20th Reggae Jam anniversary: Vibes sweet like a jam!

While Midnite are enjoying the main stage and Shaggy is running around the backstage before his closing performance, i am reflecting. Reggae Jam festival, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary, was different in many ways. Comparing to the other German jam (Summer Jam) its concept isn’t taken as megalomaniac and still, it offers very nice line up for all the reggae lovers. The fact, that many performing artists were staying for longer, than just their own show,, to relax, watch and support another musicians, just confirms how pleasant the atmosphere was.While

Rarity of the festival is two main stages next to each other, which offer the audience nonstop marathon of music. Good choice of the promoters was the hosting duo. Together with the veteran of German reggae, Ganjaman, was presenting D-Flame, the owner of the deepest voice I know (even after years it does not get less impressive).

Friday
The legendary Skatalites were nice warm up for the start. But let me tell you, the performance, which gave the crazy dancehall duo RDX afterwards, was party of the festival. Renigade and Delomar did not make dance only ladies, but even the gentlemen which didn´t do any dance move for the whole weekend! With their hits like Broad out or Skip to my Lou, they did very well by their Reggae Jam premiere.

One of the highlights of the weekend was performance of Jesse Royal. His captivating voice and nature on stage confirmed, that Small Axe is also live more than good competition for Chronixx. Jesse was performing with The Indiggnation band and so his place was taken by his friend and experienced performer Protoje.

Top of the evening was supposed to be Gyptian. However, his show was kind of disappointing. The expectations may have been big, but his singing was not that well, there were way too many pull up´s and the hype man was not really helping. It´s a pity. Fortunately, there was a dub cherry on the top – Friday night was closed by Earl 16, Addis Pablo and Suns of Dub and Exile di Brave.

Saturday
Saturday opening also provided the generation of elders. Princ Alla and Sylfort Walker did spread great mood. Another expected highlight of the festival were the No Maddz. Vocal, crazy, reggae, dub, soul and melodic No Maddz. This diverse band is just the right spice for festivals like Colors of Ostrava, or Uprising, hopefully the Czech crowd will get to see them soon too. I also have to mention performance of Kabaka. Accurate as usual, he finally introduced his Bebble Rockers band. Different vibrations brought the vocal quartet L.U.S.T. and for the rest of the night the stage was shared by gentlemen Chronixx, which also invited Kabaka to perform their hit “Mi Alright”, Lutan Fyah, Dre Island, another huge multitalented artist, which is just on his first solo tour with band and at the very end, yet still full of energy, Fantan Mojah.

Sunday
Just like the whole weekend, also Sunday was full of summer vibes, the sun was sweet! Great atmosphere was visible in the whole festival area, also outside. And those, who were passing by by the food corner of chef Moa Fire, had a unique possibility to taste the right and sweet Jamaican jam. Exile di Brave and No Maddz came by as well! It is really hard to pick the best of the Sunday line-up. Jah Bouks, Raging Fyah, Errol Dunkley, Mad Cobra, Lady Saw, Luciano, Kymani Marley, I-Octane, Midnite, Red Fox and Shaggy made all a great job. Just a brief message to those who are going to Uprising, be prepared, cause Shaggy, one of the headliners, is still the top performer!

Reggae Jam was full of sweet vibes and fun, festival with everything you would expect, sunshine, little rain, visitors from different corners of the world, and most of all, great music. At the end I have to send thanks to the whole Reggae Jam, respect to the back up bands, some of them played for hours on all three days! Also big up to the artist who paid a tribute tu Buju Banton, including RC or Kymani with Shaggy (see the videos bellow).

Special thanks go to the Buxna Agency, big up!
*Markéta