PANAMA CITY BEACH — The Beach Arts Coalition is bringing big names to Aaron Bessant Park for this weekend’s Chili Vibrations Reggae Festival that includes a chili cook-off sanctioned by the International Chili Society.
“I love this park,” said BAC founder Michael Frimet of Hmx Productions, which puts on the Pier Park Summer Concert Series. “This area is saturated with country and classic rock and, of course, I am a huge reggae fan.”
Frimet created BAC, a non-profit, last year to put money back into the arts community and music series, as well as helping fund arts programs in beach schools. Proceeds from the festival will benefit BAC and the band program at Arnold High School. For BAC’s first fundraiser, Frimet decided to bring in a mix of new and traditional reggae, his personal favorite.
“Junior Marvin was my first show of the series, the biggest in eight years,” Frimet said. “Most Thursdays we would average 2,500, but Heritage would bring in 4 to 5,000 on a Thursday.”
Heritage kicks off the three-day celebration tonight when they open for Matisyahu, who mixes reggae, rap, beat boxing, and hip-hop with the more traditional jazz vocals and Judaism’s hazzan style of songful prayer.
The Destin-based Heritage fronted by Tony Verrechia began touring throughout the Southeast after the 2009 release of “Natural High.” Guests on the 2013 Vans Warped Tour, they have shared the stage with bands such as ZZ TOP, 311, Rebelution and Dirty Heads.
The reggae-rock band Dirty Heads goes on stage after Julian “Junior” Marvin on Saturday night with its special blend of feel-good hits. Marvin replaced Al Anderson as guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers in the late ’70s.
“We have re-energized our live show with this new album,” said Jared (Dirty J) Watson. “We pride ourselves on our new show. We’re there so people can forget worries and just have a good time.”
Dirty Heads linked up with Grammy award winning producer Supa Dups, Buddah Shampoo, Niles, Ward 21 and longtime friend Rome of Sublime for the new album, “Sound of Change.”
“Growing up, it was Beastie Boys and Sublime, two band that opened my eyes to blending different genres,” said Watson, who added, “My inspiration could come from anywhere .. I’ve gotten lyrics off a graffiti wall.”
The band’s fourth studio album was released this year via Five Seven Music and features hits “Burn Slow,” “Medusa” and “My Sweet Summer,” which Dirty Heads performed Oct. 8 on Jimmy Kimmel (http://youtu.be/36IDZaZyS3U). The title track was featured in the season premier of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” in September.
“I think being on the road for such a long time you have to surround yourself with positive people. You have to lift each other up. Sometimes we can be on the road over 250 days a year,” said Watson, whose band is on the North American and European Fall Tour. “We definitely feed off our audience. We try to find a pretty solid set and tweak it on the tour.”
Dirty Heads, which Watson describes as “an alternative band with reggae and hip-hop influences,” goes on stage just before Julian Marley & The Uprising.
Grammy nominated roots-reggae musician Julian “Ju Ju” Marley is son of reggae legend Bob Marley and Barbados-born Lucy Pounder. Marley, a singer-songwriter, producer and humanitarian, also is a devout Rastafarian whose music is inspired by life and spirituality. Though he was raised in England by his mother, Marley frequently visited family in Jamaica, and recorded his first demo at the Marley family home in Kingston, Jamaica at age 5. At an early age he had taught himself the bass, drums, guitar and keyboard.
“From a small age music has been in my life, it was just a natural thing,” he said in a press release.
Sunday performers include Hor!zen, a reggae/hip hop blend from brothers Nasur and Zech Wolfgramm, Natty Vibes and Rootz Underground
Hor!zen’s latest album, “Bottom Out EP,” was produced by Grammy winner James Wisner.
The awarding-winning sound of Hawaii’s Natural Vibrations, aka Natural Vibes or Natty Vibes, has had them sharing their party and dance energy on stage with artists such as Prince, 311 and Ziggy Marley.
Rootz Underground, which represents Jamaica’s more contemporary reggae scene, opens for Iration on Sunday.
Iration, an alternative/reggae group of musicians formed in Isla Vista, Calif, combines reggae with rock and pop. The band’s 2010 album “Time Bomb,” has remained within the top 20 on Billboard’s Reggae Album Chart.
BANDS
Friday
- 7-8 p.m.: Heritage
- 8:30-10 p.m.: Matisyahu
Saturday
- 4-5:30 p.m.: Junior Marvin
- 6:15-7:45 p.m.: Dirty Heads
- 8:30-10 p.m.: Julian Marley & The Uprising
Sunday
- 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Hor!zen
- 1:15-2:45 p.m.: Natty Vibes
- 3:30-5 p.m.: Rootz Underground
- 5:45-7:15 p.m.: Iration
Chili Cook-Off
Hosting the International Chili Society Chili Cook-off (ChiliCookoff.com) at the festival was a natural pairing for Beach Arts Coalition founder Michael Frimet.
“Saturday will be a good day for chili,” said Frimet, who already was friends with ICS competitor Wanda Gangwisch of Panama City Beach.
“Most of the contestants are just people that compete in chili cook-offs. The main thing is trying to get to the world competition,” said Gangwisch, who is forgoing competition to chair the cook-off. “I won one time and went to the world competition in New Hampshire about four years ago. I can’t compete in this one because I’m running it.”
The ICS sanctioned event with cash prizes and trophies is a qualifier for the2015 World Championships. ICS membership is required to compete in Red Chili, Chili Verde and Salsa categories, though it is not required for the Anything Goes Crock Pot Chili. Winners of the Anything Goes category do not advance in the ICS competition.
Gangwisch has competed the past 15 years.
“Normally, I would go to St. George Island, did it just for fun and then one year, I started winning,” she said. “The entire island becomes one big chili cook-off.”
Though her chili is hot with the judges, she keeps it mild.
“I can’t handle real hot stuff and I think a lot of people can’t, but some do make it hot. But it’s flavorful. You cannot put beans in it for the competition, only for the home style Anything Goes,” Gangwisch explained. “You can use any combination of meats, beef and pork.”
COOK-OFF SCHEDULE
Saturday
- 8 a.m.: Cooks meeting with International Chili Society Rules
- 8:15 a.m.: Chili Verde preparation time (chopping, slicing, marinating)
- 8:30 a.m.: Anything Goes/Prepare at Home (Crock Pot Chili) on site; chili sold with proceeds going toward Beach Arts Coalition
- 9 a.m.: Stoves lit for Chili Verde (three hour cooking begins); Red Chili prep
- 9-10 a.m.: Anything Goes Chili judging
- 10 a.m.: Stoves lit for Red Chili (three hour cooking begins); Judges meeting
- 10:15 a.m.: Anything Goes Chili Awards presented
- 11 a.m.: Turn in salsa for judging
- 11:30 a.m. to noon: Booth Showmanship judging
- Noon: Judging begins for Chili Verde
- 1 p.m.: Judging begins for Red Chili
- 2:30 p.m.: Awards presented in chili judging area
CHILI VIBRATIONS REGGAE FESTIVAL & CHILI COOK-OFF
- Who: HeadlinersJulian Marley & The Uprising, Iration, Dirty Heads, Matisyahu; International Chili Society sanctioned event; food, beverage, merchandise vendors
- When: 7-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Sunday
- Where: Aaron Bessant Park, 600 Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach
- Tips: No coolers, no outside food or drinks, no alcohol, no pets; bring chairs and blankets; all bars cash only; ATMs on-site
- Tickets: $25 for Friday, $37.50 for Saturday or Sunday; $59 for 3-day pass; VIP 3-day pass $149 (includes private parking, private restroom, private viewing area, private discounted bar and two free drink passes per day, food on Saturday and Sunday by Finn’s Island Style Grub); $5 entry to chili cook-off event; children under 12 free; tickets available at ChiliVibrations.com, TicketFly.com, Little Village in Panama City and at the gate
- Details: ChiliVibrations.com