Rototom Sunsplash packs stars into 25th lineup
Rototom Sunsplash packs stars into 25th lineup
Rototom Sunsplash packs stars into 25th lineup by Noah Schaffer.Less can be more, at least as far as the Rototom Sunsplash festival is concerned. The annual bash in Benicassim, Spain, is actually cutting back a day, which still leaves it running an entire week from August 16 to 22.
For its 25th edition Rototom features no shortage of prime reggae movers, including Beres Hammond, Julian Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Protoje, the Mighty Diamonds, Kabaka Pyramid, Tarrus Riley and the return of Groundation.
A number of special sets have also been arranged. One of the most enticing pairs the king and queen of ska as Derrick Morgan joins forces with the Skatalites and their original vocalist Doreen Shaffer, with trombone great Vin Gordon along as well.
Another finds riddim twins Sly and Robbie backing Yellowman, Johnny Osbourne and Bitty McLean. Their UK counterparts Mafia and Fluxy will be part of a Peter Tosh tribute set with Andrew Tosh and Word, Sound and Power keyboardist Keith Sterling.
A few months ago the London reggae world was buzzing about an event presented by David Rodigan to celebrate his 40th anniversary. The 25-piece Outlook Orchestra backed a slew of guest vocalists. They’ll do a mainstage show with Rodigan who will also be a featured selector at the Rototom Dancehall.
Another much-discussed set from earlier this year was the pairing of Cocoa Tea with 18-year old female singjay Koffee at Rebel Salute. They’ll be in combination again on Rototom’s opening night.
More female artists are on tap like Spice in the Dancehall, Bad Gyal both performing on the main stage and DJing in the Dancehall, and the intriguing Hollie Cook and pan-Latin American world music group Ladama at the Lion Stage.
A Reggae Experience
Besides the big names Rototom offers a nearly 24-hour immersive reggae experience thanks to sounds playing the nearby beaches during the day, late afternoon Reggae University film screenings and artist interviews, political dialogues at the Social Forum, and very late night dances at the Dub Academy, Dancehall, African Village, Jumping and Caribbean Uptempo areas. The fest also boasts some of the most eclectic and reasonably priced festival food around.
Rototom Sunsplash!