It was raining reggae at the annual free Simmerdown Festival in Birmingham’s Handsworth Park over the weekend.

Each year it only gets better! Unlike previous years, this year was predicted rain nearly all day, so there was a lot of speculation online about whether it was taking place.

We all know that rain keeps a lot of people in their homes, no one likes being wet and cold, and as it’s a free festival so people have the choice.

And it did rain! But to say this did not stop anyone coming out is an understatement. People came prepared for everything! The park was dotted with gazebos, picnic tables and blankets, and as the rain started, umbrellas. The rain came, and the reggae carried on!

The crowds

The park was still as full as ever, with a multitude of ages, colours and religions – it shows just how far and wide the love of this music, which originated and grew out of the little Caribbean island of Jamaica, has reached! 

We personally spoke to people that had travelled from Wales, Stoke and Manchester – just to this event. We saw young people in their teens to senior citizens with grey hair, all equally enjoying themselves.

Headline act

The headline act was Inner Circle of “Bad Boys” fame and they were amazing, energetic and authentic – what else would we expect at a reggae festival! We expect locs, we expect patois, we expect that rhythmic bass sound, this is what the crowd were treated to.

If you are a lover of reggae, if you want to enjoy a family day out, if you want to be around like minded people and attend a festival for all ages. Simmerdown is exactly the festival for you!

Here’s 100 photos of pure joy from Simmer Down Festival 2018:

#1  Dennis Lloyd on the main stage

Dennis Lloyd performs at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#2  Crowds in Handsworth Park

Crowds enjoying Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth ParkLensi Photography

#3  Rudolph Walker aka ‘Patrick Truman’

Rudolph Walker, who plays Patrick Truman in Eastenders, on the main stage at Simmer Down festival 2018Lensi Photography

#4  Donchez bustin’ some moves

Britain's Got Talent finalist Donchez at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#5 Abel Miller

Abel Miller performs on the main stage at Simmer Down festival 2018Lensi Photography

#6  Reveller chilling in the park

A reveller chilling in Handsworth Park during Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#7  Crucials Main Stage

The Crucials Main Stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#8  Simmer Down Fesitval

Denise James | I Am Birmingham

#9  Janel Antoneshia gets the crowd buzzing

Janel Antoneshia performs on the main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#10  Shelly Lightnin lights up the main stage

Shelly Lighnin lights up the main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#11  Shelly Lightnin performin’

Shelly Lightnin performs on the main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#12  Misty in Roots

Misty in Roots at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#13  Iqulah Rastafari belts out his reggae hits

Iqulah Rastafari belts out his reggae hits at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#14  Young dancers in Handsworth park

Young dancers performing at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#15  Flags high at Simmer Down

Jamaican flag and crowds at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#16  The Lion of Judah

Flying the Lion of Judah Haile Selassie Ethiopian flag at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamLensi Photography

#17  West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#18 Headliners Inner Circle on the main stage

Inner Circle on the main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#19  Trevor “Skatta” Bonnick from Inner Circle

Inner Circle on the main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#20  Birmingham Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito and Cllr Waseem Zaffar

Birmingham Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito with her husband Winston (second right) and fellow councillor Waseem Zaffar (right) at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#21  Performances on the Crucials Main Stage

Performances on the Main Stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#22  Iqulah Rastafari

Iqulah Rastafari belts out his reggae hits at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#23  Dancing in the park

A festival goer enjoying Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#24  Family fun at Simmer Down Festival

Family fun at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#25  Main stage at Simmer Down

Main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#26  Inner Circle

Inner Circle reggae band at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth park in Birmingham UKLensi Photography

#27  Inner Circle

Inner Circle reggae band at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth park in Birmingham UKLensi Photography

#28  Inner Circle’s Trevor “Skatta” Bonnick

Inner Circle reggae band at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth park in Birmingham UKLensi Photography

#29  Crowds at Simmer Down

Crowds at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#30 Performances on the Main Stage

Inner Circle guitarist performs on the main stage at Simmer Down FestivalLensi Photography

#31  Donchez from Britain’s Got talent

Britain's Got Talent finalist Donchez at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#32  Revellers at Simmer Down

Revellers at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#33  Simmer Down Festival

Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#34 Janel Antoneshia takes over the main stage 

Janel Antoneshia performs on the main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#35  Flying the Jamaican flag

The Jamaican flag flies in the crowd at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Birmingham UKDenise James | I Am Birmingham

#36  Young kid at Simmer Down

Young kid at the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamLensi Photography

#37  Dancing in the crowd

Dancing in the crowd at Simmer Down festival 2018Lensi Photography

#38  Jamaican flag held high

Jamaican flag held high at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in Birmingham UKLensi Photography

#39  Shiny Happy People

Shiny happy people at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamDenise James | I Am Birmingham

#40  Simmer Down Smiles

Smiling at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamLensi Photography

#41  Inner Circle’s ‘Skatta’

Inner Circle on the main stage at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#42  Hands in the air

Hands in the air at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamLensi Photography

#43  Hundreds of people enjoying Simmer Down Festival

Crowds at Simmer Down festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in BirminghamLensi Photography

#44 Simmer Down Festival vibes

It's all fun and games at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Birmingham's Handsworth ParkLensi Photography

#45  Good vibes at Simmer Down

Good vibes at Simmer Down Festival 2018 at Handsworth Park in BirminghamLensi Photography

#46  Family feel in the park

Family feel at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamLensi Photography

#47  Friends chilling at Simmer Down Festival

Friends at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamLensi Photography

#48  Soaking in the vibes

Older women enjoy the Simmer Down Festival in Handsworth Park in Birmingham Lensi Photography

#49  A family enjoying the day

A family enjoying the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in BirminghamLensi Photgraphy

#50  Out in the park for Simmer Down

A reveller enjoying the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in BirminghamLensi Photography

#51  Happy family out for Simmer Down Fest

A happy family at Simmer Down Festival 2018Lensi Photography

#52  Eloquent Praise & Empowerment Dance Company

Dancing girl group at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in BirminghamLensi Photography

#53  Friends enjoying Simmer Down Festival

Group of girls chilling at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamLensi Photography

#54  Community collectives

Crowds and music artists at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 05Rangzeb Hussain

#55  Cheering crowds at Simmer Down

Crowds and music artists at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 06Rangzeb Hussain

#56  Inner Circle on centre-stage

Inner Circle at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 01Rangzeb Hussain

#57  Inner Circle

Inner Circle keyboard player at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 01Rangzeb Hussain

#58  Iqulah Rastafari performing

Rangzeb Hussain

#59  Iqulah Rastafari

Iqulah Rastfari at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 02Rangzeb Hussain

#60  Iqulah Rastafari

Iqulah Rastafari at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 01Rangzeb Hussain

#61  Passionate performances

Bass player guitarist at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 01Rangzeb Hussain

#62  Selling wares at Simmer Down

Clothing stall at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 01Rangzeb Hussain

#63  Simmer Down crowds

Crowds and music artists at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 01Rangzeb Hussain

#64  Crowds at Simmer Down Festival

Crowds and music artists at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 02Rangzeb Hussain

#65  Smartphones and smiles at Simmer Down

Crowds and music artists at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Rangzeb Hussain 04Rangzeb Hussain

#66  Misty in Roots

Misty in Roots at the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#67  JB Capital Letters

JB Capital Letters at the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#68 ‘Mr Handsworth’ Hector Pinkney with Vimal Korpal

'Mr Handsworth' Hector Pinkney and Vimal Korpal at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Birmingham's Handsworth ParkAdam Yosef

#69  Shelly Lightnin’s amazing smile

Singer Shelly Lightnin at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#70  Family fun at Simmer Down

Attendees at the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in Birmingham in a photo by Adam YosefAdam Yosef

#71  Cllr Waseem Zaffar and Kash the Flash

Councillor Waseem Zaffar and Kash the Flash at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#72  Photographer Vanley Burke

Photographer Vanley Burke at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth park in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#73  Iqulah Rastafari and Mukhtar Dar

Iqulah Rastafari and Mukhtar Dar at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#74  Revellers enjoying Simmer Down Festival

Attendees and artists at the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in Birmingham in a photo by Adam YosefAdam Yosef

#75  Kids all smiles at Simmer Down

Kids and families at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#76  Dancers Sohan Kailey and Aruna Kailey with their kids

Dancers Sohan Kailey and Aruna Kailey with their children at Simmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#78  Happy chappy in Handsworth Park

A smiling guy at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#79  Enjoying the music at Simmer Down

Revellers filming on smart phones at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in BirminghamAdam Yosef

#80  Celebrating at Simmer Down

Revellers enjoying the music at SImmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#81  Some of The Phoenix Newspaper crew

Some of The Phoenix Newspaper team at Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Birmingham Adam Yosef

#82  Iqulah Rastafari 

Iqulah Rasftafari at Simmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#83  West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street at Simmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#84  Waseem Zaffar, Yvonne Mosquito, Winston Mosquito and Andy Street

VIP guests and politicians at Simmer Down Festival 2018 with Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito, Winston Mosquito and WM Mayor Andy StreetAdam Yosef

#85  Rangzeb Hussain and Aysha Z. Khan

Rangzeb Hussain and Aysha Khan at Simmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#86  Maxie Hayles and Yvonne Mosquito share a moment

Maxie Hayles, Yvonne Mosquito, Charmaine Burton and Winston Mosquito at Simmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#87  Fashion designer Anthony Weir in the crowd

Designer Anthony Weir at Simmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#88  Photographer Denise Davina of Lensi Photography

Photographer Denise Maxwell at Simmer Down Festival 2018Adam Yosef

#89  Donchez with West Midlands Police officers 

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 03Vimal Korpal

#90  Presenting on the Main Stage

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 05Vimal Korpal

#91  BBC Doctor’s Bharti Patel at Simmer Down

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 05Vimal Korpal

#92  Smiling couple at Simmer Down

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 20Vimal Korpal

#93 Janel Antoneshia on the Simmer Down main stage

Janel Antoneshia. Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal.Vimal Korpal

#94  Performing on the Main Stage

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 12Vimal Korpal

#95  Simmer Down security staff

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 06Vimal Korpal

#96 Chilling at Simmer Down Festival 

Aysha Z. Khan and friendVimal Korpal

#97  Inner Circle command the Simmer Down crowds

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 26Vimal Korpal

#98  Paulette Francis-Green and BBC Radio WM

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 10Vimal Korpal

#99  Happy couple at Simmer Down

Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth in Birmingham by Vimal Korpal 25Vimal Korpal

#100  Ammo Talwar MBE from Punch Records

Attendees and artists at the Simmer Down Festival 2018 in Handsworth Park in Birmingham in a photo by Adam YosefAdam Yosef

 

For news and details about next year’s event, follow the Simmer Down Festival Facebook page here.

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