Reggae vs. Reggae
After a bitter dispute, a new festival rises up to replace Reggae on the River
By Eric K. Arnold
It was a dread-ful moment, to be sure. This spring, the Mateel Community Center and People Productions — partners for 23 years in Humboldt's annual irie-athon, Reggae on the River — each announced separate festivals. The kicker was that both were listed as happening August 3-5 in the same location (albeit with different lineups). To say confusion reigned would be an understatement.
The conflict had been brewing since at least last October when the promotional force behind the festival, Carol Bruno of People Productions, says she was abruptly fired by the Mateel Center. In January, the center handed the festival's production contract to Boots Hughston's 2b1 Multimedia (best known for running the now-defunct Maritime Hall in San Francisco). Only problem was, while Mateel owned the rights to the Reggae on the River name, it didn't own the land the concert was being presented at.
That privilege fell to Tom Dimmick, whose ranch was conveniently located next to French's Camp, where the festival was held for most of its existence. After the 2005 event, at which point the owner of French's Camp decided not to extend the festival's lease, Dimmick stepped in. "I never would have done that if I hadn't been a neighbor to it for all these years," he says, adding that he grew up listening to the festival and holds the utmost respect for People Productions: "Carol Bruno, she's a true champion. There's no way in the world I would have ever housed the event if it wasn't for her capable hands."
Dimmick said Mateel's dismissal of Bruno "was totally unacceptable to me." He maintains that the community center violated its lease by bringing in an outside promoter, and he used that rationale to sever his arrangement with Mateel. Numerous, often-contentious attempts at mediation — including one proposal, Dimmick confirms, which would have paid Mateel upward of $200,000 a year to license the Reggae on the River name for a decade — failed. "We offered to basically do the event for free," he said. "Take the money and be happy for the next ten years. That wasn't acceptable to them."
At that point, Bruno and Dimmick decided to go ahead with their own festival, to be called Reggae Rising. Still-pending litigation ensued, as well as chaos among the Reggae on the River faithful, who were being forced to choose sides. As Bruno says, "there's a lot of cloudiness" regarding the dispute. "It's all been blown way out of proportion," Dimmick adds. (Neither the Mateel Community Center nor 2b1 Multimedia responded to calls and e-mails seeking comment.)
Bruno and Dimmick say the conflict arose because of money: specifically, the unforeseen infrastructure costs associated with moving the festival site. "The result was the community center didn't earn the money they needed," Bruno says. After Reggae Rising was announced, Mateel's lawyers argued for an injunction, but a judge upheld Dimmick's property rights. The day after the injunction was denied, Reggae Rising announced that it had booked three big names: Ziggy, Damian, and Stephen Marley. The Marley sons had considerable history dealing with People Productions; as Ghetto Youth crew, Damian and Stephen were first booked in 1998, long before their ascension to headliner status. Soon after that, Reggae Rising sent another shot across 2b1's bow, announcing the booking of reggae legends Sly & Robbie and Horace Andy.
On May 16, Hughston issued a statement through the Reggae on the River site officially canceling the festival and refunding tickets already purchased. "We held out as long as possible in hopes of a resolution," he wrote. "The Mateel has tried everything in their power to convince Dimmick Ranch to settle fairly and in good faith." Mateel's own statement was more succinct: "We tried."
On June 26, Reggae Rising got the green light from the Humboldt County planning commission, which evidently felt the loss of the festival would be too severe an economic blow. But while Bruno readily acknowledges the financial importance of the event for the Humboldt community, she's quick to add that it's not just about the money — it's about the vibe. "It's very important economically and it's important spiritually for the universe," she maintains.
For her part, Bruno has chosen not to dwell on the acrimony. "I've been meditating," she says. "I've tried not to feed into the negativity." Dimmick is likewise weary of the protracted conflict. "I'm not really comfortable speaking about it," he said. "I'm hoping that at some point cooler heads will prevail and come up with a settlement that's acceptable to all the parties."
In the meantime, there's still a festival. Past years have occasionally featured numerous world-music acts, but as Bruno notes, "The lineup this year is more of a roots lineup." She's equally excited that there are several women performers booked (including Queen Omega and Luna Angel), while Dimmick says he's looking forward to a repeat of last year's showstopping performance by Sly & Robbie and to the other talented acts ranging from up-and-comer Collie Budz to veterans like the Abyssinians. Putting all politics aside, Dimmick says he's concentrating his energy on a good show: "We've dedicated Reggae Rising to the music." As the saying goes, who feels it knows it.
Comments (18)
Showing 1-18 of 18
hey, this is eric lister (credited for this image) and i did not draw this. I am almost certain it belongs to Conor Buckley.
like
dislike
question, is mateel a community center or a fiefdom? people living outside of humboldt dont care about all the politics and inflighting, they just want to hear good music. y'all need to squash this bitterness and make it so that everybody wins.
hey anonymous2, are you sure you have all the facts? you talk about babylon rising, but the only reason the two sides didnt settle is the greed of Mateel's lawyers, who turned down a $220k-per-year deal because they were holding out for $300,000. every year. for sitting back and doing nothing. this is a documented fact.
act like righteous hippies all you want, but dont think that jah dont see you or that he dont know wha'gwan.
The Mateel Community Center,
Redway, CA 95560 707 923-3368
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Justin Crellin (707) 923-3368 Administrative Marketing Coordinator, Garth Epling Board President (707) 498-7280
JULY 19, 2008
SUGGESTED PRESS CAPTION: REGGAE ON THE RIVER 2008 at BENBOW LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA (Benbow, CA)
What: Mateel Community Center’s Reggae on the River
Where: Benbow Lake State Recreation Area (Benbow, CA)
When: Saturday, July 19, 2008
Who:, The Wailing Souls, Culture, Katchafire, Warrior King & more!
Why: A keep-the-name-alive-forever fundraiser for the Mateel Community Center
For Press Passes and Information: Justin@Mateel.org
Reggae On The River Rises From The Ashes & Lands In Benbow July 19
(Redway, CA July 11, 2008): Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, on Saturday, July 19th, the Mateel Community Center will revive Reggae on the River as a single-day, roots reggae and world music celebration at Benbow Lake State Recreation Area in southern Humboldt. A transitional year for the event, with issues still unresolved in the festival’s ongoing legal dispute, Reggae on the River 08 will be an in-house production offered in a keep-the-name-alive-forever spirit, with hopes to return the festival to 3 day event that will again support the work of both community non-profits and the Mateel Community Center.
In keeping with the paired down theme, the festival will eschew top heavy headliners to feature a deep and top class billing of international talent including The Wailing Souls, Culture with Kenyatta Hill, Katchafire, Warrior King, Sister I-Live, Stevie Culture, and Afromassive. Additionally, the event will offer vendors, a children’s area, delicious food and drink, a beer & wine bar, and plenty of irie vibes on the beautiful shores of the Eel River in Benbow Lake S.R.A.
Don’t miss this chance to support the work of MCC while helping keep Reggae on the River alive. Tickets are available online at www.inticketing.com and at the usual Humboldt and Mendocino County outlets for $50 advance. Visit either www.mateel.org or www.reggaeontheriver.com for further festival information and don’t miss the return of Reggae on the River at Benbow Lake State Recreation Area on Saturday, July 19. Gates open at 11am and music starts at 11:30am. Camping is available on a first come, first served basis in both Benbow Lake and Richardson Grove campgrounds by calling (800) 444-7275.
### End
F ALL YOU MATEEL ASSHOLES!!! In all your efforts to show how "babylon" PP and Dimmick you forgot about us~~ The folks that fork over $200 + dollars each year to haul up to Humboldt and pump god know how much $$ into your economy. We just want a quality reggae show and a place to set up camp and you want us choose sides?? The simple fact is that it comes down to $$ on both sides and when a couple million dollars is at stake people get shady...dreadlocks or not.! So you can keep on "shining" your version of the light but its fallin on deaf ears. As soon as People Productins incorporated you should've gotten a contractual agreements. And lets not forget that its Tom Dimmicks LAND - not yours or PP and he has the right to let whoever he wants on his land. Reggae Rising was a COMPLETE SUCCESS!!!! Best vibe in years. They had onsite sheriffs keepin the tweakers sellin BS in line. ONward Reggae Rising!!!!
this is about the biggest b.s. story I have ever read. How many backstage passes to the event did the stooge receive who wrote this? Tom Dimmick and Carol Bruno dont care about the music, they care about lining their pockets with money, what a shame they ripped off reggae on the river and the mateel community center. Faithful people do not believe this b.s.! Tom Dimmick is a profiteering land owner that does not understand why we came to the real festival, reggae on the river, may the Mateel prevail against babylon rising!!!!
Nice Work Eric, Your Two Backstage Passes Are In The Mail, Enjoy The Show! Great Propaganda!
Many of Humboldt county's non- profit organizations rely on having a food booth at "Reggae on the River" as part of their yearly income. Many local non profits, including schools, volunteer fire departments, the community radio station, enviromental groups, feel so strongly that this years reggae festival is unethical, have chosen to stand in solidarity with Mateel Community Center by not having a food booth at the festival this year.
I forgot to add to my previous post, for anyone attending the event , be forewarned, all sorts of protests and actions are being planned by the community at large.
I thought this was a very good article. It is too bad there are a handfull of haters trying to sabotage the event. Some of the haters went to Bay Area outlets last week, and tried to tell the outlets to stop selling tickets, because "the event was cancelled" NOT TRUE!!! Most of us locals really appreciate all of you who have been coming up each August, many of you for more than twenty years! We are all still working very hard to offer you a good time, and hope that this year's festival is your best experience yet! The community, the stores, the state parks, etc. are all looking forward to your annual visit. We welcome you with open arms, and offer you the best festival lineup in history! See you soon!
As a member of the Mateel Community Center, I wish to say a few things regarding your one sided biased article.For the Mateel community Centers point of view talk to their lawyers. The staff of the community center has been laid off, and does not have the funds to hire a slick public relations firm, like people's productions takes advantage of. A large majority of the population in So. Humboldt and No. Mendocino counties are outraged that " People's Productions" a -for profit corporation- hijacked a two decades old community sponsored event- that benefitted our local non profit organizations. For all the years Reggae on the River has been in existence, the Mateel Community Center fronted the seed money to PPto put on the festival. People's Productions reaped the profits with out having to invest their own money. Carol and Tom's offer of $200,000 dollars was not going to be paid up front and was not guaranteed. Boots and 2b1 productions made an offer of $350,000 up front and half the ticket sales. Most importantly, " REGGAE ON THE RIVER "IS NOT FOR SALE AND NEVER HAS BEEN FOR SALE. The community is not willing to sell. I'm sure Tom and Carol wish the whole little problem of an outraged community would go away but all is not Irie when "Reggae on the River" becomes "Babylon Rising"
One thing I always try to do when I learn of a dispute or conflict is to ask myself: "what happened?" We all know the basic facts. There is an email between Thomas Dimmick and Carol Bruno dated October 12, 2006, that states: "What I am finally realizing is that the Mateel has been what has been preventing me from freedom of flight, not Reggae on the River. Tom you are right. Lets do Reggae, but not do Mateel. Licensing is the only way. We need to be unified on this point. We need to do what it takes to jump reggae to the next level . . ." We know from that e-mail that Carol Bruno wanted to “do Reggae, but not do Mateel.” While the genesis of the dispute could be older,that event has to be a major milestone because by October 17, 2006, Thomas Dimmick sent a letter to Mateel alleging that Carol Bruno said to him: "In no uncertain terms that she will not, under any circumstances again produce the ROTR event for the current Mateel administration." After that, the ball was clearly in play and we had a controversy. After receiving TD’s letter, Mateel requested mediation with People in the fall of 2006. Before the mediation, Carol Bruno appeared personally at a Mateel membership meeting on November 17, 2006, and publicly stated: "The only way for me to continue is to propose that Tom Dimmick and People Productions license the event from the Mateel." At the meeting, Carol Bruno also publicly demanded a negotiated termination of the production contract and a sale of a license to allow PP to independently produce the music festival for the remainder of the lease term with Mr. Dimmick. Paul Bassis, Carol Bruno’s former business partner and close associate, also stood up at the November 17, 2006, Mateel member meeting and emphatically asserted that Carol Bruno meant it and that she would no longer produce the event for Mateel. Other people also spoke and made the same assertions. Carol Bruno apparently sat through Mr. Bassis' Mateel speech and the similar statements of others and never denied the statements. Then more than a month of negotiation and posturing followed. During those negotiations CB and TD offered Mateel a significant amount of money to undertake ROTR without Mateel's involvement. Finally in late December 2006, Mateel sent a letter to Carol Bruno notifying her that it considered her production contract terminated due to her conduct. Tom Dimmick then claimed Mateel breached the lease and he refused to honor the lease that was supposed to be good through 2015. Then People Productions, Carol Bruno and Thomas Dimmick filed suit against Mateel. Mateel in turn filed suit against them. What I find interesting is the fact that CB, PP, and TD are suing Mateel for damages. They admit that they wanted to get rid of Mateel and even offered Mateel money to accept it. Yet, they are suing Mateel for damages because they got what they wanted without paying Mateel any money. That my friends is as Machiavellian and cynical as it gets. Where are the damages when CB and TD got exactly what they wanted and demanded? They are even using Mateel's personal property to operate Reggae Rising and land Mateel paid to lease with no payment to Mateel yet they are suing Mateel for those valuable benefits. Talk about lack of character and immorality. That seems as sleazy as it gets. Tom Dimmick was even paid this year's lease payment of $33,000 yet he is suing Mateel for damages even though he wanted to do reggae but not do Mateel as an e-mail between him and CB admits. That is too cynical and unjust for decent people to accept and yet they keep demanding to know why we will just not let go of this dispute. No wonder we are all so angry and determined to see justice prevail. The most interesting issue is whether Carol Bruno intended for Mateel to terminate the contract or was she just playing a power game trying to pressure Mateel to sign over the rights to ROTR but intending to back off if she did not get her way. I suspect, but cannot prove other than by the circumstances, that she had inside information from the Mateel side and knew how far she could push because she would know when Mateel would finally say enough is enough. It just seems too much like a coincidence that the day before Mateel finally terminated her that she sent an ambiguous e-mail to Taunya Stapp asserting that she would perform under the contract. That may seem like just an unusual moment of symmetry to you, but I suspect that CB had an insider and learned of Mateel's termination letter and that she tried to stop it from going that far. I believe that Carol Bruno either misjudged how badly her nefarious conduct had pushed the Mateel toward terminating her or she wanted to trick Mateel into terminating her so that she could do reggae but not do Mateel and claim to the community that she was wronged because Mateel breached. Either way, it tells me all I need to know about Carol Bruno and it should tell you the same.
hooray!! for ALP and reggae warrior. I was nearly in tears reading this bogus press when you saved the day for me in the comments section.I been away from the issue for a while, I glad the truth be seen for what it is. I and I no go a reggae this year- and my ickle grrlfriends ain't gonna go either, and IMHO the Marley boys done gone Babylon.
Your article got the facts wrong about what caused the split between Mateel Community Center, Inc. (Mateel) and People Productions (PP) run by Carol Bruno (CB). Here is what really happened. The argument that Mateel breached the contract with People Productions as set forth in Tom Dimmick’s Motion for Summary Adjudication and in People Production’s and Carol Bruno’s lawsuit against Mateel is based on the assertions that Carol Bruno never repudiated because what she said at the November 17, 2006, Mateel membership meeting is allegedly not clear enough to support a repudiation, that she allegedly reaffirmed that she would fulfill her obligations in late December 2006, a day or two before Mateel terminated her contract, and that what others said about Carol Bruno no longer being willing to work with Mateel is irrelevant because it did not come from Carol Bruno. CB, PP and Tom Dimmick's(TD’s) argument is a technical and legalistic one that attempts to overcome what I believe to be a plethora of evidence that CB did in fact repudiate PP’s Production Contract with Mateel. As I have said before, I have reviewed some, but I doubt I have all of the evidence, that shows that PP, through Carol Bruno, did repudiate the July 27, 2005, Production Contract. Here is what is known to me. One source states that on October 17, 2006, Thomas Dimmick sent a letter to Mateel alleging that Carol Bruno said to him: "In no uncertain terms that she will not, under any circumstances again produce the ROTR event for the current Mateel administration." CB and TD will rightfully be seen as what they are - business partners, joint venturers, or at least engaged in significant business pursuits together via long-term contractual relations. At a minimum, they were working close together and I suspect that CB probably even reviewed the letter before it was mailed to Mateel. Human nature is that she would have wanted to make sure that TD was on her side before she started trying to end her contract with Mateel. Regardless, CB no doubt knew of the letter at some point and did nothing I am aware of to try to disclaim what she said to TD until more than two months later. By that point, it was too late. Mateel had to move on if it had any chance to hold ROTR in 2007. My sources indicate that after receiving TD’s letter, Mateel requested mediation with People in the fall of 2006. Before the mediation, Carol Bruno appeared personally at a Mateel membership meeting on November 17, 2006, and publicly stated: "The only way for me to continue is to propose that Tom Dimmick and People Productions license the event from the Mateel." At the meeting, Carol Bruno also publicly demanded a negotiated termination of the production contract and a sale of a license to allow PP to independently produce the music festival for the remainder of the lease term with Mr. Dimmick. I watched Ms. Bruno's "spiel" on YouTube and, in my opinion, it was a patent repudiation as she had no right to demand Mateel sell her what she desired. I also believe that her actions violated her fiduciary duties to Mateel as she was already poisoning the relationship between Mateel and TD by having discussion about continuing on without Mateel involvement. I also believe that she, as a fiduciary to Mateel, was using undue influence and actually trying to coerce Mateel into accepting her demands. Listen to her statements on YouTube again very closely and she is, at least to me, definitely conveying a sense of urgency and perhaps even emergency. She had to be well aware that if Mateel had to produce the ROTR festival without her, that it needed to act quickly and Mateel would have been well aware of that as well. From what I have learned, Mateel’s attempt to resolve its dispute with CB and its delay in hiring Boots Hughston and 2B1 until late December 2006, was the epitome of good faith. Mateel literally waited far beyond the point it was required by law to do so to retain a replacement for PP. By the time PP allegedly tried to retract her repudiation in late December 2006, it was too little too late. Sources also state that Mateel did not even understand her late December communication to mean that she was willing to produce ROTR 2007. Rather, Mateel thought based on the language and context of the communication that CB was only saying that she would complete permit work required under the contract regardless of whether she refused to produce ROTR 2007. Not only was Mateel’s interpretation reasonable, it just did not matter at that point. Mateel would have been foolish to rely on CB to do anything of importance for it ever again. CB had seemingly done all she could to get Mateel to believe it had no choice but to sell ROTR to her and/or TD for more than two months. I suspect Mateel only delayed as long as it did before acknowledging CB’s termination of the Production Contract because CB had cleverly put it in a difficult situation to try and force Mateel to sell out. But hold on, there is even more evidence that PP breached the contract. As noted already, Paul Bassis, Carol Bruno’s former business partner and close associate, stood up at the November 17, 2006, Mateel member meeting and emphatically asserted that Carol Bruno meant it and that she would no longer produce the event for Mateel. I also watched Paul Bassis' very strident and emphatic "spiel" on YouTube and so should you for his exact language as I am relying on memory. I understand that other people spoke and made the same assertions. My sources say Carol Bruno sat through Mr. Bassis' "spiel" and the similar statements of others and never denied the statements. If Paul Bassis’ appearance at the November 17, 2007, meeting and his speech was a fortuitous event for CB, it sure was a lucky coincidence for her as his presentation arguing her case was forceful and bold. He is a dynamic public speaker and he is bold as a lion. CB, through PP, was Mateel's fiduciary agent and ROTR contract partner at the time. Would a reasonable person not conclude based on what she said and her refusal to rebut what others said, as well as all of the other evidence, that she was repudiating? I sure do think so. The evidence I believe supports that she wanted Mateel to believe she would never produce another ROTR festival. Hold on again, there is still more evidence of repudiation. Despite the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing inherent in the Lease between Thomas Dimmick and Mateel and PP's contract with Mateel, as well as PP's fiduciary obligations to Mateel, there is evidence that Thomas Dimmick and Carol Bruno sought to eliminate Mateel from the ROTR equation long before Mateel terminated PP. There is an email between Thomas Dimmick and Carol Bruno dated October 12, 2006, that states: “What I am finally realizing is that the Mateel has been what has been preventing me from freedom of flight, not Reggae on the River. Tom you are right. Lets do Reggae, but not do Mateel. Licensing is the only way. We need to be unified on this point. We need to do what it takes to jump reggae to the next level . . ." So now we know that CB was not just misunderstood. She wanted to “do Reggae, but not do Mateel” and her suit against Mateel should be seen for what I believe it is - a grossly unethical and immoral business practice. Carol Bruno accomplished her apparent goal of convincing Mattel that she would not produce ROTR 2007 and I find CB’s, PB’s, PP’s, and TD’s attempts to say she never repudiated to be downright disingenuous. PB and TD played an active role in convincing Mateel that CB repudiated and I find their arguments against Mateel to be highly repugnant. Sorry to be so strident, but this world sometimes needs people like me to call it like it is. In addition to the repudiation, I believe PP also materially breached the Production Contract by violating its fiduciary duties to Mateel. Carol Bruno's discussions with Thomas Dimmick about cutting out Mateel amounted to fiduciary fraud or at least constructive fraud. (Assilzadeh v. California Federal Bank (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 399, 415-416) In Salahutdin v. Valley of California, Inc., 24 Cal.App.4th 555, the court held that the failure of a fiduciary to disclose a material fact to its principal which might affect the fiduciary's motives or the principal's conduct may constitute constructive fraud. (Id. at 562) Tell me, if PP were your fiduciary would you not want to know that TD wanted to produce ROTR 2007 without Mateel while you were deciding all of the issues raised by CB and TD starting in October 2007? You bet you would and Mateel deserved to be told what was really going on by CB and her actions are, in my opinion, downright deserving of public reproach. I have heard that she is a nice person and believe that to be true, but she sure did lose track of her obligations and moral compass in Late 2006. That does not make her a bad person. For all I know she is a fine person. But it does mean that she should stop trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes, acknowledge and admit her errors and make good on what she owes Mateel and its members. No reasonable organization in Mateel's position had to continue on under, not only a contractual relationship, but under a fiduciary relationship wherein the fiduciary that was legally obligated to look out for its interests with respect to ROTR and its valuable Lease with Thomas Dimmick was admitting that it was breaching its duties, working with Thomas Dimmick to oust Mateel from the ROTR equation, and submitting ultimatums to Mateel's Board to force it to sign over its rights to ROTR. It is hard to imagine circumstances that would have more entitled Mateel to terminate PP. A party's express or implied repudiation of a contract before performance is due relieves the other party of his or her contractual obligations and the nonbreaching party need not remain ready and willing to tender its performance and may immediately pursue breach of contract remedies. (Jeppi v. Brockman Holding Co. (1949) 34 Cal.2d 11, 18) Based on the foregoing, while I do not know the basis for Paul Bassis’ belief that Mateel breached its contract with PP, I do know he is wrong. I remain ready and willing to face anyone in a debate on Eric Kirk’s "All Things Reconsidered” radio program. If I am wrong, here is your chance to prove it.
To feed your need for news, satire and analysis of the dispute among the Mateel Community Center, Inc., People Productions, Carol Bruno, and Tom Dimmick visit www.reggaewarjusticewatch.blogspot.com. Lets find the truth together.
what kind of an article was that? you didn't quote anyone on the Mateel side about how they look at the struggle, just People Prod...that is so lame... try again and do a balanced story- what? did you get a press pass? so you kiss PP's ass?
Latest in Close 2 tha Edge
-
2008 Predictions
Looking forward, tongue (mostly) in cheek.
- Jan 2, 2008
-
The 2007 Edgies
Our picks for the year's pop culture highlights and lowlights.
- Dec 19, 2007
-
A Hiero's Welcome
Del the Funky Homosapien's triumphant return to the Bay.
- Nov 28, 2007
- More »
Author Archives
-
Last Call
C2tE's greatest hits: a farewell compilation of favorite columns.
- Jun 18, 2008
-
Is Hip-Hop Too Materialistic?
Local emcees offer an alternative to Patrón wishes and Maybach dreams.
- Jun 4, 2008
- More»
