Rototom Sunsplash 2013 - Day 6

By Francesco "Versoescondido" Iampieri on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 - Photos by Mauro Sindici - Comment

Report of the day 6 with Richie Spice, Busy Signal, Mellow Mood and Jaka.

Thursday in Benicassim: the final weekend was getting close, the music was the queen as the high quality of all the artists who were on the stages in the previous days and those were going to.

One of these artists was Richie Spice, on the stage around 20:00. He enchanted his devoted fans with his sweet and gentle voice, opening the concert singing Free, immersed in women’s round of applause and admiration’s shouts. His most famous song Earth a Run Red, Marijuana, I Swear and many more success until those from 2012’s album “Book of Job” and from the acoustic “Soothing Sounds” from 2012 as well. As a Rastafari member his lyrics reveal all their precepts and their teachings in respect of love and life. People could enjoy a very nice concert in the relaxing and chilly ambiance of that August’s night, in Benicassim.

Italian language and Salento dialect on the stage with Sud Sound System: Terron Fabio, Don Rico and Nandu Popu arrived in Benicassim to make the crowd dance on their songs, that made the fans crazy during the last 20 years, with their power and explosive charge. Few minutes after sunset and the first notes of Le Radici Ca Tieni, had all the spectators put their lighters up and sing from the first to the last verses. Following where other famous songs like Sciamu a Ballare, Ciao Amore and Le Radici della Violenza which kept everybody on the move. Romantic dancehall with Dammene Ancora and Bisogno d’Amore from their last projects, as always a perfect mix between new and old sounds. An excellent performance that showed once again the big talent and the stage presence of the band from Salento.

Italy still on stage with the most representative band: Africa Unite, which has been present on Rototom stage since first editions in Osoppo and Gaio di Spilibergo with its roots/reggae sound that have been seducing thousands of fans during its 30 years career. They arrived in Benicassim with their original formation , the one that edited the successful album “Babilonia e Poesia” in 1993. Memorable songs such as Nella mia citta’, Ruggine and Andare and the wonderful Il Partigiano John that all the people knew and sang along. An excellent band with great musicians like Madaski, Bunna, Papa Nico (percussions) and Max Casacci (Guitar). A stunning show also thanks to the combination with the young artists Mellow Mood and the Italian reggae veteran, Jaka.

Africa Unite

Classy dancehall stepped on stage right after 1:00 a.m. with Busy Signal. Back to perform after his legal troubles in the States, he showed all his repressed desire to sing and dance with his fans, he shouted out all his will to live and need for freedom. Dark shades and white suite were his look, energy and power were his peculiarity, his songs his earmark. Reggae Music Again, Missing You, Tic Toc and Come Shock Out made the people dance on and on. Busy jumped like a grasshopper on the stage side to side, sweating that much that he took his jacket off. Out of his album “D.O.B.” he presented Night Shift and One More Night covers, catching his breathe again with all the fans that lighted the night up with their lighters. In his last album “Reggae Music Again” that is a tribute to classic reggae, he showed his great talent and versatility in different music genres. This was one of the best concert ever, where her revealed a new spiritual vigor to the audience after the negative experience in the jail.

Busy Signal

It was 3 in the morning and sunset time was far like the need of silence that was in the air. Those who are not dancing at the different stages ware playing drums or sing along with friends, chatting, chilling, relaxing and eating the last sandwich of the day, or… the first!