Australia’s biggest Reggae Festival returned for summer 2024, with two date crossover events in Brisbane and Sydney February 3rd and 4th. Jammin’ out at Parramatta Park, were some of the biggest names in Reggae, including local and International Artists, UB40, Sean Paul, Oxlade, J-Boog, Sammy Johnson, Shaggy and a huge roster of funk hosted over two back-to-back days. We turned out for the Saturday line up to see what was what at Jammin’ 2024.

Australian native Sammy Johnson embraced his Maori and Polynesian roots, blending soul, jazz and island reggae with heartfelt lyrics. Sammy delivered songs such as ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’ with eager patrons calling for more volume from the microphone.

Oxlade brought an amalgamation of house and Afrobeats to the Sydney crowd after what would be a long intermission between artists. The Nigerian Artist performed fan favourites ‘Intoxycated,’ ‘Ku Lo Sa’ and an Arrested Development cover of ‘Everyday People.’

New Zealand artist Three Houses Down brought the squad to the stage from across the Tasman. The nine-piece band jived with attendees, full of easy funk and a big brass sound including ‘Here Without You’ and a Patriotic cover of Crowded House ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over.’

Californian/Samoan artist JBoog brought his beautiful and effortless Island style Reggae, with ‘Let’s Do It Again,’ ‘Hear Me Roar,’ ‘Every Little Thing’ and ‘Ganja Farmer’. Jammin MC Dr Tua took a roll call, listing out from New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, Africa, East Timor, Samoa, Tonga and Australia to a crowd in passionate agreeance.

UB40 need no introduction, but for Jammin’2024, they brought a swag to the stage with a performance curated from ease and grace. After 46 years in business, the UK born reggae/pop band have history of more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, four Grammy nominations for Best Reggae Album and more than 70 million records sold worldwide. Chanting themselves on to the stage with help from the crowd- “When I say UB you say 40” UB40, UB40 was called back and forth across the natural amphitheater. The set was laced with banger after UB banger, including ‘Here I Am’, ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do,’ ‘Groovin,’ ‘Cherry Oh Baby,’ ‘Please Don’t Make Me Cry’ and a cover of ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince, inclusive of a Saxophone solo. The tambourine shook up on stage as the band continued with ‘Red Red Wine,’ ‘Kingston Town’ and ‘I Want To Make You Sweat’ as the audience chanted the lyrics back toward the stage.

Jamaican artist Sean Paul closed down Jammin’2024, bringing high-impact energy to the audience, now in maximum attendance, who clapped in retaliation as the music counted down to show time. Sean Paul came to Sydney to ‘Get Busy,’ the ‘Casanova’ shedding his clothes track after track and throwing them toward the gathering of fans.

Jammin’ 2024 delivered a smaller-scale festival to Sydney, with limited merchandise, food and beverage and overall limited facilities. The landscape’s amphitheater was conducive to attendees allowing all a tiered viewing area of the stage beforehand. With long intervals between artists and notable audio issues, the event promises to be successful and fill a gap in live Reggae music events in the local area. Let us hope Jammin’ returns in 2025, throwing out an even bigger and better Reggae Festival for the future.

Review by Pieta Clarke

Jammin Festival 24