There are music festivals, and then there are community experiences. Ithaca Reggae Fest has become one of the most unique reggae gatherings in the Northeast - not simply because of the artists on stage, but because of the atmosphere it creates. Set along the shores of Cayuga Lake in Stewart Park, the festival blends reggae music with family-friendly activities, yoga, skateboarding, local art, food vendors, and environmental education, all while supporting clean water initiatives and Cayuga Lake conservation efforts.

What began in 2017 as a grassroots labor of love has grown into a multi-day celebration centered around positivity, unity, and community. Yet even as the festival continues to expand, its heart remains the same: creating a welcoming space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together through music, culture, and a shared appreciation for the beauty of the Finger Lakes region.

Ahead of this year's festival, I spoke with festival director and talent buyer Russ Friedell about his own reggae journey, the growth of Ithaca Reggae Fest, and why the event has become about so much more than just the music.

Tell us a little about yourself and your background. Who is Russ outside of Ithaca Reggae Fest?

My name is Russ Friedell and I'm one of the directors at Ithaca Reggae Fest. These days I'm the talent buyer and marketing director, among many other things when you're part of a small group running a festival like this.

I grew up playing music. I started playing piano when I was six years old and spent most of my life playing in bands. Music has really always been central to who I am. My first concert was the Mighty Mighty Bosstones in the late '90s, which pulled me into ska music first. Then my younger brother introduced me to Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

At the same time, I was also listening to a lot of jam music and really studying musicianship - bands like Phish, Soulive, Medeski Martin & Wood, Ben Folds, Stevie Wonder - artists with incredible keyboard players. I actually went to school for physics, but toward the end of college I realized I didn't want to spend my life working under fluorescent lights in some office.

My brother was living in Ithaca at the time and his band Jimkata wanted to start touring outside of town, but none of them really knew how to make that happen. I said, “I've never managed a band before, but that sounds way more exciting than physics.” So I moved to Ithaca in 2007 and honestly, that's where my real reggae education began.

“So you're really using that physics degree, right?”

Actually, yes, he laughed. My thesis at the end of college was on the physics of live sound, so I tied it all together in the end. At the time my advisor kind of laughed about it, but now they have a tremendous amount of respect for it. So yeah, in a weird way, I really did end up putting that degree to use.

Was there a specific moment or artist that really pulled you into reggae music?

Absolutely. It was seeing John Brown's Body perform at GrassRoots Festival. I don't remember the exact set or exact year, but I remember the feeling. That band completely changed my life.

At that time it was the Elliot Martin era of John Brown's Body, and Elliot's songwriting and lyrics were just unbelievable. Once I discovered them, I did a deep dive. I started hunting down albums, learning the history, and really trying to understand the roots and depth of reggae music.

What was interesting too is that when we had our own reggae residency in Ithaca years later, we intentionally had what we jokingly called a “no Bob rule.” Not because we didn't love Bob Marley, obviously, but because reggae goes so much deeper. We wanted to explore artists like Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson, Freddie McGregor, and all these incredible deeper cuts. That really expanded my understanding and appreciation for the genre.

Ithaca has become known as a reggae hotspot over the years. Why do you think reggae connects so deeply with the community there?

A huge part of that is thanks to The Haunt and its owner John Peterson. He had gone to Jamaica while attending Cornell and the music completely changed his life. When he came back, he realized that most reggae artists touring the East Coast would only play New York City, Boston, maybe Philadelphia, and then move on.

So he started convincing those artists to stop in Ithaca on their off nights. Suddenly you had these legendary Jamaican artists playing intimate shows in this small college town.

Then you combine that with GrassRoots Festival bringing world music into the community every year, and over time Ithaca developed this really educated reggae audience. People here genuinely listen deeply to the music. It's not just surface level. There's a real appreciation for the culture, the musicianship, and the message.

How important has the local reggae scene been to the success of Ithaca Reggae Fest?

It's huge. The festival wouldn't exist without the local reggae community. Every year we make a very intentional effort to include regional artists and support local scenes because honestly, I think that sense of community around local music has been lost in a lot of places.

We try to create opportunities for bands from Ithaca, Rochester, Baltimore, and throughout the Northeast because those artists are keeping reggae culture alive year-round. This year we're bringing in bands like Ignite from Rochester and Strykers' Posse from Baltimore, and those groups may not be massive internationally known acts, but they're incredibly talented and they've built strong followings in their communities.

I think it's important that the festival reflects the full reggae ecosystem - from international headliners all the way down to the local artists opening the stages.

How did the idea for Ithaca Reggae Fest first come about?

My partners Kevin Kinsella and Michael Mazza were really the visionaries behind the original idea. They kept asking this simple question: “Why does a town with this much reggae history not have a reggae festival?”

At the same time, Stewart Park felt like the perfect home for it because so many people in Ithaca already had memories of gathering there for community events and music. It's right on the lake, surrounded by willow trees, and it just has this incredible energy to it.

The first year was very grassroots. We had maybe twenty volunteers helping put it all together. Everybody just came together because they loved reggae music and believed the city needed something like this. We announced the lineup only a couple months before the event and honestly had no clue what to expect.

When that first festival happened in 2017, did you have any idea it would become what it is today?

Not at all. We charged ten dollars in advance and twenty dollars at the gate, and suddenly four thousand people showed up. It was one of those moments where everybody involved looked around and realized something really special was happening.

Afterward, once everybody recovered and got some sleep, we all asked ourselves, “Do we do this again?” And the answer was immediately yes.

But it's a tremendous amount of work. This is basically a year-round labor of love. There are definitely challenging years and stressful moments, but hearing from people who travel in from out of state and tell us how much the festival means to them - that keeps us going.

The festival has grown from one day into a full weekend experience. What have been the biggest challenges and rewards of expanding it?

The biggest challenge is simply the scale of it. Once you start adding days, stages, production, staffing, and all the infrastructure, the costs and logistics grow fast.

But we only wanted to expand if it felt right artistically. The free Friday welcome party started after we brought in Mad Professor, and the response was incredible. Then eventually we added Sunday once Steel Pulse became possible.

The greatest reward though is watching families grow with the festival. There are kids who came when they were little who are now teenagers standing on the rail for artists like Kabaka Pyramid and Lila Iké. They're discovering reggae deeply and becoming part of the culture themselves.

That's honestly one of the most beautiful parts of this whole thing.

One thing everyone talks about with Ithaca Reggae Fest is the vibe. How intentional is that atmosphere?

It's extremely intentional. We want everybody to feel welcome here.

We live in a world now where people are constantly divided - politically, socially, online. This festival is really about reconnecting people around the things we all share in common: music, community, fresh water, Cayuga Lake, and this beautiful planet.

We want a six-year-old child and a sixty-six-year-old grandmother to both feel equally comfortable and connected here. When I see multiple generations sitting together under a tent listening to reggae music beside the lake, that's what it's all about.

The festival is about much more than music. Why was it important to include things like yoga, skateboarding, youth activities, and environmental awareness?

Because this is about community. It's about creating a full experience where people come together and celebrate life together.

Yes, people are buying tickets because they want to see Jesse Royal or Third World or The Skatalites, but then they arrive and realize there's so much more happening. There's yoga, there's skateboarding, there are kids blowing bubbles, there are organizations teaching people about protecting Cayuga Lake and clean water.

We wanted the festival to feel like a community gathering, not just a concert. Something where families could spend the whole weekend together and really connect.

How do you go about selecting artists and building the lineup each year?

A lot of it comes down to relationships and really paying attention to what's happening in reggae music year-round. We're constantly listening to new albums, watching who's touring, seeing who's connecting with audiences.

We also try very hard to balance the legendary artists with rising acts and regional talent. At the same time, we really try to honor Jamaican reggae because reggae music would not exist without Jamaica.

So while we absolutely support American reggae bands and regional acts, we also want artists from Jamaica represented prominently because we feel it's important to honor the roots and foundations of the music.

Is there one unforgettable moment from the festival that stands out to you?

Steel Pulse. Hands down.

They were one of those dream artists where you think, “Man, wouldn't it be incredible if we could get Steel Pulse someday?” We tried for years and it never quite lined up.

Then finally it happened, and not only did they absolutely deliver live, but afterward hearing the band themselves talk about how much they loved the festival and the atmosphere - that was incredibly meaningful for all of us.

Looking ahead, what's your vision for the future of Ithaca Reggae Fest?

We want to continue growing thoughtfully, keep bringing in incredible artists, and keep building the community around the festival.

But just as importantly, we want to continue spreading awareness about clean water and supporting the organizations working hard to protect Cayuga Lake and our environment. That mission is really at the heart of what we do.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Bob Marley and the Wailers - Live at the Roxy.

You put headphones on and you're there. You can taste the sweat on the walls. The band is completely locked in and you feel every single word Bob sings.

To me, that album represents purpose. Bob knew he was here for something bigger, and you can hear that conviction in every performance. It's also a reminder that nothing is handed to you. Everything comes through belief, hard work, and staying true to your message.

Final Thoughts

What makes Ithaca Reggae Fest special is not simply the lineup, though every year brings incredible artists from Jamaica, across the United States, and beyond. What truly separates it is the intention behind it.

This is a festival rooted in community, family, positivity, and purpose. It's a place where reggae music becomes a vehicle for something larger - bringing people together while raising awareness about the importance of protecting Cayuga Lake and preserving clean water for future generations.

Whether you are a lifelong reggae fan or someone simply looking for a beautiful weekend filled with good people and positive energy, Ithaca Reggae Fest offers something increasingly rare: a genuine sense of connection.

And after speaking with Russ Friedell, it's clear that spirit is exactly what the festival was built to create.

One Love - Todd M. Judd