SummerJam 2013: Triple report from the Island!
Year after year. Also this time I had to stick to the tradition and went to SummerJam festival in Germany. This year was special as finally our complete crew went as well. And so, for the first time we offer you the festival review from three different views, including shows which we liked the most, disappointments and surprises. Three days full of cool vibes, swimming and weather in style of “96 Degrees in the shade” and meeting of people building the European reggae scene.
MEGGIE:
The road was longer than expected, so we had to build our tents after twilight. Exhausted after a long day, we decided to miss warm up party, opened a bottle of wine and relaxed to get power for three days of the best, what todays reggae and dancehall scene can offer. On Friday we had to visit the beautiful Cologne´s Dom and light up a candle for Buju Banton. Afterwards we could start our Summer Jam mission.
The first concert I was looking forward to was Matisyahu. Nice show, but I missed the sparkle of his solo show. However, I like this Jew from Brooklyn, so I enjoyed hearing some of the songs from the last album SPARK SEEKER. And after my favorite classic “One day” I switched into dancehall mode. Why? Because Busy Signal is about to hit the stage. He is in great condition, he gives a Signal and the crowd is going crazy. And when he delivers ten minutes long segment of Lazer´s “Watch out for this”, no other comments are needed. Bumaye!
I am taking a break, prepare the camera and waiting for the first headliner with another twenty photographs begins. Snoop Doggy Dog aka Snoop lion is late. More than twenty minutes is not really fun, and as I am not interested about the hype around Snoop and Wailer, i just take few pictures and go to the green stage. Meanwhile Tarrus Riley and the Black Soil Band already started to play. Well, you cannot deny, Tarrus is a professional. Singy singy. These guys don’t get bored ten times neither. And later, when I attend the press conference and see Tarrus playing with the journalist his game, I just have to smile. After the rest of Jahmusic crew continues to dancehall arena to watch Pow paw, I have to take the opposite direction to my tent, to get some energy for big tomorrow.
Saturday is offering Junior Kelly with and his compelling voice, young newcomer Chronixx, which surprises me with a nice voice and professional performance and last but not least, children of Denroy Morgan. Morgan Herritage confirm status of a headliner and im really excited to hear Gramps Morgan´s voice. Oh yes. And finally, the crazy bastards Major Lazer came to the town with their universal show. Confetti. Dutty wine. Daggering. Stage diving. Zorbing on top of the crowd. More confetti. Flying shirts. Boring Popcaan. Crazy show. As a bonus Diplo´s set in the arena and for the last time (for this year at least) I have to absolve this walk. Dancehall arena is just far, far away. Sweet sleep.
Sunday. Last day of Summer Jam 2013. The sunlight wakes me up quite early, but still, its sweet. The third festival day means just sunbath, swimming and nothing but cool vibes. Meet and great with Patrice? Why not Would you like a smooth set from New Zeeland’s Fat Freddy´s Drop? Sure! Drinking of unidentifiable Slovakian drink called horec? Of course, we are neighbors, right. The day is coming to its end, the last concert before the finale is for us Protoje and his Indiggnation. Proto doesn’t surprise me, he is good deejay and obviously he is feeling more comfortable with his own band. Indiggnation is quiet fun to watch, actually more than Protoje himself. Stylish guys remind me of the original Wailrs. Let see, how will they use their opportunities.
In Czech we say the best comes at the end. Right. Patrice is a musician, he offers a great concert, acoustic set and also a jam with the band, changes guitars few times during the concert, and invites Protoje on the stage to give the crowd a little bonus, remix “Summer Jam, be wise”. Not just this concert, but the whole Summer Jam was a pretty cool “Soulstorm”.
MAREK:
I have to admit, that at first I wasn’t sure of my attendance at this festival. The updates on line-up didn’t impress me as much as in past years. But at the end I decided to go and it was a wise decision. 28th Anniversary of SummerJam was really nice, provided by great weather all three days. If it was too hot to bare, you could’ve swim in the lake surrounding the area. Greates performances for me was by Tarrus Riley and his Blak Soil band on the first evening, when he ensured me for second time of his quality. Common experience was for me with Major Lazer, whom electrified not just me with its amazing show, which was proved by crowd´s great cooperation. From those I’ve seen for the first time it was without a doubt Chronixx with Zinfence. I feel that we can expect big things from this young talent, I wish him loads of success in the future, not just with the soon-coming album Dread & Terrible. Similar was for me first experience with Protoje or more experienced Busy Signal and Morgan Heritage. I cant forget about one of the greatest performencess, that was deliver by in-Germany-based owner of a unique voice – Patrice, which was closing the whole weekend at Fuhrlinger See. Only negative side I felt was the distance of Dancehall Stage, which was from our tent distant more than half an hour of walking. Other than that it was great year for the festival and it ensured my attendance in the future. FREE YOUR MIND!
