined them on stage for the song “If You Only Knew”. They are definitely a personal favorite for me, especially that horn section. They even did a meet and greet at the Tahoe Green dispensary just before the show.
Headlining the first evening was Dirty Heads. The entire place was packed and went off for these guys! Rome came out as a guest for their hit “Lay me Down”. The entire band played atop a light screen strip except for the two leads vocalists. Dirty J talked to the crowd about letting go of all things and embracing 2025 and to start fresh right there. For an encore, they played the crowd favorite “Sloth’s Revenge” and his quote was “no more Goonies in 2025”. Dirty Heads put on a fun, energetic and entertaining show. The audience was singing along to all their songs really savoring the moment.
The first night was absolutely awesome, smiles all around and vibes were high!! Some rest and we’re ready for Night 2 on Sunday.
Sunday people were super happy to keep those good vibes flowing. Lots of fans returned from the night before but there was also a large turnout who came just for the Day 2. Concertgoers talk with one another about where they were from and others met up again with those they met last year at this event. How beautiful is the music community!
Lizano opened the second day and did a phenomenal job. Musicianship with this band is amazing to watch. Every show I see the band perform, they noticeably keep stepping it up. The had a guest vocalist Rizz of Rizz and The Believers for a new song called “Waves”. Another guest was saxophone player Saxlrose complimenting the group’s already tight horn section. Saxlrose actually plays with Wiz Khalifa, Taylor Gang, Jelly Roll, State Champs, Intervals to name a few, and he brought those skills to the Reggae Fest stage.
The Expandables gave us so much energy during their set; hit after hit got the room very excited to continue the weekend of good vibes. The group members are very good and full of positive energy.
Common Kings were up next and absolutely took the entire show for me. They delivered on every level possible. Emotionally, mentally, musically and visually. For a song they asked audience to join in and light up the room with their phones and sing along they mashed up Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” with their hit “Today’s a New Day”, asking you to leave everything in 2024 and look forward to everything 2025. They took the arena on a ride and dropped you off somewhere completely different than where we started. I can’t possibly say enough on how they absolutely crushed that stage!
Steel Pulse comes from the heart and definitely speaks their mind. These boys I’m sure inspire every artist on this bill. They are OGs in this music game and it shows in their performance. The bassist went off stage and danced his way through the crowd and back up on stage, what a treat he danced with quite a few attendees. We all needed water after their set as the crowd gave them their all in return. Water is life.
Closing out the fest was Rebelution keeping the vibes just right. These boys are no stranger to the Tahoe scene as they have played here before and were welcomed back with open hearts. This band is so polished but in all the right ways. Excellent mood choices and they know how to read their crowd. At one point smoke filled bubbles floated through the air transporting you through their rhythms. The crowd was singing every song and I even spotted people who working enjoying it as well. Common Kings came out for a song as well with the boys and the crowd went crazy for it. Steel Pulse also returned to the stage during Rebelution’s set to join the group onstage as well. This band’s horn section played all over that stage and was just the tops!!
Northern California’s own OG the DJ kept those good vibes flowing in between the bands and throughout set changes on both nights and had the room dancing. He even played the after parties on both nights too, throwing down especially fun late night sets.
Both local openers each day did so amazing the Tahoe/Reno area should be proud of their homegrown talent. I was quite impressed with both opening bands each day.
It was amazing to watch the bands join each other on stage and support one another. Big thanks to the Tahoe Blue Events Center. Private security staff was amazing and very kind. Big shoutout to the other photographers and crew for being so great to work with. Man, I am already looking forward to next year. How about you?
