Reggae, craft brew fest strikes a chord in Rochester

Frontman Van Gordon Martin treats the crowd to some stellar guitar playing. Below, festivalgoers get their groove on, Islandside on center stage, folks play ladderball beside the stage and Boom Lava. (Harrison Thorp photos)

ROCHESTER - It was a Rochester garden party, and it was bloomin’ wonderful.

From the distinctive rhythms of Jamaica’s signature music, to a generous sampling of New Hampshire microbreweries, to that good Governor’s Inn barbecue, the Second Annual Rochester Reggae and Craft Brew Fest was held on Saturday in the inn's spacious gardens under a spectacular August sky.

Seacoast reggae band Boom Lava got things heated up around 1 p.m. and played till 2 p.m. then provided between-set music while the other bands broke down or set up, providing festivalgoers with nonstop reggae for about 10 hours.

The Equalites, who hail from Western Massachusetts, played next. The resilient reggae band has been around for decades and has trimmed its roster over the years, but still plays with plenty of swag. 

Next came Islandside, which brought in some day-gig musicians from Rhode Island and had the crowd dancing at their tables, especially to Bob Marley reggae-classic “One Love.”

The inn had two stages going to keep the music going nonstop, with Boom Lava playing in front of The Garage restaurant.

While the music played, many sampled craft brews from state microbreweries like Smuttynose Brewing Company of  Portsmouth, White Birch Brewing of Hooksett and Hop Slinger’s Brewing Company of Henniker.

And all the while, folks were munching on pulled pork sandwiches, pulled pork nachos and other yummy selections from an outdoor grilling station set up in the front of The Garage.

Anthony Ejarque of the Governor’s Inn said he was happy with the crowd, which numbered several hundred and was larger than last year. He said he hopes the Rochester Reggae and Craft Brew Fest continues to grow and become an area summer tradition just like the Rochester Blues Fest held last month.

While music was pulsing on the garden stage, vendors in the adjacent garden area gave folks a chance to window shop while sipping craft brews and rocking out to reggae.

Radloff’s Cigar Shop and On the Rox Lounge of downtown Rochester brought in a half-dozen of its overstuffed leather chairs so festivalgoers could puff on one of the store’s cigars and listen to some smokin’ tunes in style.

For anyone who could stand sitting with the pulsing of reggae melodies nearby, Rochester artist Erica Doler offered to draw your caricatures in whatever mold you wanted. Youngster Anthony Queene of Rochester said he was very happy with his “SpongeBob.”

Other vendors included a Veteran’s Booth, Seacoast Roller Derby and trendy Rochester boutique shop Headlines as well as a pottery booth.

Beside the headliners’ back stage folks relaxed, playing ladderball, volleyball and hula hoops on the grass while the band played on.

Around 6:30 the Van Gordon Martin Band kicked it up a notch, took a funk detour and wowed the crowd with its heavy funk beat.

Frontman/guitarist Martin, who has played with members of the Mothership P-Funk/Parliament Funkadelic connection, mesmerized with his versatility and playful yet soulful sounds.

Martin’s band brought virtuoso brass and keyboard talent as well, filling out a trademark funk sound.

The songs were long and the crowds liked them that way as Martin exhorted them to dance on the Governor’s Inn back lawn.

“I see a lot of green, there’s plenty of room to dance,” he yelled.

After the Van Gordon Martin Band, Boom Lava took to the front stage one last time, before reggae powerhouse Hot Like Fire ended the night.