THERE is a new reggae festival on the European calendar. The Scandinavia Reggae Festival debuts August

30-31 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Alborosie, Bush Chemist, Cornstick, Da Professor, Danjah, Groundation, Iba Mahr, Junior Kelly, Kabaka Pyramid, Sister Carol, Vegas and Norrisman are among its confirmed performers.

Promoter Ivan Olausson Klatil told the Jamaica Observer that, “We are a couple of people from the reggae movement in Sweden and Denmark that decided it was time to honour and celebrate the strong reggae scene in Scandinavia with a proper festival.”

He says the goal is to unite Scandinavia’s reggae scene.

“This is an opportunity to discover music from neighbouring countries, but also to experience your favourite international artistes, and discover new and upcoming artistes from the whole of Scandinavia,” Klatil added.

Scandinavia has had a vibrant reggae scene since the 1970s, a period regarded by many as the music’s golden age.

Top Jamaican and

British artistes consistently tour the region, with most of the activity taking place

in Sweden, Denmark

and Finland.

According to Klatil, the main areas for reggae

in Denmark is the

capital Copenhagen.

“The other hot spot is the Swedish capital Stockholm, which hosts lots of national and international reggae shows,” he said.

Klatil says reggae/dancehall events have been targeted by police, especially in Sweden.

“They succeed in closing down the biggest festival, Uppsala Reggae Festival, by longtime promoter Yared Tekeste. But the movement is strong and growing.”

He is encouraged by response to the Scandinavia Reggae Festival.

“People love the fact that there’s a big reggae festival coming to town. And we’re already planning for next year’s event,” he stated.

In addition to the aforementioned acts, the festival will feature several regional artistes and

sound systems.

 — Cecelia Campbell-Livingston