CARRABASSETT VALLEY - - This weekend marks the start of the 21st annual Bud Light Reggae Fest with festivities starting on Thursday, April 16 with VibeWise performing at the Widowmaker Lounge.

Friday night's headlining band will be Westbound Train, a seven-member, Bostonbased band that produces modern reggae and ska music. The band has toured the United States and Europe since its inception in 2001. The band will be coming on the King Pine Stage at 10 p.m. after New York-based Big Takeover starts things rolling.

Music lovers can get a good taste of Westbound Train as they'll be appearing on the Beach as the first free outdoor act from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Music of the free variety will continue on the Beach with EastWaive Radio performing at 2 p.m. and Kabbalist hitting the Beach at 4 p.m. The outdoor festivity which typically draws an enormous crowd will conclude at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

"One of the greatest things about the festival is all the free music on Saturday," said communications manager Ethan Austin. "It's open to all ages and a great chance for skiers and riders to enjoy some very talented entertainment."

The headline for Saturday night and the headliner for this year's festival is Jah Cutta, known as Canada's top Reggae performers. Jah Cutta is at times explosive and sometimes known and remembered for their almost ferocious performances.

Jah Cutta has shared stages with such names as Peter Tosh, The Whalers and Bennie Man.

"We're definitely glad to have such a talented group who performs in that traditional root reggae style," Austin explained. "It's really great to have such gifted artists from the Montréal area. We have a lot of guests from that area so it's definitely going to be great for them and great for us."

Rebel Fire will be the opening act at the King Pine Room on Saturday.

Other names appearing this weekend include DJ's John Lee, Yellow Fever & The Punami Soundsystem, live performances from The Cool and Deadly, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and others.

Sunday festivities include entertainment at the Widowmaker with The Royal Hammer taking stage at noon followed by Stream Reggae starting at 2 p.m.

The festivities should be complimented with some typically great spring skiing and riding. "The conditions are absolutely great out there. There is plenty of coverage with some awesome skiing and riding on the trails and in the woods high on the mountain," Austin said. "We have over 90 percent of our terrain still open and it's safe to say that we have some of the best spring skiing on the east coast."

Earlier in the week Sugarloaf was offering a Good Vibe Pass where $40 can get you admission to both Friday and Saturday nights King Pine performances. This is the only advanced admission pass available and gets you in to both nightly events. Nightly entertainment is $25 for individual King Pine concerts.

Tickets are limited and available through the typical Sugarloaf concert outlets. All Widowmaker and King Pine shows are 21-plus.

"It looks like the forecasts are calling for some classic spring skiing for Reggae weekend," Austin said last Monday. "It's just a great spring party."