Garance Reggae Festival 2012 - Line Up
It is always a great pleasure to announce the line up of one of my favorite reggae festival. First thing, you can read my past reviews of the last Garance Reggae Festival editions here :Garance Reggae Festival . You will find here more details about the atmosphere, the city where it takes place, Bagnols-sur Cèze ... It is important to read this because the atmosphere there is really special, in a very good way.
2011 was the 20th birthday of the main french reggae festival, the line up was simply amazing with Burning Spear, the Studio One Revue, Johnny Clarke, King Jammy, Jah Shaka, Iration Steppas ... For the 21st edition, building a better line up was mission impossible but you will see that once again, the Garance organizers have prepared something huge !
The festival will take place in Parc Arthur Rimbaud, along the Cèze river, in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, in south of France from 25th until 28th July.
As you might know, the festival has two stages, one for concerts and another one for sound systems.
The sound system area, called the Dub Station corner, will be sonorized by Blackboard Jungle sound system (24 bass scoops).
Wednesday 25th July:
- Main stage :The I-Three's, Bob Andy, Derrick Morgan, LLoyd Parks, The Gaylads, and Jamaican Legends which is a special concert with Bitty McLean, Sly & Robbie and the guitar player called Monty Alexander.
- Dub Station : the warrior dubber from England, King Alpha, OBF and Dubkasm feat Solo Banton
Thursday 26th July:
- Main stage: The come back of Johnny Osbourne after 20 years without coming to Europe. This reggae living legend has seen the evolution of jamaican music from Studio One to King Jammy's digital production. Israel Vibration, Groundation and Leroy Smart !!!! All dancehall fans will also enjoy Mr Vegas.
- Dub Station : Blackboard Jungle invites two great singers Roberto Sanchez from Spain and Dabah Makourejah from France. Those two singers have already been heard many times on diverse productions by Rockers Disciples, The Keystones Players, Raggatack or Blackboard Jungle ... But on this day, the main event on the Dub Station corner is the clash between King Jammy and Mad Professor. Two of the most important producers of reggae music, Kingston vs London !!! This will be history !
Friday 27th July:
- Main stage: one of the most famous reggae lover singer is coming to Bagnols, the too rare Beres Hammond. The Abyssinians, The Mighty Diamonds and Freddie Mc Gregor will also be there. The african reggae living legend, Alpha Blondy will also be there.
- Dub Station : this friday will be a dancehall day with Lord Zeljko, founder of the King Dragon Sound System in France in the 90's. He has led the french dancehall/digital reggae movement in the 90's. His dubplates collection is amazing and he is also a great operator and MC. I'm really happy to finally hear one of his session on a real sound system ! The second event on this night is the clash between Downbeat The Ruler ( from New York) and Soul Stereo (from Paris).
Saturday 28th July:
- Main Stage: more dancehall, nu roots and rub a dub for the last night on the main stage with Cocoa Tea, Sizzla, Morgan Heritage, Turbulence, Raging Fyah, Derajah.
- Dub Station: Rootsting Sound, Blackboard Jungle and the mighty Aba Shanti I outta London. Aba is a sound system veteran, he started more than 20 years ago with Jah Tubby, then he started to build his own sound system and to produce music under his own label, Falasha Recordings.
This was a selection, more artists will be there, so please check the official website, with the whole line up : http://www.garancereggaefestival.com/programme .
With Rototom Sunsplash and Reggae Geel, this is certainly one of the best festival in Europe, and the best in France ! The line up is the good balance between roots, dancehall and sound system ! Hope to see you there !