Line-Up
Beenie Man, Christopher Martin, L’Entourloop, Patoranking, Queen Omega, Anthony B, Ding Dong, Shy FX & MC Race, Tourist LeMC, Danakil, Twinkle Brothers, Skatalites, Dr. Alimantado, Hollie Cooke, Warrior Sound, Noah Powa, Gentlemen’s Dub Club, Abakush, Joe Yorke, King Earthquake, Echo Minott & Dub Shepherd, Irie Ites & Ranking Joe, Toledo, Word Sound Power, Luv Injection & Cheshire Cat, Prince Fatty & Horseman, Gussie P
When the first Reggae Bash – a party organised by a group of friends – took place in the Belgian town of Geel in 1978, hardly anyone knew what to make of it. Today, Europe’s longest-running reggae festival has become one of the unmissable highlights of the summer thanks to its diverse and carefully curated programme.
On ground where British and German forces once fought fierce battles more than 80 years ago, reggae fans from across Europe now come together to enjoy one of the most exclusive line-ups of the summer. The organisers in Geel have always placed great importance on bringing artists to the Zandstraat who can’t be seen at every other festival on the circuit. Alongside the usual suspects travelling from one end of the continent to the other throughout the season, they consistently present acts that appear nowhere else.
Who this year’s major exclusive surprise – in the vein of YG Marley, Dezarie or Burning Spear – will be remains to be seen. Even so, the line-up announced so far already offers plenty of highlights and covers the full spectrum of Jamaican offbeat music.
The originally announced Supercat – legendary, but undeniably showing his age and not always the most reliable performer – will be replaced by the equally legendary and considerably more agile Beenie Man. Christopher Martin, a specialist in humour and lover’s vibes, showcases a different side of dancehall, as does dancer-turned-artist Ding Dong, who has only rarely been seen on European stages so far.
Militant roots sounds come courtesy of Queen Omega, the powerhouse vocalist from Trinidad. Those who prefer their roots reggae wrapped in the spirit of the golden 1970s can look forward to the Twinkle Brothers. But Reggae Geel is not just about the obvious crowd-pullers. One genuine insider tip is Joe Yorke from Manchester, one of reggae’s finest yet still far too rarely heard voices.
Other seldom-seen highlights include veteran Dr. Alimantado, whose distinctive toasting style helped shape the roots and dub sounds of the 1970s, and the all-female group Abakush, who have been balancing spirituality and militancy from their Brixton base since the early 1980s, while blending reggae with jazz, gospel and soca.
A permanent institution in Geel is the Dub Forest, where international sound system heavyweights – from King Earthquake to Irie Ites – take control throughout the festival day, bringing a host of renowned artists with them. The musical selection spans old-school UK dub, deep roots and contemporary steppers, leaving little to be desired. Newcomers can get an ideal introduction from Lion I, whose workshop teaches participants how to step to steppers in style.
And make sure you find your way to the Bounce Dancehall before the charming yet clash-feared Warrior Sound takes over the decks on Friday, or New York’s high-energy selector Noah Powa tears the place apart on Saturday.
Beyond the music, visitors can enjoy mobile sound systems performing throughout the site, yoga workshops in the Yagga Yagga area, hammocks overlooking the festival grounds, a Kids Village with playground and face painting, and a Thursday opening party on the campsite. There are also measures in place to protect festivalgoers from harassment, as well as a comprehensive waste-reduction concept.
All of this is delivered to the highest production standards, with excellent sound, atmospheric lighting design, and a spacious site layout that allows different musical tastes to spread naturally across the grounds without competing acoustically with one another.
Text: Gian-Luca Krämer
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