Alborosie & Friends | Derrick Morgan | Muchachito Bombo Infierno | Protoje | Zion Train feat. Jazzmin Tutum, Sis Bethsabee & Fyah Brass | Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters | Tanya Stephens | Max Romeo | Sly & Robbie | Ernest Ranglin | Monty Alexander | Bitty McLean

Prefestival August 15th: Mighty Diamonds | Linval Thompson | Pablo Moses


Benicassim, 12 March 2012

 5 new confirmed shows for Rototom Sunsplash 2012
The past week has been packed up with new confirmations and the third phase of the advanced sales for Rototom Sunsplash 2012 has just started. From now until the the 10th of March, one ticket for the whole festival costs 150€. Here are the new names on the 2012 line-up:

Zion Train feat. Jazzmin Tutum, Sis Bethsabee & Fyah Brass
Zion Train was founded in 1990, when they started mixing the passion for orthodox dub reggae of the sessions of Jah Shaka or Aba Shanti I with the great energy of techno and trance rhythms. Their success at raves of that time was enormous. Beyond this musical activity there has always been a strong militance on a social and spiritual level accompanying this band that has been conveying intelligent and sensitive messages through their music.
From minimal sounds of the first sessions to the most complex classics like 'Homegrown fantasy' and 'Love revolutionaries', Zion Train have gained a great maturity in their recent works like 'Love as one' or the latest great album 'State of mind'. They will perform together with the splendid vocalists Jazzmin Tutum and Sis Bethsabee, and the winds of Fyah Brass: another premiere show at Rototom 2012.

Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters
They define themselves as "the best dance orchestra of Italy". Their passion for ska, rocksteady, early reggae and influences of soul in the historical rhythms of Jamaican origin makes indeed thousands of people dance happily at their concerts.
In the golden times, it was common in Jamaica to rearrange and release songs of most diverse origins in a way that they seemed Jamaican. The success of these versions has helped The Bluebeaters to move forward in their career, after having learned to perfection dozens of classics of the Skatalites, Ken Boothe, John Holt and many more.
What was at first only a project of members of Italian reggae bands like Africa Unite, Fratelli Di Soledad and Casino Royale around the melodic voice of 'King' Giuliano Palma, has turned out to be a great success over the years, thanks to this magnificent Italian 'combo'.

Tanya Stephens
 Despite being less visible than their male colleagues, the women of the Jamaican reggae are talented, creative and courageous enough to address controversial topics with the necessary sensitivity. In this regard, Tanya's career is absolutely exemplary: She started as a dancehall artist in the middle of the nineties with "stylish" hits like 'Yu nu ready fi this yet' or 'Handle the ride'. Later she continued with potent reggae tunes like 'It's a pity', which is already a classic.
 After having conquered the international reggae audience, she became a refined but also passionate reggae singer-songwriter. In the two brilliant albums 'Gangsta blues' and 'Rebelution' she unravels important topics like the discrimination of class, race and gender, the disputed situation of women in Jamaica and the world such as the fight against violence and injustice. Her latest CD 'Infallible' was released in 2010.
Max Romeo
 Max Romeo is one of the heroes from the times when the reggae was born and started developing. He earned a lot of fame in the whole world. With his first success 'Wet dreams' in 1969, produced by Bunny Lee, he climbed the pop charts of England and it brought him to the release of his first album 'A dream'.
 Thanks to his extensive collaboration with producers such as Niney The Observer and Lee Perry, he was soon caught in the middle of a true vortex of creativity: In this period he captivated the audience with his Rasta inspired lyrics and the musical support in the election campaign of the PNP leader Michael Manley who is fervently admired by Max.
 His most precious jewels originate from the collaboration with Lee Perry: for example 'One step forward', 'Chase the devil' and 'War inna Babylon', the latter being the title track of a well renowned. Nowadays, due to his long career with numerous self-produced songs, his close friendship with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and others he is still in a very good shape.
 Max Romeo will come to Benicàssim for the second time after his premiere at the 2010 Sunsplash.
Sly & Robbie, Ernest Ranglin & Monty Alexander ft. Bitty McLean
 Bringing back reggae with his jazz influenced roots we announce Monty Alexander. Jazz pianist, born and grown up in Jamaica, despite his important experiences as soloist, and alongside celebrities of the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson, he never forgot his love for the Carribean Island and its musical culture.
 With him, guitarist Ernest Ranglin who is well-known in Kingston's club scene and has brought together jazz with Jamaican rhythm & blues and ska from the beginning. The way he plays his semi-acoustic is literally magical: His fantastic songs as soloist in Studio One are very well known among collectors.
 Joining the two, will be twins of rhythm Sly & Robbie, which formed the most popular rhythm section in the history of reggae. They were always open minded to other experiments of black music and that is how an extraordinary show is formed, based on the sensitivity of jazz and great collaborations, brought to the world of reggae by important songs from the roots of the Jamaican music.
 This quartet invited Bitty Mc Lean, the singer from Birmingham, who recently became famous for his beautiful voice and an attitude that resembles the great singers of Jamaican tradition.