This is the fifth of an eight-part series on summer reggae festivals around the world.

ONE of the smaller events on the busy European summer circuit, the Sunrise Reggae and Ska Festival, is held in Lake Burtenbach, a village in Bavaria, southern Germany.

This year’s show takes place July 12-14 and has, for the first time in its short history, a Jamaican headliner in singer Tarrus Riley.

According to Christoph Völpel –CEO of promoters Elements4events — getting the She’s Royal vocalist is a big thing.

“The last six years we had only German reggae stars like Hans Söllner and Jamaram,” he told the Sunday Observer.

“More and more artistes ask us if they can play at the Sunrise.”

Singer Peter Lloyd, who had a handful of hits in the 1990s, is also on the show, which again is dominated by homegrown acts.

Singer Jahcoustix, Dubtari and Collie Herb are confirmed for Sunrise Reggae and Ska, an event Völpel says honours “one love, roots and reggae culture”.

While acknowledging that it isnot as big as other German reggae festivals like Chiemsee, he is pleased with the progress Sunrise has made going into its seventh year.

“We are proud of it,” Völpel said. “This year we expect 3,000 visitors.”

If Völpel has his way, that audience will grow. With a high-profile artiste as Riley on their card, he hopes it will be easier to get more contemporary Jamaican acts in the future.