ABOUT US
IRIE VIBES ROOTS FESTIVAL
The Irie Vibes Roots Festival is a tradition that, after 22 years, has become an integral part of the festival calendars of many loyal visitors. Reggae is a niche genre in the music world, and many fans of the genre travel abroad to enjoy a festival dedicated to their favorite style of music. We’re proud to be able to organize a reggae/dub festival right here in West Flanders, where an average of 3,000 visitors are always eager to attend. The statistics show that about 20% of our visitors come from abroad. This once again demonstrates the festival’s international appeal, which is quite remarkable for such a small-scale event.
KORTEMARK CONGÉ
In 2017, we launched the “Kortemark congé @ Irie Vibes” concept, in which we open our doors for free on the Thursday evening before the festival. Our goal is, on the one hand, to promote and encourage engagement among and interaction between the people of Kortemark. On the other hand, it can lower the barrier for residents to stop by during the festival and get a taste of the atmosphere. We’ve decided to broaden the lineup beyond reggae and dub and are on the lookout for high-quality, local bands. The headliner is always a band that connects with reggae in an alternative way and can appeal to a wider audience. We always wrap things up with a DJ who gets the crowd fired up.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN...
The idea to organize a reggae festival came about among a group of about ten friends from West Flanders while they were sitting at the bar at Café Delirium in Handzame (Kortemark). Café owner Dominiek Hemeryck was a co-organizer of the Delirium Blues Festival, and they joined forces. After this first edition, it became necessary to establish a nonprofit organization. The late Steven Decoodt then came up with the name “Greenforward.”
Greenforward vzw was founded in 2003, based on the idea that culture and social interaction are important in our society. This vision is still upheld today.
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OUR MISSION
Greenfoward vzw aims to bring people together in an atmosphere where everyone can and is allowed to be themselves. Diversity is our strength!
We strive to be a small-scale, low-budget, and family-friendly festival, with a special focus on local involvement and community.
We prioritize quality and sustainability, aim to support the local social economy, and believe that this fosters wonderful encounters and initiatives.
OUR VISION
Everything is organized in a thoughtful manner, keeping our ecological footprint as low as possible and demonstrating our social commitment to the community. Within this atmosphere of interaction and connection, we consistently focus on the talents of our employees and our partnerships. We incorporate the spirit of reggae and dub, a critical perspective, and social engagement into the organization of our events, with the Irie Vibes (Back to the) Roots Festival as the highlight.
OUR STRATEGY
- As a small-scale, low-budget festival, we want to keep our ticket and drink prices affordable, among other things. That way, everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the Irie Vibes Roots Festival. Enthusiasts with limited means can enjoy the festival for free by working one or more shifts.
- What makes us family-friendly? The children’s village creates a place where parents can let their children play safely and where everyone—with or without kids—can just “chill” in the circus tent. There’s a (quiet) family campground across the street, so that families with young children, among others, can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.
- In addition, for several years now, we have made a conscious effort to promote diversity and local partnerships. For example, we have collaborated with the open asylum center in Poelkapelle, ‘t Schoederkloptje (a local association where people in need have a voice), the Chiro, and others...
- We prioritize quality and sustainability, and we want to support the local social economy! We do this by consciously relying as much as possible on the products and services offered by local merchants and businesses in Kortemark and the surrounding area. Over the years, wonderful partnerships have developed, with many merchants embracing the zero-food-waste philosophy. In addition, thanks to their generosity, we’re able to offer great deals to the volunteers who do such hard and valuable work during setup and takedown.
- We’ve decided to open up this niche cultural event to local residents. For example, we’re offering a day pass for every Kortemark resident on Fridays or Saturdays for just 15 euros—well below the regular ticket prices. In partnership with the municipality, holders of a culture or leisure pass can also get FREE admission to the entire festival.
OUR VALUES
We operate on the basis of faith and trust, respect, and honesty.
Driven by passion and enthusiasm, we focus on opportunities, talents, and possibilities.
We value transparent and open communication, take each other’s needs into account, and look out for each other’s well-being.
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much"
VOLUNTEERS AND SPONSORS
The day-to-day operations of both the nonprofit organization and the festival are entirely run by volunteers. In total, about twenty members are involved in the organization’s operations throughout the year. During the festival, about 250 volunteers roll up their sleeves to help out. Driven by enthusiasm and passion, we’ve noticed that some of them (re)discover their own talents or discover new ones. The close-knit family vibe also creates a safe, open atmosphere where everyone can be themselves. This mindset and atmosphere foster a wonderful sense of commitment, initiative, and a great... This mindset and atmosphere foster a wonderful sense of commitment, initiative, and a strong sense of responsibility.
DE CREW | CLOSE UP
Learn more about some of the driving forces behind this wonderful festival!
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 Okt 2024  Feb 2024 Dec 2024  Dec 2023  Sept 2023  2023  2019 |