The French group Shaïan confirmed that the reggae scene north of the Pyrenees is getting better and better. The band have made a good name for themselves in France and will have gained many more fans from their Rototom performance last night. There was another unmissable performance from Rubera Roots, who brought their positive vibes to the  Showcase, playing the most famous songs from their short, but promising career. In the blink of an eye, it was time for some ska and just like every night at the Showcase, this began with a DJ set dedicated to the genre from The Capitan & Intruder djs. The crowd erupted with the arrival of the Dance Crashers from Alfalfara, Spain, who are big fans of the Skatallites, which was apparent in their 60 minute set of high-tempo songs and some great covers.

Runkus, who is the son of the veteran entertainer Determine, was the next to perform and it was a great success. The set was welll rounded and uplifting, with tributes to Bob Marley and other pillars of reggae. In spite of his young age, Runkus has a lot of experience and this really shone through on stage as he energetically interacted with the crowd.

Alex Bass needs no introduction at Rototom. He came on stage at 4 on the dot to be greeted by an audience that were eager to dance. He performed with several notable artists from the new wave of singjays from Barcelona, as well as his band The Same Song, debuting some songs from his new EP “Thanks for Life”. Rassy Hardnocks, also accompanied by The Same Song Band, was the last performer of the night. The Jamaican activist and human rights campaigner played for an audience that were immediately on side. It was in the early hours of the morning that Lil Supa, the rapper from Caracas, showcased some of his music in a DJ set, which turned into a huge party. The final DJ set, which saw in the sunrise, was at the hands of the resident Lavadora Sound System, who will also be at the Showcase tonight. We’re very happy that the second day of the Showcase finished with some serious skanking …as always.

Paul Stones