Reggae Rise Up fest offers three days of good vibes

Tempe Beach Park is preparing for another three days of basslines, sunshine and crowds who somehow stay mellow when the lineup isn’t.

Reggae Rise Up Arizona returns Friday, April 17, to Sunday, April 19, to Tempe Beach Park, with reggae legends, hip-hop icons, surf-rock favorites and enough good vibes to make Tempe Town Lake feel like the Caribbean for a weekend.

Stephen Marley, SOJA, Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Collie Buddz, Matisyahu, Steel Pulse, Yelawolf, Atmosphere and De La Soul are just a few of the acts that will hit the stage. 

“They haven’t toured in a while,” says festival founder and CEO Vaughn Carrick about De La Soul. “It’ll be really exciting to see them.”

The rest of the lineup highlights modern reggae and related genres: Fortunate Youth, J Boog, Maoli, Protoje, Steel Pulse and hometown favorites Fayuca. “We’re excited to keep supporting local talents as they grow,” Carrick says.

Reggae Rise Up Arizona remains very local on many levels. “Last year, over 80% of our ticket buyers were from Arizona,” Carrick says. But they tend to buy tickets late — very late. We sold 44% of our tickets in the last month. Arizona is a slow-selling market.”

The festival boasts a no-overlap schedule: two stages, no conflicts. “Many of the artists are very close with their fans,” Carrick notes. “They tend to stay and hang out … interact with the crowd.”

Surfer Girl is among 2026’s performers; the four-piece act blending reggae, surf-rock and energetic pop on Saturday, April 18. Frontman Carter Reeves says Surfer Girl’s live shows are where it shines. 

“We pride ourselves on the live show being even better than the recorded version,” says Reeves, former frontman of the hip-hop/pop duo Aer. “We try to keep people on their toes … do something fresh.”

Reeves grew up in New England, where reggae became his escape from the cold. “I would do everything in my power to try and feel the sunshine, even on the coldest days,” he recalls. “Reggae always felt the most natural and accessible to me.”

The Tempe date happens ahead of Surfer Girl’s new album “Midnight,” which Reeves calls “by far the best music that we have ever made.” The lead single, “Chestnut Hill,” dropped March 11.

While Reggae Rise Up hasn’t yet released an economic impact report for Tempe, its Florida event generated a staggering $31 million. The Tempe edition is smaller but still substantial. “I imagine it’s definitely up there,” Carrick says.

Reeves from Surfer Girl adds one more reason to be grateful: “Thank you for not holding us in July,” he jokes. “July is evil.”

Reggae Rise Up Arizona Festival. Noon Friday, April 17, to Sunday, April 19, at Tempe Beach Park. Tickets start at $65. Visit reggaeriseup.com for more information.