Major event Reggaetown Festival to return to Kuranda Amphitheatre

An iconic Far North music venue on the brink of closing will host its first major event since Covid. Find out what is planned.

AN iconic Far North music venue on the brink of closing is now poised to host its first major event since Covid.

Katchafire, Masaya, Zennith, Nicky Bomba and DJ Victor Lopez are among the acts performing for the Reggaetown festival at Kuranda Amphitheatre.

Kuranda Amphitheatre treasurer Liza Dewey said Sunday’s event would hopefully help the venue turn over a new leaf.

The amphitheatre was hit hard by Covid which restricted live enteratainment and as a result has been at risk of closing for nearly two years.

“We are still on struggle street but hopefully next week we won’t be so much,” Ms Dewey said.

Reggaetown World Music Festival 2012 at the Kuranda Amphitheatre. Picture: Tom Lee

“It’s exciting and daunting at the same time. It’s like getting back on the bike. There’s had to be a lot of work done because it’s our first bigger gig in three years.

“We are hoping for us this is the launch of bigger things.”

Reggaetown has a strong history in the Far North with the inaugural event held in 1995 and the last one in 2012.

“It’s been quite a few years in between, lots of things happened but I feel like I decided it was time to give it another go,” Reggaetown organiser Mikki Maxwell said.

“We are starting small, there’s only one stage and it’s only one day but I think it’s a nice way to bring it back.”

Reggaetown Festival is one New Zealand band Katchafire hold close to their hearts.

“We are excited to be playing Reggaetown,” band member Logan Bell said.

“That’s one of our earliest memories. We have a lot to owe to the festival for breaking us in there. It’s a big reason why we come.”

Originally published as Major event Reggaetown Festival to return to Kuranda Amphitheatre