OUR MISSION
In honor of the festival’s 33rd anniversary, JazzReggae Fest is celebrating three decades of good vibes, jammin’ music, and cultural enrichment with a one-day festival under the Los Angeles sun. From the festival’s humble beginnings in 1986, it has continued to grow and develop while forging connections between UCLA and the broader Los Angeles community. Jazz Reggae Fest is growing from its roots, presenting headliners from the genres of jazz and reggae as well as the styles of music that they inspire. Our professional acts will be accompanied by a curated selection of talented student bands.
In addition to the early festival elements of jazz, reggae, and a grassy venue, we aim to preserve sustainable initiatives, live art, and food and craft vendor features that have enriched the festival in recent years. By showcasing these underrepresented genres, JRF strives to create a cohesive and welcoming space for students and the greater LA community. In doing so, the festival opens our campus and connects various communities as they share their love for powerful, conscious, moving music. Each year, we aim to create a dynamic and welcoming space of self-expression, healing, and cultural exchange.
HISTORY
In commemoration of its 25th year, the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA released a documentary that looks back through its history with festival footage and exclusive interviews with past producers. From its humble beginnings to its acclaimed present, the JazzReggae Festival has been entertaining Southern California since 1986 with performances by Erykah Badu, The Roots, and Damien Marley. From interviews with the festival’s founder Ron Richards to a fish-eyed view of the Roots performance in 2008, the documentary explores the JazzReggae Festival’s history, tradition, and importance as a cultural institution in Los Angeles.
