Carrabassett Valley, ME – Sugarloaf’s Bud Light Reggae Festival, the annual spring party that brings thousands of visitors to the northwestern Maine ski and snowboard resort, returns this weekend with 11 different bands including festival headliners Inner Circle, Kenyatta “CULTURE” Hill, and TOSH-1.nKnown as “The Bad Boys of Reggae,” Inner Circle will headline the festival’s Friday night show in the King Pine Room, with Kenyatta Hill headlining Saturday night’s show, and TOSH-1 performing a free show Sunday on the Beach. The annual weekend-long festival features indoor music stages in the King Pine Room and the Widowmaker Lounge, and outdoor performances on the Beach in front of the Base Lodge. All outdoor music is free and open to all ages.

Few modern reggae acts have garnered the kind of popularity that Inner Circle has amassed over the past few decades. This Jamaican-bred, Grammy winning quintet got its foothold in the reggae business in the mid-1970s, but didn’t hit the big time until they released their most popular album titled Bad Boys, which went on to sell over seven million copies worldwide. The tight-knit band has continued to tour the world, and is widely recognized for energy-filled performances with mass appeal.

Kenyatta Hill’s career began when his father’s ended on tour in 2006. Kenyatta, the son of “Culture” legend Joseph Hill, has gained a reputation for electrifying live performances, and has served as the front man for Culture while simultaneously pursing his solo career on shows in the US, Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. Hill’s music is influenced by elements of dancehall, but is grounded in the roots tradition. He will be backed by the well know roots band Yard Squad for his performance at Sugarloaf.

The son of the late, great Peter Tosh, TOSH-1 was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to Boston at the young age of five. After the untimely death of his father, Tosh began his quest to continue the legacy of his father’s message, and since that time has gone on to perform on Reggae’s biggest stages, alongside some of the industry’s biggest stars, including Damien Marley, Sizzla, Gregory Isaacs, and Shabba Ranks.

Also performing at Sugarloaf throughout the weekend will be Mighty Mystic, Royal Hammer, Mystic Bowie, JSAN & the Analogue Sons, Dub Is A Weapon, Trumystic, iLa Mawana, and DJ Kompost.

The springtime reggae festival got its start at Sugarloaf in 1988 as a way to celebrate the changing of seasons and enjoy deep snow, warm sun, and classic spring skiing. Since that time the festival has grown into one of the most popular spring parties in ski country, drawing 10,000 or more reggae and spring skiing fans each year.

Sugarloaf offers a number of different ticket options for shows throughout the weekend. For $50 guests can purchase an “Express Pass” that guarantees admission to both the Friday and Saturday night King Pine Room shows, as well as all of the nighttime shows in the Widowmaker Lounge. For $40 guests can purchase the “Good Vibes Pass,” which provides access to both the Friday and Saturday night shows in the King Pine Room.

All King Pine Room and Widowmaker Lounge shows are 21-plus only and proper ID is required. All outdoor shows on Saturday and Sunday are free and open to all ages. No outside alcohol may be brought into the venue, and all bags and coolers will be subject to search.

At press time, Sugarloaf still has 26 miles of skiing and riding available, spanning 61 open trails. Base depths range from eight to 45 inches.

For more information on Sugarloaf and the Bud Light Reggae Festival, visit www.sugarloaf.com/reggae.