Legendary Reggae Artists Morgan Heritage, Eek-A-Mouse & The Wailers bring their Roots Rhythm to the 20th Annual Reggae in the Desert
Downtown Las Vegas transforms into a Roots Reggae paradise with authentic fare, vendors, and live performances
Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Clark County Amphitheatre
Las Vegas’ largest Roots Reggae festival Reggae in the Desert returns to the Clark County Amphitheatre Saturday, May 6, 2023 for its 20th year. For one day, Downtown Las Vegas embraces the Jamaican culture with island-inspired food and craft vendors, as well as live performances from top reggae artists such as headliners 2x Grammy Award Winner Morgan Heritage, alongside legendary reggae superstar Eek-A-Mouse, making his first U.S. appearance in over 15 years. Other performances include The Legendary Wailers, Romain Virgo, Hempress Sativa, Junior Toots performing a Tribute to Toots & The Maytals, Mellow Mood (making their first ever appearance in Las Vegas), local superstars Bonafide and our host DJ Ramma.
Morgan Heritage is a Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae band formed in 1994, making their FIRST appearance at Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica. They were subsequently signed by MCA and released their debut album Miracles the same year. The group’s 2015 album Strictly Roots won the Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category in 2016. The band later released the album Avrakedabra, which was nominated for another Grammy in 2018. for the album “Avrakedabra”, and in 2019 received a second Grammy.
Devoted fans have always known how important Morgan Heritage and their legacy is. Remarkedly, it took over 20 years for the music industry to catch up and recognize the brilliance of this group and their sound. Even though their albums are beloved by millions around the world. They continue the momentum with their most recent album, Loyalty released in 2019. Twelve studio albums in and the group continues to leave their mark on the music industry.
“This album gives listeners a chance to take a deep dive into what the career of Morgan Heritage has given to humanity from our heart and soul for over the years” says Peetah. “It means the world to us because we know how much people around the world love and appreciate what we do and with this Legacy album, you truly get to understand why.”
Ludicrous, bizarre, and uniquely original, few DJs have made such a splash in the dancehall scene than Eek-A-Mouse. An artist who in any other country would have been a one-hit wonder, but in Jamaica became a household name having invented a whole new vocal style, sing-jay, flooding the airwaves with his catch phrases and going on to become a respected toaster. Eek-A-Mouse pioneered his own style of scatting, differing from the-then toasting deejays in the 80s. His 1988 album Eek-A-Nomics saw him begin to establish himself with an international audience, spawning a club hit with “The Freak”, and he was signed by Island Records in 1989. He returned to prominence with 1991’s U-Neek album, which continued the rock-oriented style, including a cover version of Led Zeppelin‘s “D’yer Mak’er“, and from which the hit single “You’re The One I Need” was taken. He went through a period of relative quietness before returning in 1996 with the Black Cowboy album. Eek-A-Mouse was also featured on nu metal group P.O.D.‘s album Satellite, lending his vocals to the rock-reggae track “Ridiculous.” He can also be heard on OPM‘s album, ForThemAsses, on the track “Perfect Day.” Eek-A-Mouse recorded a song with hip-hop recording artist Ditch, called “Smoke it up” (2007, released in 2009), which is featured on Ditch’s CD Public Intoxication. The song by Ditch and Eek-a-Mouse is featured on the Jack Herer documentary as well. Eek-A-Mouse has teamed up with Bounty Killer and Damian Marley in “Khaki Suit”.
Not many bands can claim genuine legend status. The Wailers comfortably claim their place in essential music history. Their music was, and is, culture-defining: rebel hearts with brave souls embodying the spirit of 70s era-defining reggae. The band play a special set featuring incredible cuts from Bob Marley’s formidable back catalogue along with a string of their greatest, classic hits. The Wailers are giving you a chance to be part of the legacy. Aston Barrett Jr, himself reggae royalty as son of the irrepressible ‘Familyman’, carries the flame for The Wailers in a show that is simply not to be missed.
In late 2020, The Wailers released their first single off the album, “One World, One Prayer”, a powerful piece focused on unity, love and inclusion beyond cultural differences. Produced and written by Emilio Estefan, “One World, One Prayer“, mixes Jamaican reggae with the sounds of the urban Latin genre. The track features international titan Farruko, Jamaican superstar Shaggy, and continues the legacy of Bob Marley alongside the great man’s daughter, Cedella Marley, and her son Skip Marley.
One World, the album that marks The Wailers’ return to the recording studios and the band’s first album for 25 years, was nominated for a 2021 Grammy® Award in the Best Reggae Album category.
The essence of 70s rebellion, the true spirit of reggae performed by the people who helped forge the era-defining sound and by those raised under their tutelage. Living Legends, Reggae Royalty carrying the flame – now you can be a part of the legacy. When The Wailers come calling, you listen.
Romain Virgo is a Jamaican singer, specializing in the lovers rock style of reggae music, who’s 2018 album Lovesick gave him his first number one album on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
Romain made history again, as the first Jamaican artist to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards, held in Nashville, Tennessee. Romain’s version of veteran country stars The Gatlin Brothers’ 1979 hit “All The Gold In California” was featured on VP Records’ “Reggae’s Gone Country”, with Larry Gatlin singing back up; His performance of “California” alongside the Gatlins, garnered Romain a standing ovation from country music’s elite.
Hempress Sativa is rightly regarded as a prolific Singer/Songwriter to nascent from her Generation of ‘Conscious Roots” purveyors. An anomalous talent, whose expressive writing skills with sharpened delivery commands the attention of her audience in each performance; with an uncanny ability to keep all listening as if in a trance, absorbing her every word, every rhyme. Her music though generally traditional of the Deep Roots, Rock Reggae genre; at times crosses boundaries and may reflect variants of Hip Hop, Afrobeats and R&B with the sultry serenade of (Kushite Love) exemplifying her agility as a diverse artist
Acclaimed international roots-reggae crooner, Junior Toots, the son of the legendary Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals has been a mainstay in the recorded and live music scene for decades and with an ever-growing fanbase. He’s managed to captivate audiences worldwide with his electrifying high-energy stage performance, soul-filled vocals and socially charged lyricism, along with catchy, singalong Jamaican-rooted original tracks. Having the essence of Jamaica, a strong love for Jah and the Rastafarian culture, Junior Toots expresses the wisdom of his life-learning’s in his music and his live shows and in everyday life.
Italy’s leading reggae band, Mellow Mood embrace a variety of classic Jamaican sounds while performing with a passion and sincerity that made them stars in Europe and respected by reggae fans around the world.
Serving as ambassadors of good vibes and good music, Bonafide Reggae Band has taken the world by storm. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Montego Bay, Jamaica, Bonafide has hypnotized their fan base with good rhythms infused with sultry base lines coupled with Jr. Rootz gracing each track with his smooth soothing vocals. Bonafide has earned their position of number one in Las Vegas. They are often imitated but never duplicated.
Doors open at 11:00 a.m. and the event concludes at 11 p.m. General admission tickets are on sale and start at $59.99 (thru March 31st), $79.99 day of show. Merchandise packages are available starting at $75.00 and include a ticket to the festival, one event poster, one event t-shirt and are available online through April 30th. VIP packages start at $199.00 and include a private area with seating, private bar , merch packages and more TBD. Payment plans are available online. No cash will be accepted at the door for tickets, credit card only on the day of the show. All seats are general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis. No re-entry is permitted. Reggae in the Desert is a rain or shine event, no refunds will be issued. To purchase tickets online, visit https://www.seetickets.us/event/Reggae-In-The-Desert-2023/527666
For a complete list of performance times and additional information, visit the event website at www.reggaeinthedesert.com
Vendors in the Caribbean Islands Vendor Village will have a wide assortment Jamaican and Caribbean-style food including jerk chicken, peas & rice and fried plantains. In addition to water and non-alcoholic refreshments, domestic and imported beers will be available. Various exhibits and Caribbean-inspired vendors will also be on site. ATMs are available.
Blankets for lawn seating are permitted, as well as one unopened/factory sealed bottle of water per person, still cameras (no video) and sunscreen. No weapons (with or without permit) are allowed. Other forbidden items include blow horns, balloons, umbrellas, lawn chairs, squirt and water guns, or video equipment. No consumption of any illegal substances on festival grounds. No video equipment, unauthorized vending, concessions, merchandise, or promotions literature. 
