Could You Be Three Little Birds

The turnout was unimpressive, the weather was fair but the music was a jam-soaked island spectacular.

So went the scene this weekend at Woodbury Ski Area’s 41^st Annual Reggae Fest.  On a hazy Saturday afternoon approximately 100 fans of that Jamaican Jerk-flavored style lounged the green ski slopes for a show that featured five different Reggae acts.

They were as different, anyway, as five different Reggae acts can be. But no problem, the island music brings a real sea air quality to the middle of the Litchfield County woods, and made for a fine time in the fine summertime.

The last two acts – respectively Inner Roots and Richard Emanuel “Marley” Brown – brought that bouncy beach ball beat that seemingly mimicked each other. Some originals with songs by Reggae icon Bob Marley spliced in, but it sounded so good the people were cool to chill on the hill or, in a few cases, dance a spell in front of the low wooden stage.

Yes Inner Roots did a heartfelt version of call to peace “Redemption Song,” and Brown had a quality cover of “Red, Red Wine.” But Reggae music isn’t just about singing along to songs you know, it’s about clearing the sorry clouds from the mind and feeling the breeze.

 Like the crowd vendors were sparse and at least one – a modeling agency - really didn’t fit. The others blended into the mix, but there were not enough people to keep any but the food stand steady with business.

There were no portable toilets, people had to go inside the lodge and use bathrooms inside what looked like some person’s living quarters. It was a little unsettling, actually, and gave the impression organizers didn’t expect there to be many people.

And there weren’t. It was funny to see performers perform to a mostly empty amphitheater. But it’s been going on for 41 years, so something is right. Big ups to Jah.