The international reggae festival Rototom Sunsplash begins to assemble the pieces of its 29th edition, to be held in Benicàssim from August 16 to 21, 2024, with a rich first artistic announcement that brings together nearly 70 names on its main stages to make vibrate one of the most important meetings of Jamaican music on the planet.
Figures of the carving of Alpha Blondy, Busy Signal, Alborosie or Bob Marley’s iconic band, The Wailers, along with Dub Inc, Black Uhuru, Groundation or Skip Marley representing the new family generation of the king of reggae, in the year of the premiere of the successful documentary on the life and career of the Jamaican legend, headline this first batch of aces for Rototom Sunsplash 2024. A rich advance that incorporates, as regards the national scene, established artists such as Iseo & Dodosound and Green Valley, the mestizaje of Chambao or the opening to the hip hop culture of SFDK or Fernandocosta.
Names that represent the main lines of this first draft of the 2024 lineup for Main Stage and Lion Stage: special shows, legendary anniversaries, unique dates in Spain and Europe, emerging talent alongside veteran figures and sound versatility around the music of the Caribbean island. The same pattern is replicated in the Dancehall dynamic (with General Levy, Stylo G or Maureen leading the way) and in the Dub Academy, which has become the epicenter of the Sound System culture worldwide.
Thus, among the special shows for Rototom Sunsplash emerges that of the tribute organized on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Peter Tosh, co-founder of the legendary The Wailers with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, and one of the most famous reggae singers in the world. Benicàssim will offer the only opportunity to enjoy this live performance in Europe. A tribute that will unite Tosh’s son, Andrew Tosh, with the legendary Jamaican band of the 70’s and 80’s Soul Syndicate.
Precisely another of the unique shows of the festival, that of The Wailers, will be focused on the legendary album ‘Legend’ of the Jamaican genius band, which celebrates its 40th anniversary. A nod to the figure of Marley, whose memory rescues the biopic ‘Bob Marley: One Love’.
The batch of special shows grows with Alborosie & Friends, by the hand of the Italian artist, another essential figure in Rototom; and the Californian roots reggae band Groundation around ‘Hebron Gate’, the work that consecrated him years ago.
The African reggae icon Alpha Blondy will give at Rototom Sunsplash his only concert in Spain and one of the few in Europe, making the international event in Benicàssim an unmissable occasion to enjoy it. He heads the list of veteran musicians for a lineup that also welcomes Grammy award-winner for ‘Anthem’ Black Uhurureggae roots referent in the Caribbean island, and to Johnny Clarkeanother of the greats of the scene and one of the historic roots reggae artists who is still active, who will burst into the festival along with Dub Asante Band ft Matic Horns. Without leaving Jamaica, nor roots reggae, the festival line-up incorporates for the first time the positive energy of the band Rootz Underground.
Another icon, but of the more contemporary world dancehall, like the Jamaican Busy Signal – collaborator with mainstream artists like Major Lazer – or lovers rock style like Romain Virgo, will parade this summer in Benicàssim along with two of the world ambassadors of Jamaican sounds, Skarra Mucci and Jesse Royal .
Emerging talent arrives with the Jamaican trident formed by Khalia, Jah Lil and Skip Marley. The latter, Bob Marley’s nephew, faces his first European tour and will land at the Benicàssim reggae festival as ambassador of the new Marley generation.
Rototom Sunsplash concentrates in its first artistic announcement other expected names, such as the mythical British ska-2tone band Bad Manners, with its vocalist Douglas Trendle at the front, a showman capable of shaking and entertaining the audience in equal parts .
The ska genre will have other worthy representatives in Dr Ring Ding in a show with The Magnetics, and in the also special show of the North East Ska-Jazz Orchestra with Wicked Dub Division.
The wide range of styles linked to Jamaican music coexists with the geographical plurality of the artists who promote them. From France comes Dub Inc with its explosive mix of reggae, dancehall, dub, hip hop and African and Berber music sung in three languages; Cape Verdean singer Mo’Kalamity with a new album, the young artist Sika Rlion (Reunion Island), as well as famed producer Manudigital with Dapatch.
For dub lovers, the OBF x Iration Steppas show in a different stage format than the Sound System will also be awaited. Benicàssim will be the only date in Spain for this special show.
The Australian Nattali Rize and, from Venezuela, the mix of electronica and Afro-Latin roots of Gotopo, author of ‘Sacúdete’, the anthem of Major League Soccer in the USA, expand the musical geography of the festival, also very nourished by the Spanish scene.
Among their claims for Rototom Sunsplash 2024, the Navarrese band Iseo & Dodosound; the special show by Green Valley for his 20 years of career and the mestizaje of flamenco touch by Chambao. The most patriotic line-up also includes for the first time Pure Negga (a viral phenomenon during the pandemic) and a clear opening to rap and hip hop from the Sevillian duo SFDK -celebrating its 30th anniversary, or artists such as Fernandocosta -which will give in Benicàssim its only Concert in the Valencian Community during the summer- as well as the historic Valencian rap artists Los Chikos del Maízimmersed in their farewell tour: ‘La tregua indefinida’ (The Indefinite Truce).
The artists from Barcelona Santa Salut and AnierThe show, halfway between reggae and pop, is a mix between reggae and pop. Mr Wilson & Griffithe young formation Rudymentarifrom the Balearic Islands, as an exponent of reggae-dancehall in Catalan; and the cumbia of The Nobodieswhich counts Chalart58 among its members, complete the national component of the lineup 2024.
More than 20 references nurture Dancehall
The Dancehall stage confirms its first three artists: Stylo Gdancehall exponent in the pure Jamaican style; General Levyicon of the UK jungle scene; and the Martinique artist Maureen with its shattaa style of music that originated in the riddims of Jamaican dancehall, which has developed as a form of expression for young black people in the French Caribbean. Among the sounds are Walshy Fire, a member of Major Lazer; the Swiss Little Lion Sound, with millions of followers around the world; Dj Rassarella -official selector of Damian and Stephen Marley-; Dj Kybba, from the Basshall Movement crew; or the Valencian Dj Kanzer, member of the well-known American crew Def Squad, who branches out to dancehall the opening to hip hop of the edition. Completing the list of confirmations are Reggae Time, 90 Degree Sound, Untouchable Sound, Sun Gun Sound, Rebel Music, Selecta Petty Fox, Igno Sound and Rude Wagon Sound.
Dub Academy: a planetary meeting of Sound System Culture
The Rototom dub corner aims to be this year a meeting of the world Sound System culture, with representatives from different continents. Thus, all kinds of sounds from different corners of the planet will be heard, with Digital Dubs ft Jr. Dread from Brazil; Suns of Dub from Trinidad; Amoul Bayi Family ft Saah Karim & Galas from Senegal or Kemadito Sound from Argentina as examples of a line-up that also extends to the European and Asian scene.