Newport's Waterfront Productions Announces Waterfront Reggae Festival Headliner and Tickets On Sale Date

NEWPORT, RI, April 15, 2016 – Newport's Waterfront Productions, parent company of Rhode Island Waterfront Events, announces that the late Bob Marley’s legendary reggae band, The Wailers, will headline the 7th Annual Waterfront Reggae Festival on Saturday, August 13th from Noon to 10:00 p.m. at its waterfront location at India Point Park in Providence, Rhode Island. Other bands secured to-date for the Festival are Etana, Jesse Royal and Omega Sound’s DJ Realm with three more bands to be announced. The flexible general admission tickets, which allow concert attendees to come and go throughout the day-night homage to reggae, go on sale this coming Wednesday, April 20th at noon and are $41 in advance and $51 the day of the Festival. For the ultimate reggae fan, an exclusive Rocksteady Pass for those 21 years of age and over is available for $80 in limited quantities and offers one all-day admission, reserved exclusive “Dockside” seating, cocktail service and a complimentary island cocktail or Red Stripe beer. All tickets can be purchased online at www.riwaterfrontevents.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or by visiting the Rhode Island Waterfront Events Box Office at 4 Commercial Wharf in Newport and in Providence at the Half Way Tree at 150 Chestnut Street during business hours (cash only).

“After holding the Waterfront Reggae Festival for five years in Newport, our move to Providence’s India Point Park last summer was a big hit, opening up the Festival to a broader audience,” Michele Maker Palmieri, President and CEO of Waterfront Productions. “The stunning park setting along the Providence River, combined with the internationally-known Reggae acts who took the stage, created a laid back vibe and we’re anticipating an even bigger party with The Wailers as our main headliner this summer.” Palmieri added that in addition to the 10 hours of music, the Festival will feature a Reggae Pit with authentic Jamaican food options, multiple bars featuring cold beers and festive island cocktails and a marketplace of vendors offering clothing, artisan goods, jewelry, body art and much more.

Starting with its long musical partnership with reggae legend Bob Marley, which included backing Marley on his international breakthrough album Natty Dread, The Wailers and its leader-bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide and are now considered by many to be the greatest living exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition.

In fact, a 2014 re-release of the Bob Marley and Then Wailers Legend album made Billboard’s Top 5 proving the timeless appeal of the music. “It only took 30 years,” laughed Barrett. “My life with The Wailers has been a odyssey. To be in the Top Ten is hard for me to even imagine. We’ve come so far. Sharing this music with so many people around the world was my last promise to Bob and here we are.”

In addition to the band’s groundbreaking work with Marley, The Wailers have cut numerous albums and toured around the globe with international acts, including Sting, Stevie Wonder and Carlos Santana, as well as reggae legends Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Burning Spear. The Wailers reaffirmed their continuing relevance and versatility in modern music with a guest spot on country superstar Kenny Chesney’s hit single, “Everyone Wants to Go to Heaven” and then “Spread The Love” in 2013.

Waterfront Productions LLC, headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island, specializes in event management/production and venue operation and is the parent company of Newport Waterfront Events and Rhode Island Waterfront Events. The events Waterfront Productions owns and manages include the Great Chowder Cook-Off at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, the Waterfront Reggae Festival at India Point Park in Providence, Rhode Island and a summer/fall concert series and the 18th Annual International Oktoberfest at a venue to be announced. In addition, Waterfront Productions owns and operates the Newport Skating Center in downtown Newport. The Waterfront Productions team has co-produced a variety of other events over the past ten years, including the Newport Comedy Series, the WBRU Concert Series at Providence Piers, the Food Truck Festival, the Newport International Boat Show and the Newport Charter Yacht Show, and offers event management consulting services.

For more information on the Waterfront Reggae Festival, please visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com or contact Michele Maker Palmieri, President and CEO of Waterfront Productions LLC via email at mmaker@newportwaterfrontevents.com or call (888) 900-8640, Ext. 709. To receive future Rhode Island Waterfront Events and Newport Waterfront Events announcements, presale opportunities or exclusive packages, sign up at riwaterfrontevents.com and become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/waterfrontevents, Instagram and Twitter.

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