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Reggae Regulars

This month, festival brings together hard-working band, appreciative crowds in Westlake Village.

BY BILL LOCEY
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Yeah, mon, like the Hyatt needs money. Well, now it has more, with the biggest party in the Conejo Valley resuming Friday at the very reasonable hour of 6:30pm outdoors near the pool at the Hyatt Westlake. As Reggae Fest '99 unfolds, hundreds of well-dressed locals will dance about the patio and pool area of the swanky hotel. Imagine urban bread (the clientele) meeting Urban Dread (the band).

Promoter Dave Hewitt of DMH Enterprises is to blame for all this again this year and he knows what to expect from this summer-long reggae rager, which continues every Friday through Aug 27.

"Since there are not that many venues for live music, plus this event has been going on for several years, it has a built-in fan club. It's really a great thing because there's really noting to do out here. Absolutely zero. Also, the outside vibe is important. The first thing you do here is build a patio, and they will flock to it, especially when we get some summer weather. While eight bucks seems to be a serious cover charge, people pay it, gladly even. Also Urban Dread is the band, and all the Conejo Valley locals know them."

...

"It's more rock or something -- it's not just reggae," said frontman Jason Bourne, a man seldom home at night. "We play music for people who don't like reggae, at least until they see Urban Dread."