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Reggaeland 2024: A Reggae Rumble in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes, known for roundabouts and concrete cows, briefly became the UK’s reggae capital on August 3rd and 4th, 2024. The MK National Bowl was the site of Reggaeland 2024, a two-day extravaganza of reggae, dancehall, DnB, and dub that was as chaotic as it was melodious. Here’s a rundown of the weekend filled with legendary beats, epic queues, and some hilariously poor planning on our behalf.
Saturday’s theme was a tribute to the old-school reggae legends and good old-fashioned British queueing. We arrived mid-afternoon, naively optimistic about the day ahead. The size of the venue hit us immediately, but with our pre-booked parking (brilliant foresight, we thought), it was a mere 20-minute hike to the entrance. Yes, we basically went on a mini-expedition before even hearing a single note.
The first stop was the main stage, where Wayne Wonder was serenading the crowd with his classics. When he belted out “No Letting Go,” I swear I saw a toddler and a retiree both shedding a tear – truly a cross-generational moment.
Feeling the pangs of hunger, we decided it was time to eat. After a breezy 50-minute wait in line (because apparently, everyone else also had the bright idea to eat at a festival), we finally got our hands on some mac n cheese. It was delicious, probably because we were so famished that cardboard would have tasted like gourmet. Note to the organizers: next time, maybe consider adding more food vendors or even a food village. Just a thought, since it looked like everyone had suddenly developed the munchies.
Revived by carbs and a few potent cups of Wray and Nephew, we ventured over to Rompas Reggae Shack. Channel One Soundsystem, with Ramon Judah, delivered basslines that felt like a gentle earthquake – one that made you want to dance rather than seek cover under a table.
Back at the main stage, UB40 had the crowd belting out their hits with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for winning lottery tickets. It was a karaoke dream, or nightmare, depending on your viewpoint. They churned out hits from their seemingly endless catalogue, the crowd swayed in unison to “You Don’t Call Me Anymore,” a song that felt like a universal anthem for ghosted exes everywhere. Then they pulled a fast one on us with a cover of The Wailers’ “Keep On Moving.” Because, you know, it’s not a reggae festival unless someone covers The Wailers.
The real pièce de résistance came towards the end with “Red Red Wine.” The entire festival erupted into a tipsy sing-along, holding their beverages aloft as if the song had magically turned their drinks into the finest vintage. It was the perfect mix of nostalgia and tribute, with just enough heartfelt emotion to make everyone temporarily forget about the hour-long food queues and the apocalypse-themed parking lot outside.
Curiosity led us to the Carnival Stage where M Dot was performing his signature gyrations and outrageous lyrical content After a quick head poke and deciding we didn’t need to see how low one could really go, so we headed to the One Love stage. There, Yellowman delivered a performance so classic it felt like a reggae history lesson. The air was thick with the aroma of high-grade smoke, perfectly complementing his hit “Sensemilla.”
Video: @flexxedtv
Sunday began late, which was probably for the best given the mayhem that awaited us. The parking situation resembled a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie … again – cars were abandoned on every possible surface of the dual carriageway. It was as if fuel had run out and civilization had collectively decided, “To heck with it, let's just go to Reggaeland.”
With seemingly twice the crowd compared to Saturday, the day promised to be a test of endurance. Koffee and Popcaan were headlining, so the excitement was palpable. We made a mad dash to the Carnival Stage to catch Fabio and Grooverider with MC GQ, who were due to start in 10 minutes. The panic set in when DJ Fabio himself arrived almost simultaneously with us (thank traffic for the delay), and we all had to sprint across the festival site to the Carnival stage to make it time for his set. In a comedic twist, the stage manager was profusely apologetic and insisted he had radioed for a buggy. Next time, maybe just send a helicopter?
Fabio and Grooverider's set was an absolute banger, with MC GQ paying homage to the late DJ Randall. GQ kept the mood upbeat despite the poignant tribute, ensuring the crowd was both reflective and raving. MC GQ is a legend in his own right, unmatched in his ability to host a DnB party.
Post-set, we faced the festival's ultimate challenge: food queues. If there was a prize for the longest wait for sustenance, Reggaeland 2024 would have won hands down. Over an hour in line, we decided that a coffee and a cigarette would suffice. With caffeine and nicotine in our systems, we prepared ourselves for Koffee’s performance.
Koffee took the stage, donning a headscarf that gave her a charming resemblance to a Jamaican Dot Cotton. Her performance was electrifying, with the crowd matching her energy lyric for lyric. We walked into the VIP area, which offered excellent views and led us to a backstage bonanza of rum and pineapple, thanks to Turtle Bay, am pretty sure that was not part of the plan but it felt like stumbling into a hidden treasure – a much-needed oasis amid the chaos.
Regrettably, we had to leave before Popcaan’s performance. The crowd’s anticipation for him was at fever pitch, and as we caught the opening moments, it was clear why. His tribute to Vybz Kartel, recently released from prison, was met with roaring support. Watching this from the car park (yes, the irony wasn’t lost on us), we lamented missing what was undoubtedly the highlight of the festival.
Reggaeland 2024 was a celebration of reggae’s rich heritage. The overwhelming popularity highlighted the genre’s enduring appeal in the UK was very evident but maybe more food vendors, improved parking, and perhaps a few more rest areas would go a long way. Despite the minor headaches, it was heartwarming to see such a diverse crowd united by this music.
And next year, I’ll make sure to ride the big wheel. After all, a festival experience isn’t complete without at least one unnecessary detour into sheer childish delight.
@reggaelanduk
- Photo @matteachus @lukedeakin_ @crudshots
