PHOTOS + VIDEO: LargeUp x Rice and Peas at Great Googa Mooga

Words by Kieran Meadows, Video by Taylor Viera, Photos by Lucio Bracamontes and Mark Dixon—

The rain and clouds may have canceled Day 2 of the GoogaMooga Music & Food Festival in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Sunday, but not before a little taste of the Caribbean brightened up an otherwise overcast and soggy Saturday afternoon on Day 1.

For close to an hour, the Rice & Peas crew took over the Joe’s Pub stage, hosted by Miss Lily’s Jerk Hut, where jerk chicken was the specialty being served up to hungry festival-goers. Micro Don and DJ Gravy set things off, running through classic reggae tunes old and new. Due to the alternating stages, it took some time for the crowd to migrate from the main stage, but by the time special guest Nardo Ranks did his big 90’s tunes “Dem A Bleach” and “Burrup,”  the party had officially started.

As Max Glazer upped the tempo with the Buy Out riddim, Rice & Peas dancers Korie Genius, Lindsay Hall, Sir Ledgen and Selena — all four looking great reppin’ matching crisp black LargeUp tees — came out to warm up the stage, demonstrating dances including Row Di Boat, Signal Di Plane, Parachute, Pon Di River and more. A great moment was watching the whole crowd do the Thunderclap along with the dancers. The four crushed Konshens’ “Gal A Bubble” with some fresh choreography, and paid tribute to the late Bogle, doing his moves to Voicemail’s “Wacky Dip.”

Dancehall Queen Miss Likkle Bit took the stage solo to Major Lazer’s “Pon De Floor,” showing off her skills, strength and flexibility. As she reprised her headtop chair routine from her viral video to Mr. Vegas’ “Bruk It Down,” ladies literally ran towards the stage to get a better look at what was happening and “to take notes,” as Micro had suggested to them moments earlier.

The set concluded with some Carnival party vibes to the tune of JW & Blaze’s “Palance.” Micro Don had what seemed like the entire audience palancing, moving in unison from left to right. Though it could have gone on longer, things ended on a super high positive note.

Watch the video highlight reel below and scroll through the photo series to get a taste of Saturday’s GoogaMooga festivities.

LargeUp dance squad: (L to R) Sir Ledgen, Lindsay Hall, Selena Watkins, Korie Genius

Hype man extraordinaire, the one and only RyteAway, pre-show backstage

Miss LikkleBit demonstrates her flexibility backstage

Getting the chicken ready for Miss Lily’s Jerk Hut

Nardo Ranks (left) and Micro Don. now everybody say “B-B-Buurrrrrrrrrrup”

Max Glazer (left) and Micro Don reppin for Rice & Peas

With a little reggae flavor at the Great GoogaMooga, of course Bob is ubiquitous

Dancer Lindsay Hall backstage

Sir Ledgen gives a salute

Korie Genius

Miss Selena Watkins representing before hotting things up on stage

The Rice & Peas dancers during “Wacky Dip,” as LargeUp’s “Obama Rockin’ with Ikon Tyquan” webisode plays on the projection screen

Pon headtop on a chair: Miss Likkle Bit with her legs brukking it down above her — surely a GoogaMooga first

All the crowd’s attention was fixed on Miss Likkle Bit — seriously, did Matt & Kim do this? Strictly Rice & Peas…

Don’t try this at home: Miss Likkle Bit dances on her hands as well as on her feet

A little sampling of what goes on at the monthly Rice & Peas courtesy of Micro and Alex, Lindsay and Genius… even DJ Gravy (apparently with no warning from Likkle Bit) had to get in on the action

Genius (right) with Lindsay Hall during “Gal A Bubble”