Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2011

By Viktoria Spratter on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - Photos by Michael Grein - Comment

The 17th edition of the German festival took place from August 26th to 28th.

Chiemsee Reggae Festival 2011

This year the Chiemsee Reggae Summer started promising on 26^th of August with midsummer temperatures around 35°C. 25 000 visitors celebrated and enjoyed the sun at the river bank beside the campsite and on the festival area.

Friday – Toots & The Maytals, Capleton, Patrice

Iriepathie opened the 17^th edition of the Chiemsee Reggae Summer and after them Luciano did a very active show with somersault and huge jumps. Leba, Toots Hibbert’s daughter followed with some songs before Toots Hibbert himself entered the stage. Toots & The Maytals grew from song to song and in the end they had the massive under control. Of course the songs 54-46 That’s My Number and Pressure Drop were not missing – just to mention two of his many number one hits!

Capleton, who was assailed previously because of his homophobia, adhered to the fixed code and elated the Chiemsee. Not only his red glitter suit but also his song selection satisfied the massive. Capleton really knows how to motivate the audience!

Chiemsee Reggae Festival 2011

The most expected act of this day was anyhow Patrice & The Supowers. Far over the festival area the shouts of joy of his fans were hearable as he entered the stage. The likeable singer captivated with his songs the audience from the first minute on.

At the Tent stage were beside others Susan Cadogan, U-Brown & Prezident Brown and Tippa Irie & The Far East Band on the run.

Saturday – Lee “Scratch” Perry, Ziggy Marley, Perfect, Lutan Fyah

On Saturday morning the festival visitors got a nasty surprise while leaving the tent – the temperatures dropped to only 10°C. It was a downright onset of winter! The bestsellers of Friday were sunglasses and on Saturday it changed to woolen hats!

The experienced Chiemsee Festival visitors had of course gumboots in their baggage that was why the people celebrated despite the rain.

Lutan Fyah and Perfect & House Of Riddim braved the cold and rain, especially Perfect that played a great set. He appeared in crazy colorful clothes and did a funny, active and at the same time engaging concert. Perfect made the people smile and dancing while listening to his sound.

The Hip Hop act from Germany Blumentopf managed to dispel the rain with great freestyle and brought back the sun to the Chiemsee. The Reggae-Legend Lee “Scratch” Perry, who is living in Switzerland, entered the stage after Blumentopf as usual with fancy shoes and cap. His extravagant appearance and his distinctive Roots Reggae were celebrated by the audience. Lee Perry played nearly every kind of Reggae – from Roots to Dub.

About the probably biggest audience of the weekend Ziggy Marley and Mono & Nikitaman could be pleased. Ziggy Marley played a more quiet concert with a balanced mixture of own songs and songs of his father. Ziggy elated the massive and it was fantastic to see how the people celebrated his songs. The Dancehall-duo Mono & Nikitaman did a great show until after midnight and heated the massive again on this cold day.

Sunday – Junior Kelly, Linval Thompson, Jimmy Cliff

The sun on Sunday was again more gracious and its shafts of sunlight warmed again. Adapted to the reappeared sun the visitors packed away the woolen hats and got the bikini on again. Also the crane for bungee jumping attracted again more people to jump 60 meters down.

The last day of the festival was marked of some German bands, like Ohrbooten or Irie Révoltés. But also Jamaican Reggae-Greats such as Linval Thompson and Jimmy Cliff came to the Chiemsee Reggae Summer.

At the Tent stage sunny Roots-Reggae-Sounds of Jamaica Papa Curvin and Linval Thompson warmed the people. With these two Reggae-Veterans dancing feet were granted!

At the Main stage the good mood on stage came with Junior Kelly. He replaced Mr. Vegas and he showed that he was a good choice for the replacement. Finally the absolutely headliner of Sunday was no one less than the Jamaican Legend Jimmy Cliff. The massive could sing along almost every song together with Jimmy Cliff. With his uncountable hits, for example Many Rivers To Cross or You Can Get It If You Really Want he managed to make without doubt the perfect final of this weekend full of music.