Island Heat

The Island Heat Caribbean Music Festival is an annual day-long R & B, reggae, calypso, hip-hop and jazz music festival in Athens, Ohio. It features MusicAL acts and DJs from the United States and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Originally conceived as A Plan to bring music from the Virgin Islands to students at Ohio University, the festival has expanded promotion efforts to Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio.

The festival takes place at Ervin’s Big Red Bard, a venue in the Appalachian foothills five miles southwest of the Ohio University campus. The 2009 event will take place Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Background Information

Creation

Ohio University alumni Zachary Kiesch and NFL defensive tackle Landon Cohen started the Island Heat Caribbean Music Festival in 2009. The festival is organized in collaboration with the U.S. Virgin Islands record label and promotions company LP Entertainment

Kiesch and Cohen had originally met on the Ohio University college football team in 2005. Cohen was later drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft.

Inaugural Event

The First Annual event is scheduled to take place May 9, 2009. In addition to featuring a number of Caribbean musicians, the event offers on-site vending and parking for concert goers. Attendants are permitted to bring to chairs, blankets, corn hole, food, and alcohol to the festival. Though beverage options are available for sale on-site, this is primarily a B.Y.O.B. event.

The festival doors will open at noon

Music Television (MTV) will provide live video taping of the event. This footage will be used in consideration for an episode of "Hood Fab" with host Buttah Man at an undetermined time in 2010.

Beyond the music, Island Heat’s inaugural running features a number of NFL players serving as promoters for the event. Among the 2009 attendees are quarterback Daunte Culpepper, running back Kevin Smith and wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

Transportation

Though parking is available on site at the Big Red Barn at 293 Stage Coach Rd., public transportation is offered to concert goers to the festival grounds. Shuttles run from Ohio University campus locations at Peden Stadium and McCracken Park.

Lineups by year

2009

• Lindsay Brockington and her Dream Orchestra
• Virgin Island Idol Winners BV and Drastic
• De Apostle
• Miami Ink's DJ Drop D
• Jesty Beatz
• Rafijah Siano
• Rock City
• Yung Kapo