For the third time in Benicassim in Spain, after sixteen years in Italy, the Rototom Sunsplash will take place from august 16th till august 22nd. This festival is the longest in Europe and also the largest, with 230 000 people in the audience during the last edition.

I've never been there, but every year, at the end of august, it's the same routine, my lucky friends, who could go there, tell me the same story : "you missed something biiiiig !!!!!". First thing, you have to know, is that  the location is 15 minutes far from the beach and as you can guess the weather is always sunny. The camping area is not a simple field, it is a real camping place with cooking areas, clean showers and toilets and  trees which is important to protect yourself from the sun and have a good rest.

Moreover, the most important thing is the atmosphere : it breathes reggae all over ! 6 stages, debates,  areas for non-profit organization stands and all branches of reggae music are covered : reggae, dancehall, dub, sound system, ska, rocksteady.

Which lead us to the line up, in my eyes one of the two best in Europe (if you read my blog you'll find out which is other

one  :

• Concerts on the main stage : the good balance between reggae legends and  newcomers, roots reggae and dancehall masters.

=> Thursday 16th : Morgan Heritage, Sly & Robbie feat Ernest Ranglin & Monty Alexander and Bitty Mc Lean, Beres Hammond and the veteran Derrick Morgan.

=> Friday 17th : Alborosie & friends, Micheal Rose (singer of Black Uhuru) and Tanya Stephens.

=> Saturday 18th : Freddy Mc Gregor & Chino, Raging Fyah, Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters, Marcia Griffiths, Kymani Marley and the young and talented Andrew Tosh, son of Peter Tosh.

=> Sunday 19th : Steel Pulse, Barrington Levy, Protoje, Jah Mason and Muchachito Bombo Infierno.

=> Monday 20th : The dancehall living legend Beenie Man, Max Romeo, The Congos and Cultura Profetica.

=> Tuesday 21st : Tarrus Riley, Johnny Osbourne (first time in Europe since 20 years), C-Sharp and Call 13.

=> Wednesday 22nd : the African reggae ambassador, Alpha Blondy, Zion Train, Etana, Wailing Souls and Obrint Pas.

• Dub Station: my favorite style in reggae. This area will be powered by Blackboard Jungle 24 scoops (more than 20 Kilowatts) heavyweight sound system !

=> Thursday 16th : Mungo's HiFi and Soom T from Scotland, Dread Movement.

=> Friday 17th : The Disciples, Russ D and Jonah Dan, Equal Brothers.

=> Saturday 18th : Words Sound and Power, sound system of the legendary UK producer Robert Tribulation, feat Sister Aisha on the vocal, Watts Attack.

=> Sunday 19th : Another great Uk producer will be there, Gussie P, founder of Sip a Cup label, Badalonians Sound, Sr Wilson and Irie Souljah.

=> Monday 20th : Year 3000 style dubwize night with Iration Steppas and OBF.

=> Tuesday 21s :Dubateers and Kenny Knotts from England, Leones Hulmides from Spain.

=> Wednesday 22nd : The main event for me, Jah Shaka special extended session. Finally a real Jah Shaka session, like in London, all night long !

Every night, Blackboard Jungle will open the dance in the Dub Station area.

• Dancehall stage : By now, the line up is not finished, but there are already some big names Rory from Stone Love, which is one of the oldest jamaican sound system and Bass Odyssey, last winner of the World Clash in Jamaica.

• Ska Club : this stage is dedicated to rocksteady and ska music. The firt names are coming from Japan, where the ska scene is certainly the most active since a very long time. You will hear the band called Tex & Sunflower Seed from Tokyo and Caribbean Dandy, which is a crew of selecta's and crazy collectors who has already been playing all around the world.

As you can see, the line up represents every kind of reggae music : ska, dancehall, reggae, dub, roots, concerts and sound systems !

Hope, it will help you to make the right choice for your summer holidays !