Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2012

By Viktoria Spratter on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - Photos by Michael Grein - Comment

The 18th edition of the German festival took place from August 24th to 26th. Report!

Sunshine and rain, vegetarian food and sausage, fashionable accessories and rain ponchos, bungee jumping and chill out area, Reggae and Hip Hop – can you imagine this all together at one place? Yes, of course!

At the 18^th edition of the Chiemsee Reggae Summer you could have it all!

The festival from 24^th to 26^th august 2012 was sold out and attracted the audience with musical highlights like Shaggy, Sean Paul, Gentleman, Tiken Jah Fakoly and many more.

At the beginning on Friday everyone was in good mood and even the weather showed its best side. So Tiken Jah Fakoly, Marteria, Anthony B, Queen Omega, Gentleman and Barrington Levy elated the festivalgoer easily.
Tiken Jah Fakoly touched not only the dancing feet of the audience but also their souls and hearts. In contrast to Ivory Coast’s famous advocacy of justice and his political statements Marteria just made party with a huge massive. What was even great! As guests came Marsimoto and Miss Platnum on stage. Anthony B followed with a great and very active show – as usually. Fantastic! Queen Omega and afterwards Barrington Levy were singing along with the whole audience at the overcrowded tent stage while the German Reggae artist number one Gentleman was celebrated at the main stage. All in all the perfect start of a festival weekend!

Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2012 On Saturday people could relax on the festival area and listen to Dancehall Queen Tanya Stephens, The Busters, Samy Deluxe or Jamaram in the afternoon. Those for who it was too early to go to the area could pay attention on a small stage at the camp site called ‘open decks’. Many youngsters of Reggae and Hip Hop could show their talents there.
Beside Tanya Stephens a lot of artists announced great statements against homophobia and racism. It seemed to be a big concern of the whole festival!
All the relaxing had an end at the latest with Etana. She and the following T.O.K. brought really big vibes to the festival and everybody was awake! Also the Jamaican Dancehall-Legend Beenie Man electrified the massive, the same with ‘Mister Lion Paw’ Fantan Mojah.
On time with the beginning of Shaggy’s show the rain started enormously. And in fact what would the Chiemsee Reggae Summer be without rain? But Shaggy let the rain forget with his uncountable hits like ‘Boombastic’ or ‘Hey sexy lady’ and his numerous sexual innuendos. The party could be continued at the Jamaican-Bavarian beer garden with hot Dancehall sounds till the morning hour.

Slowly but surely the mud and rain became more on Sunday, but the Chiemsee Reggae Summer-visitor is well equipped with gumboots, rain ponchos and a lot of high spirits! Tarrus Riley, Sebastian Sturm, Irie Révoltés, Holy Cook and Danakil could notice it and played fantastic concerts in front of an elated crowed. Sean Paul as Sunday’s headliner had four hot dancer with him on stage but his sound was very DJ-focused and a kind of disappointing. LaBrassBanda as local heroes made on the contrary original ‘mouth-made’ music with wind instruments and the audience celebrated them enormously. It could not give a better final of such a festival weekend!
On the tent stage people who had not enough were dancing to lively sounds of Raging Fyah and Hoffmaestro to power out their last energy and to prolong the great festival!