This Weekend! = Reggae Fest @ Sugarloaf, ME

The Reggae Festival at Sugarloaf in Maine is an annual event. Many would argue it is the best of all the New England spring parties. I would tend to agree.

What makes it special is the Music (they schedule great acts) and the Snow (there is still a ton up there on that monster of a mountain).

Today's (4/10) Spring Conditions at Sugarloaf ~ SOLID REPORT

• 30 - 50" base depth
• 133 of 134 trails
• 666 acres
• 56 miles
• 9 of 15 lifts
• Grooming: 35 trails

I have not been up there for this event in years. I am pretty excited to be making the trip this weekend. It will most likely be my last couple days on the snow. Good way to go out...

S.G. pic of Sugarloaf, taken last February

If anyone is reading this and heading that way keep an eye open for the S.G. or put a message up on the Boards.

Here is the event information from Sugarloaf USA, ME

Big Mountain to headline 20th Annual Bud Light Reggae Festival Friday, April 10-13, 2008

Ten bands to play indoor and outdoor venues, day and night

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine

– American reggae band Big Mountain will headline this year’s Bud Light Reggae Festival at Sugarloaf as the resort celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the original springtime reggae fest.www.sugarloaf.com or call 1.800.THE.LOAF for details or to book now.– Located in Carrabassett Valley, ME, Sugarloaf is recognized as one of the top winter and golf resorts in the world and is home to the only lift-serviced above treeline skiing and riding in the East and one of Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. Sugarloaf is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions.

Big Mountain will headline a group of ten bands that will play at three different indoor and outdoor venues day and night throughout the weekend. The weekend long event features stages in the Widowmaker Lounge, King Pine Room, and outdoors on the Beach for day-long outdoor celebrations of spring.

The springtime reggae festival that has become wildly popular throughout ski country was born at Sugarloaf. The event got its start in 1988 as a way to celebrate the changing of the seasons and truly enjoy the deep snow and warm sun that define spring skiing and riding. Today, the event has grown to be one of the most popular weekends of the year, drawing 10,000 or more reggae and spring skiing fans each year.

This year’s headliner, Big Mountain, has achieved tremendous commercial success in the United States and around the world, most notably with its 1994 cover of Peter Frampton’s "Baby, I Love Your Way," which rose to number 6 on the American Charts and number 2 in the UK. The band has released six albums to date, selling millions of copies worldwide.

Despite its success on the commercial pop charts, the band has remained popular throughout the reggae community, and features reggae roots music on all of its albums. The band headlined Jamaica’s Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1994 and 1995 during massive world tours that crisscrossed Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Indonesia.

Performing in support of Big Mountain throughout the weekend will be Ini Souljah, Stream Reggae, On the Drop, Hot Like Fire, Toussaint and the Trama Unit, The Well, Vibe Wise, Pressure Cooker, and Mile 21.

Sugarloaf is offering several different ticket options, including a limited number of Platinum One Love all venue passes for $75, which grant guests full access to all Widowmaker and King Pine Room shows on all three nights, including Big Mountain on Friday night.

For $50 reggae fans can purchase a Jamaican Gold Pass, which grants access to headliner Big Mountain on Friday night, as well as Saturday night’s King Pine show featuring Toussaint and the Trauma Unit, The Well, and Vibe Wise.

Platinum One Love and Jamaican Gold Passes are available in advance by calling 1.800.THE.LOAF.

Single night tickets will be available for $35 for Friday night and $25 for Saturday night. Widowmaker Lounge upgrades will be available for $10 each night as space permits.

All daytime outdoor performances are free and open to all ages. All evening performaces are 21+ events and proper ID is required at the door. No outside alcohol may be brought into the venue, and all persons, bags, and coolers are subject to search.

A limited number of Ski and Stay Packages are still available for Reggae Weekend.

Hope to see you all out there on the corn snow,
S.G.