Text & Videos: Ellen Köhlings /// Photos: Michael Schwettmann
It feels so good when something that was nearly lost comes to life again. The reggae scene was on edge about the Ruhr Reggae Summer. But it wasn’t the only one on shaky ground. The entire genre needs new talent and every bit of support it can get. This summer, quite a few festivals have felt the impact of smaller crowds compared to previous years. This makes it all the more important that long-standing institutions like the RRS – which turned 19 this year – remain with us.
Rewind: A week before the festival was set to begin, the organizers posted on Instagram that the RRS was on the verge of being canceled and that they still needed to sell 1,500 tickets to break even. Typically, there’s always a surge in ticket sales at this point in the year. That didn’t happen this year. The post was shared widely. The next day brought the good news that the RRS would go ahead. Although the required number of tickets wasn’t sold, there was significant support from other sources, such as the city of Mülheim.
I’m happy about this, because the RRS often took place at the same time as Rototom Sunsplash, where Riddim is part of the Reggae University team. So it’s nice to be reminded once again of what makes this festival so special. The venue is easy to get to, has plenty of charm, and is the perfect size. The stage is in the center and fills the entire grounds with excellent sound. The only downside: Unfortunately, the weather this weekend isn’t always ideal for a dip in the natural outdoor pool.
Unfortunately, Greeen is just wrapping up their set when I arrive on Friday. The atmosphere is lively, and the grounds seem well-attended. Manudigital and Skarra Mucci, who already impressed at Reggae Jam, deliver here as well with their mix of dancehall, dub, reggae, and electronic bass music. Even the very young are enjoying this set.
Wow, this is actually already the fifth Protoje show I’ve had the chance to see this year. Diggy & The Indiggnation are a well-oiled machine. They understand each other almost without looking. It feels like they’ve been playing in this lineup for ages. Everything just clicks. And even after a full and grueling year on tour, they manage to spread enthusiasm anew every single time – both on and off stage. And – crucially for the genre – they attract a young audience. One big tune follows another! In 2016, Protoje played his first headlining show in Germany at the RRS.
On Saturday, the first order of business is to find shelter from the rain before I let the one-man army Little Lion Sound get me in the mood. It looks like it’s going to rain forever. But the crowd hangs in there – both for Million Stylez, whose “Miss Fatty” remains an indestructible hit, and for DJ Mac & MC Baba. I’m especially curious about the latter act. I missed him at Rototom. DJ Mac is one of the hottest dancehall producers, who has already made history with the “WYFL” riddim. And he can juggle. Stoic and focused, yet still with a groove and swag, he treats the massive to classics and new tunes. It’s a cool concept for a successful producer to go on tour right now.
Leftside, who – so they said – had just come off a long trip, is struggling with his voice tonight. When he eventually signals that he has to stop, Black Omolo spontaneously comes to his rescue and jumps in with an improvised set. The rain still hasn’t let up. But that can’t shake Romain Virgo. Wisely, producer and manager Niko Browne had instructed that the band not be placed so far back on stage. This creates a sense of closeness with the audience. Like Protoje, Romain is a worthy headliner who delivers hit after hit and knows how to get everyone moving. There’s hardly an artist who approaches his craft with as much passion and love for his work.
On Sunday, I make a special trip to see Zion Marley, whose releases and voice have really moved me. He succeeds in doing so again with his performance, which – admittedly – is still a bit subdued, but at the same time beautiful. His set was scheduled for 80 minutes, which puts the singer in a bit of a bind with just five released songs and a few forays into his grandfather’s hits. But here, too, someone is there to help: Romain Virgo joins him on stage, and the two of them sing Bob Marley songs together. By the time Tiken Jah Fakoly takes the stage, I’m already on my way back. And I continue to ponder the spirit of unity that was on display… Hopefully until next year at the same spot.
