Finding Love and Unity again at 420Fest SRQ

Three years ago I wrote about the three P’s; peace, positivity and pot and how it could be found at the ever-growing music festival, Reggae Rise Up Florida. Although my observation was correct, I believe I had a slight misunderstanding in what the three P’s represented, because while at 420Fest SRQ, Gary Dread, drummer of The Movement told me that the three P’s consist of patience, passion and persistence. Each of which have been tried to their utmost limits for myself and many others over the past year or so in the absence of live music and social gathering events like it. But don’t be fooled, the 420Fest SRQ was still filled to the brim with peace, positivity and of course pot. It was a 420 celebration after all.

Dread served as a guest DJ for the festival but also jumped on the stage with the band Soul Purpose and must have pumped their already electric set with steroids as if it were in the middle of a home run race during the 1990’s, because after that the festival reached even higher heights. The crowd could be seen smiling and dancing to the tune that Soul Purpose provided. And well quite frankly, they had every right to, it had been well over a year since the music scene has had any festival-type events. I must admit, it was incredible to hear distant laughter and to feel the rumble of a bass guitar and dancing feet again. The sight alone almost brought me to tears. In the absence of live music there was a lot that happened to me personally, but with the image of dancing, smiling people cemented in my mind mixed with my ringing ears, I think those days are behind me and brighter days are ahead. “That’s what it’s all about! Having a good time and bringing smiles to faces,” Event organizer Brian Buono told me as I was traversing through the ins and outs of the festival. Buono could be seen all throughout the festival with a beautiful smile plastered across his face.

When asked about the Florida reggae scene in general, Gary Dread was quick to respond with one word. Strong. “You see it here today, though the fest is devoted to herb, you see it at all the reggae shows. It’s an abundance of love. It’s a great community.” The love was absolutely present all throughout the day. Each band gave love and received it in return. The festival showcased some amazing names within the Florida reggae scene, from festival newcomers like Fiyah Wata to seasoned professionals, Kash’d Out and Summer Survivors. 

The music acts were not the only professionals on site that day, because photographer, Brian Nicholson of Natural Photography and Framing was on site as well. All throughout the day Brian and his team could be seen documenting the entire event, freezing the day into immortality. Brian was the sole reason I was able to attend the event, he was able to squeeze me onto his team quite literally last minute; a day before the event. Without his help I would have not been able to gain access into the festival, and without him no write up would have happened. A big thank you to Brian for the opportunity. Please be sure to check out Natural Photography and Framing on Instagram and Facebook.

Once Summer Survivors came on stage I had realized what a year of not shouting lyrics at the top of my lungs had done to my voice and in turn it became nothing but squeaks and airy shouts of nothingness, but that did not stop me from losing myself to the music. Summer Survivors, Sarasota natives, is led by Paul King, founding member, guitarist and backing vocals. After Summer Survivors’ set, King jumped off stage to get a breather and wipe the sweat off his brow but could not wipe the smile off his face because King turned to me with a giant smile on his face and said “It feels so good to be back,” while going in for a knuckle tap. His smile was infectious because I could not stop smiling either. “Dude! Seriously though!” My fried voice tried to telling him. Whether or not he heard me, he nodded his head and kept dancing to a groove permanently glued into his brain. 

Keen eyes of the reggae community would have spotted Donald Spangler, drummer of the Maryland punk-reggae band, Ballyhoo! filling in on drums for festival openers, Meager Kings. He told me he was excited to be back in the swing of things as well. “I didn’t realize how much I missed this,” He told me while backstage during Kash’d Out’s set. His eyes affixed to the stage and all the festival goers. The look in his eyes said it all, the vaccinated drummer was ready to get back to business and get back to touring again. (Though be warned, he did say his 5G connection has been impeccable since his vaccination.) 

After a good chuckle with Donald, my voice finally decided to give way and I was forced to witness the rest of a festival with a crackly, prepubescent voice. That was okay though because it allowed me to watch the fire power that Kash’d Out brought to the stage. Kash’d Out might play it off as if they were some local band out of Orlando, Florida but they are anything but that, because these guys are professionals and masters of their craft, they know how to bring live music and turn it into a memorable experience. The set Kash’d Out put on was nothing short of amazing and even heart warming at times like when guitarist Jackson Hauserman brought a student of his, Aiden, up on stage to shred a killer guitar solo on Hauserman’s cherry red Les Paul. Aiden’s solo was nothing short of face melting and awe inspiring to say the least.

By the end of the day I was bummed to see the setting sun, but Kash’d Out’s guest trombonist and trumpeter Austin Kelly put the cherry on top of the day by throwing in a tiny nod to John Williams and the score to some movie about dinosaurs. By the end of it all I was ready for more, even with my lack of voice, my aching back and my pasty skin burnt to a crimson red. I went away with one thought within my elevated brain. Live music has returned and I am ready for more.