Ziggy Marley to headline at chili fest

SNOWMASS VILLAGE Grammy Award-winning artist Ziggy Marley will headline at the fourth annual Chili Pepper & Brew Fest in Snowmass Village, the town announced Wednesday.Reggae man Marley will perform on Saturday, June 9 during the three-day festival, which features microbrew and International Chili Society competitions and tastings, along with concerts on Fanny Hill. Marley, who won his first solo Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2007, is a native of Kingston, Jamaica and son of reggae legend Bob Marley. He spent two decades as the driving creative force behind The Melody Makers, a triple Grammy-winning act with his siblings, before releasing his first solo album in 2003, notes his bio.In addition to contributing on a variety of soundtracks and even venturing into acting as Bernie, the Jamaican jellyfish in the animated movie A Sharks Tale, Marley is the founder of URGE, a non-profit organization benefiting charitable childrens causes in developing nations. Music is just one component of the Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, which has drawn growing crowds since its inception three years ago. Previous musical acts at the event include Jonny Lang; Medeski, Martin & Wood; and Michael Franti & Spearhead. The festival is unique in that in addition to the incredible music, it offers three full days of chili tastings and two major microbrew tastings, said event founder and organizer Josh Behrman in a press release. The festival kicks off on Friday, June 8 with the sanctioned Front Range District Chili Cook-off held by the International Chili Society. While the cooks vie for entry to the world championships in the categories of Chili Verde, Chili Red, and Chili Salsa, attendees can sample the spicy creations. The invitational microbrew portion of the festival also begins on Friday with a Best Summer Ale competition and tasting, while an outdoor concert concludes the first day. New this year, on Saturday, June 9, the International Chili Society brings the 9th annual Hot Times Regional Championship and chili tasting that was formerly hosted in Cripple Creek, Colo. A grand tasting with more than 40 of the nations top microbreweries follows, with Marleys performance capping off the day. Sunday, June 10 is the free Locals Day, when local cooks get to strut their spicy talents for judges and local bands perform on the Snowmass Village Mall. Additional bands playing at the festival, including Friday nights headliner, are yet to be announced. Festival tickets are $15 on Friday or $20 on Saturday and include access to the outdoor concerts on Fanny Hill and food, beer, and wine concessionaires. For $10 more, a party pass for festivalgoers, ages 21 and older, allows unlimited access to the microbrew tastings and to sampling different types of chili each day. Tickets go on sale April 1 online at http://www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com.