KINGSTON, Jamaica- Grammy-nominated reggae artiste Jesse Royal says the inaugural staging of his High Life Festival is all about creating a platform for reggae music.

“The vision is to create another platform that can present reggae music the way it should as well as something to keep the people fed and, more importantly, create another platform for potential discovery of new talent. The main reason was servicing and balancing the space. The role that reggae plays is vital, whether you agree or not. It’s our duty to preserve the tree and continue to water the roots. High Life is a reflection of that outlook. If not we, then who, and if not now, then when,” Jesse Royal told the Jamaica Observer recently.

The High Life Festival is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 19, at the ‘High Life Lawns’, 82 Lady Musgrave Road. Gates open at 3:00 pm.

The festival will feature a powerful line-up of artistes dedicated to live music, culture, and community. Surprise special guests are expected. Recent additions to the line-up include Jahshii, iotosh, Jah9, D’Yani, Ras-I, and Joby Jay, alongside previously announced reggae icon Big Youth and Jesse Royal himself.

When asked about the type of investment that went into putting the festival together, Jesse Royal said “Heavy investment on all fronts, from the knowledge gained via touring, to finances obviously, and then more importantly, a really solid team that’s giving time, energy and effort, which is one of the greatest investments.”

He shared that it was both “easy and difficult” to get confirmation from the acts on the line-up.

“It was both difficult in terms of closing the list of acts, and it was easy because I’m still a big fan of music and truly a fan of everyone that will be gracing the stage that night. The surprise acts are the icing on the cake. Not gonna call any names, but everybody who is here will be there. Our love, joy and unity haven’t changed, so expect the unexpected,” said Jesse Royal.

He also spoke about veteran deejay Big Youth’s inclusion on the line-up.

“Big Youth for me is such an integral part of music on a whole not just reggae or dancehall, and it’s important for us to pay homage to the elders who literally paved the way for a lot of what is going on today. I’m a big fan, and I’m truly honoured to have him touch the High Life stage. It will also be his birthday, so it’s gonna be a celebration,” Jesse Royal stated.

And what can patrons expect at the festival?

“We kick off at 3:00pm, and we go straight through until midnight. It’s a full day of vibes, music, food, culture, and community all wrapped in one powerful experience. This year we’re keeping it tight and intentional. It’s a one-stage setup for now because we really wanted to build something meaningful from the ground up. You could call it a mini-festival vibe – just enough to feel full, but still personal, still connected. We’ve got a nice blend of live performances and DJ sets, and we’re building in moments for people to catch their breath, grab a bite, and just take in the atmosphere. There’ll be local food vendors, maybe some art, and a bit of sound system culture woven through, keeping it authentically Jamaican. It’s not a seated thing; this is a standing, dancing, rocking-with-the-crowd type of energy. The goal is have a vibe from start to finish,” said Jesse Royal.

-Kevin Jackson