Our 10th anniversary at Rototom Sunsplash in Benicàssim approaches its halfway point providing a wide variety of offerings with something for everyone. This will include special anniversary concerts and many gestures to commitment to sustainable development, social matters and protecting Mother Earth.

Speaking only of music, the passionate Anthony B, one of the biggest exponents of the resurgence of rasta reggae in the 90s, who many compare to the very same Peter Tosh, will take one of the leading roles of the day. The Selecter and Misty in Roots will also give the day a British touch. Both groups have prepared unique and very special shows respectively, that they will share with the crowds in celebration of their 40-year musical careers.

On the one hand, Misty in Roots, hailing from West London, stand out for having been one of the most militant 70s bands in the movement known as ‘Reggae against Racism‘.

On the other hand, The Selecter, the flagship of 2-Tone and rebirth of ska in the 80s – along with Madness and The Specials – will offer an energetic concert with their Anglo-Nigerian singer, Pauline Black, taking the lead, who stands out as one of the few women in the 2-Tone scene.

The British flavour will also extend to other areas of the festival, like the Loin Stage and the Dub Academy. In the case of the Lion, this Monday it will welcome the British group Gentleman’s Dub Club. Formed in Leeds, they combine bass lines from The Wailers with the sharp ingenuity of The Specials and come back to Benicàssim ready to fill the stage with their energy. Turning to the Dub Academy, bass addicts will have the chance to witness the show that Iration Steppas have prepared, which will feature a range of special guests.

For its part, and as an appetiser for the show they will play out this Tuesday on the Main Stage, the Reggae University will warmly welcome representatives of one of the reggae families with capital letters: Morgan Heritage. Peetah, Gramps and Mojo will lead the debate entitled ‘Here come the Kings: Morgan Heritage in conversation’.

In the same forum, the prolific singer and music producer Linval Thompson will also speak about his extensive career in the talk ‘Strong like Sampson: The Long and Varied Career of Linval Thompson’.

Beyond music, climate change will be the main feature in the Social Forum, particularly its main causes and the possibility of influencing its consequences. Tatiana Nuño, head of the Climate Change Campaign for Greenpeace Spain and Grammenos Mastrojeni, a member of the Marco Convention on Climate Change for the United Nations, will analyse the role of politics and citizenship relating to the issue in the debate entitled ‘SOS Climate: the social side of the crisis’.

The debate will be proceeded by the showing the documentary ‘Dónde Irán’. Filmed in Senegal, it was made thanks to a friendship that emerged in Rototom Sunsplash between the band Green Valley, who will close this year’s edition on 22nd August, and Senegalese activist Mamadou Dia. He has taken charge of African Village, one of the most dynamic areas of those that make up inter-cultural melting pot of this big reggae meeting.

This same area of the festival, through its new space Ataya, will host a debate on this day to analyse the challenges of how and who represents the African community, in the session entitled ‘Let’s Talk Politics’.

In addition, for the 9th year in a row, the festival will once again go beyond the walls of the concert area to bring its essence to Albocàsser prison, on this occasion with Koers. The group from Lleida, which will also pass through the Lion Stage on Wednesday 21st, will offer one of the two special concerts that we have prepared this year for the people who are serving their sentences in these facilities.

As for the rest of the areas, other offerings for this Monday include workshops for making guitar plectrums with olive wood, creating decorations for dreadlocks with recycled materials in the Mercado Artesano, as well as the session on learning how to build LED lamps with recycled materials in Pachamama, which will also host a special session of stories and songs.