Wilkswood Reggae Festival 2022

Held in the stunning Purbeck countryside in Langton Matravers on the outskirts of Swanage in Dorset, the Wilkswood Reggae Festival presents three days of reggae and camping in the woods by the sea from Friday July 22nd to Sunday July 24th 2022.

This year's festival (originally scheduled from 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus Covid-19 epidemic) will see reggae legends rub shoulders with upcoming artists and DJs from the UK and abroad with over 50 acts performing across three stages. Headliners on the main stage this year include legendary musician and producer Dennis Bovell, the evergreen Twinkle Brothers, dub wizard Mad Professor, Prince Fatty (performing with Shniece and Horseman), the Queens of Lovers Rock, Janet Kay and Carol Thompson and reggae dignitaries Sandra Cross and Vivian Jones. Full line-up to be confirmed.

The Jah Spirit Stage will this year feature exclusive takeovers on from three of the UK's top sound systems, Channel One Soundsystem, Mungo's HiFi and Sinai Sound who will all be appearing for a whole day with their own custom-built speaker rigs. It's exceptional to get to experience these genuine sound systems outside of the carnival environment, so this is a real treat.

Elsewhere a multitude of soundsystems, deejays and producers will perform on the Jah Spirit Stage and an eclectic collection of acoustic and spoken word acts will appear on the Family Fringe Stage.

The Wilkswood Roots Reggae Festival is a family-friendly festival and there is plenty to keep your little ragamuffins entertained including a dedicated kid's field and a wooded clearing featuring storytelling and music. There will also be free workshops in beatboxing, urban dance and rap performance. To encourage the whole family to come along, we offer reduced prices for children up to the age of 17 and under-3s are free!

The Wilkswood Roots Reggae Festival is now in its fifth year and previous headliners on the main stage have included Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Mad Professor, General Levy, Brinsley Forde, Tippa Irie, Mikey General, Joe Ariwa, Earl Sixteen, Carroll Thompson, Janet Kay and Festus Coxsone.

Both the Main Stage and the Jah Spirit Soundsystem Stage are under cover so the music carries on whatever the weather. Elsewhere there's a chillout zone, street food stalls (including a Jamaican jerk barbecue, wood-fired pizza and vegetarian/vegan food), the main bar serving draught beer and ice cold lager and the Rumshak's infamous rum cocktails; we're still trying to work out what the 'magic ingredient' is but they taste great and get you dancing!

Organised by Hard Way Promotions and members of Bournemouth's Dubheart Collective, the festival takes place over three days at Wilkswood Farm in Langton Matravers and the ticket price includes full admission and camping for three nights. There is a glamping field with pre-pitched tents and campervans and caravans are welcome (for a small additional fee).