Stand Up For Love - Summerjam 2011

By Viktoria Spratter on Friday, July 15, 2011 - Photos by Michael Grein - Comment

Such a wide variety of music and such a wide variety of visitors!

Sampler

Summerjam 2011

With the slogan “Stand Up For Love” the Summerjam-Festival 2011 started on the first weekend of July. It was the 26^th edition of one of the best European Reggae festivals.

Friday – Tarrus Riley, Patrice, Busy Signal, Barrington Levy

Sara Lugo opened a weekend full of music and good mood. She managed to give the people a perfect start. Austria’s Iriepathie followed after her.
Just a few meters away on the Red Stage Dub à la Pub, a ten-man Reggae-Ska group, played before Holland’s Reggae artist number one Ziggi Recado entered the stage. He convinced the massive from the first minute on.
Ce’Cile presented adjacent to Ziggi Recado her new album 'Jamaicanization'. With her hot Dancehall rhythms she inspired everybody. Boys and girls from the audience were allowed to enter the stage and to shake their hips with Ce’Cile. With the English, French and Kabyle singing of Dub Inc it got multicultural. Their mixture of Arabic sounds, Hip Hop, Dub and Reggae is typical for them and unique.
A fantastic stage setting offered Patrice as the first day headliner on the Red Stage. A huge picture of wood was placed behind the musicians and a big curtain with a big eye staring at you fell down during the first song. Patrice showed that he was in a very good mood; he even climbed up the stage trestle. His famous tunes Soulstorm and Everday Good were sang along of an enormous massive.

At the Green Stage the program was changing in the afternoon because John Holt’s show was cancelled. Andrew Tosh performed two songs (Equal Rights, Johnny B. Good) backed by Tarrus Riley’s musicians with the famous Dean Fraser on saxophone. After Andrew Tosh, Duane Stephenson entered the stage and sang for the audience his Soul Reggae. Tarrus Riley presented some songs of his latest album 'Contagious' and enthused with them the Summerjam.

Summerjam 2011

In contrast to Tarrus Riley’s sound Busy Signal continued with fast Dancehall and hurling helicopters. But he also delivered some calm covers, for example Number One of Gregory Isaacs.
Contemporaneous to Patrice it was Barrington Levy’s run as headliner on the Green Stage. He put a great massive under his spell with his Reggae and originally Dancehall vibes.

Saturday – Anthony B, Alpha Blondy, Jimmy Cliff

Unfortunately the weather on this weekend was a bit too cloudy and cool, that’s why the beautiful “Fühlinger See” didn’t invite the people to take a swim. But some didn’t let them stop! Also the spirit of the Summerjam braved the weather!

The program on Saturday on the Green Stage started with two powerful Reggae and Ska groups from Barcelona with Che Sudaka and from Argentina with Karamelo Santo. The American Hip Hop artist Atmosphere and the German Irie Révoltés, which are known for their intoxicating Live-acts, continued. Marteria and Madcon prepared the scene for Culcha Candela, a German Reggae-Dancehall-Hip Hop group.

The Red Stage started into the day with Illbilly Hitec, I-Fire and Samy Deluxe. The latter attracted with his German Rap a big audience. Samy Deluxe presented a lot of songs of his soon published album 'Schwarz Weiß'. The Dancehall-Duo Mono & Nikitaman came with their album 'Unter Freunden'. At the moment there is no German speaking Dancehall act which attracts the people more than these two likeable singers.
Afterwards the first main act of the day was celebrated by the people. After a short delay Anthony B entered the stage and provided a fantastic and energetic show. Beside well-known hits such as Police he presented his album 'Rasta Love'. He also sang Buju Banton's tune Not An Easy Road to support his detained friend.

Summerjam 2011

Now it was up to Alpha Blondy. He performed under a wonderful sunset his song Jerusalem. The sound and the spirit during his concert were perfect! Big respect!
After these two notable Reggae greats the massive waited with joyful anticipation for Jimmy Cliff, the veteran performer of Jamaica. He played his endless hits in front of celebrating people. The audience sang along at almost every tune, like Wonderful World, Beautiful People and You Can Get It If You Really Want. Enormous exaltation appeared at the first notes of Many Rivers To Cross. Jimmy Cliff lived up to his name and made the day perfect!

The one who was not yet tired could celebrate until the morning hour with Pow Pow Movement and Sentinel in the Dancehall Arena.

Sunday – The Congos, Max Romeo, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Ziggy Marley

On Sunday Who Dat!? and Heckert Empire started at the Red Stage while Mellow & Pyro and The Busters opened the program on the Green Stage.

On time to the breaking open of the cloud cover and under blue sky The Congos took the massive by storm with their charismatic singer Cedric ‘The Congo’ Myton and his background singers “Ashanti” Roy Johnson, Watty Burnett and Kenroy Ffyffe. The Congos shared a slot with Max Romeo and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, like often recently. Max Romeo followed soon with his tunes One Step Forward and I Chase The Devil. The musician and producer Lee Perry inspired the massive with his crazy appearance as well as with his music. His new album 'Revelation'is finding clear words against the system. At the end of the slot they came altogether on the scene to celebrate the tune War Inna Babylon.

Summerjam 2011

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, a master on trombone and trumpet, followed. His funky and jazzy rhythms were elating. The French singer Ben l’Oncle Soul convinced the audience with his Soul à la Motown and a perfect choreography with his background singers.
Joy Denalane did the closing of the festival on the Green Stage with strong-voiced Soul and R’n’B of her new album 'Maureen'.

Contemporaneous to The Congos, Max Romeo and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, at the Red Stage Gappy Ranks fired up the massive and cleared the way for the Jamaican newcomer Romain Virgo. Both did a fantastic show with a powerful sound.
Ayo brought more smooth notes on the scene with her album 'Billie-Eve'. Her touching as well as expressive voice was moving.

Ziggy Marley continued with his albums 'Love Is My Religion' and 'Wild and Free'. He gets on the family tradition with his music successfully. Beside numerous tunes of his own Ziggy Marley elated also with songs of his famous father Bob Marley.
As a grand final of the Summerjam 2011 the “Voice of Senegal” entered the Red Stage. Youssou N’Dour addicts with his album 'Dakar-Kingston' beside African sounds predominantly to Reggae music. With Tyrone Downie on keyboards he fascinated the massive of the festival.

Such a wide variety of music and such a wide variety of visitors (about 28.000) that it would be nice to do it all over – Stand up for Love!