Rototom Sunsplash 1

Rototom Sunsplash is the largest and most important reggae festival in Europe and perhaps the world. It is held every summer in the month of August. The festival is a European immitation of the traditional Jamaican reggae festival called Reggae Sunsplash which was held anually from 1978 to 1998.

The first edition of Rototom Sunsplash was held in 1994 in Gaio di Spilimbergo (Pordenone,Italy). In 1998 it was held in Zoppola (Pordenone, Italy). Two years later in 2000 the venue was moved to Rivellino de Osoppo (Udine, Italy). Since 2010 the festival has been held in Spain in Benicasim (Castellón).

The festival includes musicians from Jamaica, Europe, Latin America and Africa and involves the Jamaican genres of Reggae, Dancehall, Ska and Rocksteady.

Jamaican Musicians at Rototom 

Abyssinians, Alaine, Anthony B, Aswad (UK)

Barrington Levy, Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Big Youth, Bitty McLean, Bob Andy, Brigadier Jerry, Buju Banton, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Bush Man, Busy Signal

Capleton, Cecile, Cham, Chronixx, Chuck Fender, Cocoa Tea

Damion Marley, Derrick Morgan

Errol Donkley, Etana

Fantan Mojah, Freddie McGregor

Horace Andy

Inner Circle, Israel Vibration

Jah9, Jah Cure, Jah Mason, Jesse Royal, Jimmy Cliff, Johnny Clarke, Johnny Osbourne, Josey Wales, Junior Kelly, Junior Marvin and his wailers,

Kabaka Pyramid, Ky-Mani Marley, Ken Boothe

Lady Saw, Lee Scratch Perry, Lloyd Parkes And We The People Band, Luciano, Lutan Fyah

Mad Professor, Marcia Griffiths, Max Romeo, Maxi Priest, Michael Rose, Mighty Diamonds

Pablo Moses, Popcaan, Protoje

Queen Ifrica,

Raging Fyah, Richie Spice, Rita Marley, Romaine Virgo, Roots Underground

Shaggy, Sly and Robbie,  Steel Pulse (UK), Stephen Marley, Stitchie, Sugar Minott, Super Cat,

Tanya Stephens, Tarrus Riley, Teflon, The Heptones, The Pioneers, Tony Rebel, Toots and the Maytals

U Roy

Voicemail

Wayne Marshall, Wayne Wonder

Ziggy Marley,

Latin Musicians at Rototom

Argentina: Fidel Nadal

Chile: Gondwana, Quique Neira

Mexico: Viento Roots

Puerto Rico: Cultura Profética

Spain: Amparo Sanchez, El Chamuyo, Miguel Arraigo, Los Primos del Ska,

2015 line up from Jamaica
Aswad (UK), Barrington Levy, Brigadier Jerry, Bunny Wailer, Capleton, Cham, Cutty Ranks, Etana, Jah Cure, John Holt, Josey Wales, Junior Marvin and his wailers, Konshens, Lee Scratch Perry, Leroy Sibles, Mad Professor, Mr Vegas, Popcaan, Protoje, Super Cat, The Pioneers Third World

2015 ine up from Latin America and Spain
Amparo Sanchez, El Chamuyo, Los Primos del Ska, Miguel Arraigo

Highlightof 2015: Etana to replace Matisyahu

The second day of the festival, Saturday August 16 culminated in the announcement of the cancellation of the participation of American reggae artist Matisyahu due to his support of the State of Israel.

Five artists as well as patrons threatened to boycott the event should Matisyahu be allowed to perform

Consequently Rototom organization demanded that Matisyahu declare publicly his support for the right of the existence of the state of Palestine.

Matisyahu rejected the demands, stating that no other artists scheduled for Rototom was asked to make political statements in order to perform

Meanwhile Jewish communities have rejected the boycott as an act of discrimination

Scheduled to perform on the main stage on August 22 Matisyahu was replaced by the Jamaican reggae artist Etana.