Photos: UB40 plays Waitangi's Reggae by the River festival

More than 6000 people crowded the Reggae by the River venue on the sports fields opposite the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Photo / Peter de Graaf

More than 6000 people packed the Waitangi sports fields on Saturday for the first — and almost certainly not the last — Reggae by the River festival in Northland, headlined by UK reggae legends UB40 with support acts 1814, Maxi Priest and the Marley NZ Allstars. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

Whangaroa reggae band 1814 opened the show. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Dressed in reggae colours are Whangarei's Kiri Brown, left, and Helen Fuataha of Auckland. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Tinopai's Monique Fisher, of Whangarei business The Happy Puku, serves up a mussel fritter. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Reggae fans, from left, Tupu Hakaraia, Jack Mountain and Zacque Price. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Bride-to-be Amanda Johnsen (second from left) with her hen's party entourage Bayley Moor, Michelle Bertram, Kaela Jerkovich and Ashleigh Maxwell, all from the Kerikeri-Waimate North area.

Tup Ellis from Coopers Beach with daughter Bahlee, 7, and Rose the monkey.

Tania Ngere (Rawene), Ngaire Apiata (Waitangi) anf Michaela Ngere (Rawene). Photo / Peter de Graaf

A reggae fan from Pataua with his tino rangatiratanga flag. Photo / Peter de Graaf

UK reggae fusion artist Maxi Priest got he crowd moving. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Arahi Edwards of Horeke shows off his Lion of Judah body paint. Photo / Peter de Graaf

More than 6000 people crowded the Reggae by the River venue on the sports fields opposite the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Eight-year-old Allizé Chadwick from Auckland gets the best view of the stage from dad Clint Chadwick's shoulders. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Auckland reggae fans Stephanie Lokeni and Kwesi Dadzie. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Reggae fans, from left, Makuini Faulkner, Amber Clarke, Relda Clarke, Te Marino Martin-Kawiti and, back, Hoani Manuel and Hami Rawiri of Kawakawa/Kaitaia.

Albie Apiata of Paihia captures a whanau memento. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Moerewa dress-up king Joey Rapana with Mylie George of Whangarei. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Northland Security's Tiny Dawson and friends enjoy the show. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Promoter Jackie Sanders with the family of Bronson Waha, who proposed to his long-time partner on stage.

Muzzi Waha, 9, of Kerikeri, showed his dedication by getting the band's name cut into his hair. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The superbly dreadlocked Toast Te Kani of Whangarei was the festival MC. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Laughton Kora performs with the Marley NZ Allstars. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Hani Totorewa (ex-Katchafire) on keyboards with the Marley NZ Allstars. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Anna Coddington performs with the Marley NZ Allstars. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The crowd goes wild for the Marley NZ Allstars. Photo / Peter de Graaf

More than 6000 people packed the Waitangi venue for Reggae by the River. Photo / Peter de Graaf

UB40 founding member Ali Campbell. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Ali Campbell and Astro, two of UB40's founding members 40 years ago, perform at Waitangi's Reggae by the River festival. Photo / Peter de Graaf