Midnite ADD

Beenie Man, Midnite, Etana added to Rototom Sunsplash 2024

05/23/2024 by Press Release

Rototom Sunsplash puts the finishing touches to its line-up with a twist of dancehall, roots reggae, Afrobeats and jazz

The iconic band Twinkle Brothers, Marcus Gad & Tribe and the return of Midnite steeps the festival in the roots of Jamaican music.
The king of the dancehall, Jamaica’s Beenie Man, raises the stakes of this style together with Fyahbwoy and his Forward Ever Band from Spain.

The international reggae festival Rototom Sunsplash offers a vibrant journey from roots reggae (Twinkle Brothers, Midnite, Marcus Gad) to dancehall (Beenie Man, Fyahbwoy) passing through afrobeats (Flavour) with this new round of confirmations that completes the line-up of the festival’s 29^th edition. Rototom Sunsplash also welcomes jazz for the first time (with Samuel Blaser's tribute to Don Drummond, the legendary trombonist of the Skatalites) and explores eclecticism through the voices of Etana, Naomi Cowan and the Brazilian Bia Ferreira.

Half a hundred names sculpt this new artistic ensemble that will perform on the festival's five stages. The Jamaican band Twinkle Brothers strengthens the roots reggae presence in the line-up. Icons from reggae’s golden age in the 70s, the anthems of the band formed by the Grant brothers, have crossed generations of reggae fans. Rototom Sunsplash this summer will also welcome the conscious and meditative roots reggae, ‘made in’ New Caledonia of Marcus Gad, who will perform with his band, Tribe, featuring a horn section.

Midnite, the band from St. Croix, returns from the Caribbean Virgin Islands, this time led by Ron Benjamin, producer, co-founder and brother of Vaughn, the charismatic leader and voice of Midnite, who passed away in 2019. Ron Benjamin will present in Benicàssim a preview of his next solo album, and a repertoire of Midnite's classics, best known for of their intense Rastafarian spirituality, to pay tribute to his brother.

Dancehall bursts onto the scene with a bang thanks to the king of the genre: Jamaican Beenie Man, nominated at the last Grammy Awards 2024 with his Simma album. Fyahbwoy, from the national scene, and considered the leading Spanish dancehall artist, joins the line up with his Forward Ever Band.

Rototom confirms the participation of Jamaican Etana, with her eclectic reggae that mixes elements of soul, r'n'b and afrobeats spun by her powerful voice. Hailing from the Caribbean island the festival welcomes the singer and songwriter Naomi Cowan, one of reggae's rising stars. Daughter of singer Carlene Davis, Cowan played Marcia Griffiths in the biopic about the king of reggae ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, released this year. 

Adding musical eclecticism and militancy to Rototom's artistic proposal is the Brazilian singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and activist Bia Ferreira, a standard bearer of ‘black women's music’. A defender of music as a instrument for education and emancipation, her lyrics speak of feminism and stand up against racism and homophobia.

Nigerian singer, musician and producer Flavour, with 5 million followers on Instagram and more than 3 million on YouTube, will showcase the global impact of Afrobeats in a show featuring band and dancers, and will lead from the Main Stage the festival’s appreciation to this genre in the African epicentre of the venue: Jamkunda Stage.

For the first time ever Rototom Sunsplash jazzes it up with touches of ska thanks to Samuel Blaser Routes - A Tribute to the Music of Don Drummond. A tribute by Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser, embodied in his renowned album ‘Routes’, to the legacy of the legendary Jamaican trombonist, member of the Skatalites (celebrating their 60th anniversary) and composer of many of their songs. This unique show will be performed by the quintet led by Blaser and joined by Cuban violinist Omar Puente, Alex Wilson (keyboards), Colin McNeish (bass), and Kenrick Rowe (drums).

Alongside these new names on the Main Stage and Lion Stage, the line-ups for the other three areas that lively up the long nights of the festival are also complete.

MORE NAMES FOR THE DANCEHALL
The dancehall arena adds more artists to its line-up. An announcement led by Becca D. British DJ and TV presenter. After 11 years of experience on MTV, she has created her own music platform in 2017, with 2 million views, to promote Jamaican culture and artists through live sessions, interviews and documentaries. She will perform her set featuring the talented young artist Tessellated that will be the Mc for her show. Northern Lights and Heavy Hammer will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2024, and together with Lampa Dread, the stage's resident crew.
 

Costa Rica will be triply represented with Docta Rythm Selecta; Dj Luiz Dub and Selecta Empress. The Swiss collective All Chemist; Fenshi Sound from Germany; TNT Sound (Italy); and the Belgians East end rock and Skylarkin'sound join the edition. The Spanish scene welcomes Plan B, dj Los Chikos del Maíz; Urban Corner; Dirty Raw and Dj Owey. The crew of dancers on this stage includes Irie Queen and Telitah from Spain, Kultcha from the French collective Mouv'ment Dancer'Z, Jaqueline & Stephanie from Enough Dance Crew,  Sweden, Lizzy, Brukwine from the USA and Alicia, Spanish dj and dancer based in London.

AFRO-MODERN MUSIC SHOWCASE AT JAMKUNDA STAGE
Jamkunda Stage's artistic line up is fully loaded . The stage aims to bring together some of the finest collectives that are promoting the Afro-modern genres (from Afrobeats to Amapiano to Afrohouse), such as AfroBrunch, Oyofe, Follow the Party and Zsongo from Spain, and the Italian Afrobeats Roma, with their  AfroVillage party. Each team will provide specially designed shows for Rototom, amazing and unexpected bashments nights.
 

Dj SoGood, from London, the official dj's of AfroNation in Portugal, and the young promise of Afrobeats in Spain, the singer Alu, are the special guests on the Jamkunda Stage. Hosting the stage the master of ceremonies Shopsydoo together with the comedian WizProblema and the dancer Makuriya. AfroCommunity, a special night with all the collectives participating in this edition of the festival to celebrate the new Afro music, is the other great novelty of the stage

DUB ACADEMY AMPLIFIES ITS INTERNATIONAL FLUX 
Aiming to become a global gathering of sound system culture, the Rototom Sunsplash Dub corner announces El Gran Latido (Colombia); Yugo Taguchi (Japan), who will perform alongside the already announced Greenlight, Serena and Lasai; Agobun from France and Coco & Rowsi (Spain). Here comes Jah Tubbys ft Dixie Peach & Macky Banton, Kibir La Amlak, Selectah Tuti and a secret show to be unveiled live during the festival.

More info & tickets @ ROTOTOMSUNSPLASH.com