The 21st edition of Rototom Sunplash will be taking place from the 14th until the 23rd of August 2014 in Benicassim, Spain. Rototom is Europe’s biggest Reggae festival and a cultural event that celebrates life, love and diversity through Reggae music.
Throughout the years, the festival has boasted a stellar line-up of Reggae’s finest performers including the likes of Gregory Isaacs, Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, The Gladiators, Israel Vibration, Busy Signal, Richie Spice, Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Ras Dumisani, Queen Ifrica, Capleton, Sizzla, Anthony B, Lady Saw, and Tarrus Riley.
South Africa‘s Teba Shumba, Alcapone JJ, Tidal Waves, Jesse Dan and Natalia Molebatsi (poet) have also graced the stages at this festival. It is hoped that many more talented artists from the Afrikan continent will feature prominently in the upcoming editions of the festival.
This year’s line up is as eclectic as ever as it includes the impeccable Ms Lauryn Hill as well as the roots reggae ambassadors from St. Croix – Midnite – who will be performing at this show for the first time. Amongst other acts that will also be making their presence felt are Femi Kuti, Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Busy Signal, Anthony B, Jah9, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Junior Kelly, Inner Circle, Luciano and Sean Paul. The flames at the Dancehall arena will be set by Bass Odyssey, Rory Stone Love, Coppershot Sound, King Addis International, Freddy Krueger, David Rodigan, One Love Hi Powa and Down Beat Ruler. The Dub Academy will see the likes of Addis Pablo and the Sons of Dub, Jah Revelation, Afrikan Simba, The Black Board Jungle, Mikey General and many more dubbing it on a heavy 30 kilowatt sound system.
Other key features of Rototom Sunsplash are ‘The Showcase club- ‘The Next Generation’’, an area in the festival reserved for new and upcoming solo talents and bands from Europe, Latin America and Asia; The Arts Symposium – a platform for artistic expression; The Reggae University – a space for debates, reasonings book presentations and discussions; House of Rastafari; African Village – an area for the dissemination of African culture, and MagiComundo – an area dedicated to children for fun, learning and creating.
Rototom Sunsplash is more than just a reggae Festival, it is a cultural gathering where ideas are explored and exchanged, and it goes beyond music to bridging cultural barriers.
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