It was raining reggae at the annual free Simmerdown Festival in Birmingham’s Handsworth Park over the weekend.
Each year it only gets better! Unlike previous years, this year was predicted rain nearly all day, so there was a lot of speculation online about whether it was taking place.
We all know that rain keeps a lot of people in their homes, no one likes being wet and cold, and as it’s a free festival so people have the choice.
And it did rain! But to say this did not stop anyone coming out is an understatement. People came prepared for everything! The park was dotted with gazebos, picnic tables and blankets, and as the rain started, umbrellas. The rain came, and the reggae carried on!
The crowds
The park was still as full as ever, with a multitude of ages, colours and religions – it shows just how far and wide the love of this music, which originated and grew out of the little Caribbean island of Jamaica, has reached!
We personally spoke to people that had travelled from Wales, Stoke and Manchester – just to this event. We saw young people in their teens to senior citizens with grey hair, all equally enjoying themselves.
Headline act
The headline act was Inner Circle of “Bad Boys” fame and they were amazing, energetic and authentic – what else would we expect at a reggae festival! We expect locs, we expect patois, we expect that rhythmic bass sound, this is what the crowd were treated to.
If you are a lover of reggae, if you want to enjoy a family day out, if you want to be around like minded people and attend a festival for all ages. Simmerdown is exactly the festival for you!
Here’s 100 photos of pure joy from Simmer Down Festival 2018: