In Jamaica, it would appear that the halcyon days of Jahlovemusik Sound System has passed, but not so in France. It has long been established that Reggae biggest market is Europe and during the summertime that market is flooded with Reggae festivals.

One staple of the market, is the Garance Reggae Festival in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, France from July 28 to July 31. After a 3-year hiatus, to the delight of festival-goers who have fallen under the spell of this welcoming town, it was back to basics for the festival started 18 years ago.

Two representatives of the old school Jamaican sound systems headlining the event on opening night, Jahlovemuzik and King Stur Gav along with the artistes who made them famous, gathered in Europe for the first time. Featured also on the sound system night, were two other sets, Blackboard Jungle from England and OBF from Paris .

Additional acts on the festiver were Charlie Chaplin, Brigadier Jerry, Josey Wales, Culture Dan, King Stur Gav, Junior Byles, Barrington Levy, Third World, Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Mavado, John Holt, Tarrus Riley, Toots and the Maytals, Winston McAnuff, Jah Cure, Luciano, Big Youth, Turbulence among others.

“It wasn’t a clash, because Jahlove nuh inna no clash. Just one other sound I would say is like Jahlove, or play like Jahlove, is Stur Gav,” explained Gary I, selector for Jahlovemuzik since 1984.

“Mi neva play to dat amount a crowd yet”, he exclaimed. “Ole heap of thousands. More than 50 thousand people di inna di place fi dah first night,” he continues.

“Mi a tell you, di response a di crowd was something else,” the veteran selector added. “Mi know sey people love reggae out deh, but to see di way how di people dem behave and response to us playing, it was like woe….words cannot explain…the people dem clap like it was a stage performance,” Gary I told Splash.

“We play some of the songs dem from back in the days of the 70s/80s…some people, when dem hear the name of the sound dem a expect you to stuck in that period…mi nuh see dah way deh. Mi wi play some of the tunes that made the sound famous, but music is being made now, today, which is still along the same line that we used to play in dem time deh. So we play some of the current songs by Luciano, Jah Cure, we play tunes from the 70s by Johnny Osbourne, Culture, mix up to create a balance because that is what we are known for” the selector from the Tribe of Reuben said.

Gary I’s partner, the deejay for Jahlovemuzik, Culture Dan, also chants praises of the response to the sound system connected to the 12 Tribes of Israel Rastafari Organisation. “It (Jahlovemuzik) had an impact on the festival which reminded me of the 80s when roots and culture ruled dancehall. The fans still into vinyl…I really can’t find words enough to express it,” Culture Dan said.

Jahlovemuzik sound system is a veteran set from the 70s founded and owned by the late Earl Belcher whose estate is now in charge. At that time, Jahlovemuzik was undoubtedly one of the most popular Jamaican sound systems and Brigadier Jerry was, and has been its most famous deejay while Ilaweh, its number one selector. Dedicated solely to spreading the message Rasta. As such, it occupies a unique place in the Jamaican music scene.

Founded in the mid 70s by the legendary U-Roy, the father of “deejaying” (forerunner of rap), King Stur Gav sound system is regarded in Jamaica as an academy of sorts for deejays. Many popular deejays began their career with King Stur Gav. First, Ranking Joe, then in the 80s, the team grew to include Josey Wales, nicknamed “Colonel,” one of the most prominent deejays of his time, and Charlie Chaplin, whose talent for storytelling have earned him the nickname “Major”.

Other artistes like Brigadier Jerry, Sugar Minott, Don Carlos, Brown U, all perform very regularly with Stur Gav. Representative of the old school sound system, with its “rub a dub” rhythms and cultural discourse, King Stur Gav has inspired many artists and continues to support a loyal audience in Jamaica, the United States and especially in England. King Stur Gav is the soul of the Jamaican dancehall history.