Rototom Sunsplash Festival 2018 Preview

Rototom Sunsplash Festival 2018 Preview

Posted on: 30 Jul 2018

Rototom Sunsplash festival is a truly global festival with 230,000 attendees each year, from close to 100 different countries. The Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and takes place between the 16th and the 22nd of August. The festival encapsulates inclusivity with 18,000 minors, 8000 disabled festival goers and 300 artists. Under the motto ‘a new world is possible’, Rototom is at its core, an ethical celebration of Afro Caribbean culture and global diversity.

Rototom Sunsplash Festival Line up 2018

The festivals location is second to none being based on the beach in Benicassim with 7 bouncing stages (one of which is situated right on the beach) including:

MAIN STAGE: Hosting the biggest stars of the international, national and European reggae scene.

 LION STAGE: The festival’s 2nd stage, featuring both established and rising reggae artists from all over the world, ska bands, and artists of other related styles.

DANCEHALL: Featuring worldwide sound systems inspired by the Jamaican style sound system culture.

 DUB ACADEMY: A space dedicated to the English styled sound system culture.

ROOTS YARD: Born out of the desire to unite and bring together the lovers of the most classical reggae sounds, above all Roots and New Roots.

SOLE ROTOTOM REGGAE BEACH: Performances, DJ-sets, dance classes and free activities on the beach.

 

The line up for the festival is one of the best I have ever seen with the biggest names in reggae, dub and roots such as Alborosie, Julian Marley, David Rodigan and a whole array of sound systems bringing peace, love and unity with every dubplate.

Rototom Sunsplash Festival

However, the festival isn’t just the strongest dub and reggae line-up in Europe, its global perspective on the promotion of peace and culture has earned it its reputation as an ‘exemplary event’ by UNESCO for a decade of dedication to make the world a more inclusive and better place.

 

One of the aspects of the festival which makes it so unique is the Social Forum which has been central to the festival culture since its birth in 1994. The Social Forum encourages debate instead of violence when challenging the social, economic and cultural issues at the centre of modern society and allows participants to experience different cultural views and arguments to that of their own conscious surroundings. With over 20 meetings and 45 guest speakers, this progressive aspect of the festival presents revellers with an opportunity to further their world view through constructive debate and meaningful conversation.

Rototom Sunsplash Festival

It is important to note that whilst Rototom is, at its core, an international festival, 45% of attendees are Spanish. Unlike festivals such as Kala in Albania where barely any locals attend, Rototom is nearly as popular domestically as it is internationally. This is only ever a good sign when deciding which festival to go to and the fact that a healthy proportion of the attendees are Spanish reflects wonderfully on the reputation that the festival has gained over the last 20 years.

 

All in all, Rototom appears to tick every box of a perfect festival. Inclusivity, diversity, peace, love and unity to name but a few. This coupled with one of the best line-ups (certainly for the dub heads among us) and being based on the idyllic beach of Benicassim, I can see this being one of the best festivals of the summer and a must go for anyone looking for that fine balance between culture and a good time.

 

Tickets are available from their website here.

 

Flights from Bristol to Valencia or Castellon are frequent and relatively cheap and transfers are easily available from the airport to the festival (approx. 1hr drive away) and back.


Article by:

John Edwards

Graduated from UWE, plays rugby, interested in everything.