Rototom SunSplash 2014 - Day 1

By Francesco "Versoescondido" Iampieri on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 - Photos by Mauro Sindici - Comment

Cornel Campbell, Kabaka Pyramid, Busy Signal and Jimmy Cliff.

Cornel Campbell We have a dream! With this slogan opens the 21st edition of Rototom Sunsplash in Benicasim, Spain. The cloudy sky didn’t stop thousands of young people coming from all over the world, glad to be able to live an intense week of music, culture, information and entertainment. The scent of jerk chicken comes across strong after passing the entrance to the festival, strong as that of the grilled meat of the Spanish restaurant with its large and full of good paella pans. Ethnic restaurants are many and try every evening different flavours and tastes is an obligation; as many are the artist who will take the stage these days in the various yards as the Academy Dub, the Ska Club or the Dancehall Area.

The opening concert of the Main Stage was the one of Cornell Campbell, with his beautiful voice that goes throught the years without any problem. With his dark suit and sunglasses, he presented songs from his latest album and historical tunes of his vast repertoire, accompanied by the Soothsayers. A very nice show, which confirms the class of Mr. Campbell.

Soon after the young Kabaka Pyramid tooks the stage, who just finished concerts all around Europe demostrating his sincere and strong talent with his powerfull voice and with the never common lyrics of his tunes. His show has not had decrease moments and the audience show their appreciation for his energy and his sound. The future will be full of satisfaction for the young Keron Salmon!

Kabaka Pyramid

Busy Signal doesn’t need introduction, his name alone attracts thousands of fans, as happened last year always in Rototom. Night has recently fallen when he tooks the stage to sing many of his famous tunes, also from his latest and lucky album Reggae Music Again. The show didn’t have a downtime, and the audience jumps and sings all the time, until the end when the main stage explodes under the notes of Watch Out For This, produced by Major Lazer, and the audienc gets totally crazy.

The first day of Rototom Festival is going to end, but first takes the stage Jimmy Cliff, for a concert that deserves to be written in the history of Rototom Sunsplash. His entrance on stage, seated playing drums with his band, is a scene that will never be forget. His voice resounds in the night like a church service before the fun, ten intense and deep minutes of his class and sensitivity. The band takes its position and the real concert begins in a big way! Tunes of his best years are a pleasure to live, and Mr Cliff demstrates vitality and physical strength, a warm voice and smiles for the enthusiastic audience. The stars take possession of the sky, up to this time full of clouds, perhaps it is not just a coincidence that on stage there is Jimmy Cliff, a true ambassador of Reggae in the world! And this is just the first day of the festival...

Jimmy Cliff