Legendary British Selector, Jah Shaka, and the most representative sound of the French dub scene, Blackboard Jungle, will be guiding the program of one of the busiest stages of the reggae festival in Benicassim.
The official line-up of the Dub Station 2012 is already complete, and it appears already as one of the busiest stages of Rototom Sunsplash, taking place in Benicassim, Spain, from the 16th to the 22nd of August. The legendary English selector, Jah Shaka and the most representative sound of the French dub scene, Blackboard Jungle, stand out in a programme which also gives exposure to the latest trends with artists of the likes of Mungo’s Hi Fi, but also representatves of the Italian and the Spanish dub scene. 22 names in total, from the most classical roots to the digital sound of the end of the 90’s and the beginning of the new century, and the dub sounds of the 80’s. The most hypnotic reggae rhythms, based on boosting the bass and the almost traditional drums are expected to be heard at the festival, for the joy of those who want to dance until dawn. The Dub Station at Rototom is organised by Caravelle Prod and Musical Riot, a collective born in 2005 and the Parisian scene, known for entertaining the nights of the French capital city, but also Marseille, Lyon, Barcelona and other European Festivals as the Garance Reggae Festival and the Croatian Outlook.
Thursday 16th – Mungo’s Wi Fi, Soom T and Dread Movement.
The three Scots forming Mungo’s Hi Fi, Tom Tattersal, Doug Payne and Craig McLeod, became famous in the last years with their sound and their productions in which they show their talent in mixing sounds from new tendencies of dub to sounds based on the digital Jamaican dancehall of the eighties. Since 2005 they own the label Scotch Bonnet, under which several singles have been released, with the vocal contribution of artists like the Scottish Soom T, who will perform with them at Rototom. The Italians Dread Movement will be opening the stage for the night.
Friday 17th – The Disciples, Jonah Dah and Equal Brothers.
The Disciples have been a fundamental crew in the British scene, drawn by the passion and talent of producer and collector Russ D. Russ began by producing music for the legendary Jah Shaka together with his brother Lol. They worked on innumerable dubplates for Jah Shaka and four albums between 1987 and 1991. We will find them accompanied by Mc Jonah Dan, while the first session
will be warmed up by the French Equal Brothers.
Saturday 18th – Word, Sound & Power, Sister Aisha and Watt’s Attack.
Word, Sound & Power come to life in England in 1991, when Robert Tribulation, member from the seventies Great Tribulation Sound System, decides to establish a new crew after the break-up from that prestigious and legendary sound. Robert Tribulation will invite the English singer Sister Aisha on stage, well-known in the British scene and with important experiences in her discography with producers like Mad Professor, Twinkle Brothers and Augustus Pablo. This session at the Dub Station will be opened by the Basque roots sound Watts Attack.
Sunday 19th – Gussie P, General Skubba and Badalonians Sound, Sr. Wilson & Irie Souljah.
Gussie P is a veteran of the British reggae scene, having a remarkable curriculum vitae as engineer, producer and selecter. During the eighties, he collected useful experience in the studios of the mythical Fashion Records. In 1984 he founded his own Label Sip a Cup. He is still connected to the roots sound but shows a lot of eclecticism by mixing different genres. Besides, he has produced one of the first works of Capleton, the album ‘Double Trouble’, together with General Levy. The big ‘conscious’ albums of the label are using the sound of Mafia & Fluxi Band for whom Gussie was live sound engineer for a long time. Among the many legendary artists he has collaborated with are Augustus Pablo, Wailing Souls, Barry Brown, Johnny Clarke and Horace Andy. Jah Shaka, Aba-Shanti I and Channel One often work with him to enrich their dub boxes with new exclusive sounds. In the last few years, he produced brilliant instrumental albums of winds, with trombonist Henry Buttons Tenyue, under the name of Matic Horns. His session at the Dub Station will be opened by the Catalan sound Badalonians Sound with Señor Wilson and Irie Souljah at the microphone.
Monday 20th – Iration Steppas, Maki Banton, T.I.T. and OBF.
Iration Steppas from Leeds are worthy contributors to the English dub tradition which was iniciated in the sixties by Jah Shaka, Fatman and Coxsone Outernational among others. They will return to the festival for the third time accompanied on the microphone by the MC Maki Banton. T.I.T. and the French OBF will be opening the session.
Tuesday 21st – Dubateers, Kenny Knots and Leones Humildes.
The Dubateers from London started to produce music in 2004 at Dougie Wardrop’s Conscious Sound Studio. Later, they founded their own label which includes various genres, collaborating with dub artists like Disciples, Bush Chemists and with a legend of the early dubstep, Skream. In their selections they are famous for their eclecticism, which makes them alternate between canonic dub and dancehall- and dubstep-like sounds. They have collaborated with vocalists like Singer Blue, Barrington Judah and Kenny Knots, the latter will perform with them at the festival. To fire up the atmosphere, Leones Humildes one of the biggest stars of the Catalan deep roots & dub scene will be on stage.
Wednesday 22nd – Jah Shaka
We have the honour to announce the attendance of Jah Shaka, the ‘senior’ dub selecter, who is coming to Benicàssim for the second time, after his memorable performance in 2010. Jah Shaka’s contribution to the preservation of the spirit of roots & culture is incalculable. The sound of the Dub Station is expecting the best bass, powerful in music, recreating the magic of his sessions from London perfectly. On this occasion, we will be able to follow the journey proposed by Jah Shaka, who will be playing solo during a whole night, from the beginning until the Dub Station closes.
Thursday 23rd – Blackboard Jungle
Formed in 1994 in Rouen with the same name of the deep roots and dub radio programme created by Oliver and Nico, the Blackboard Jungle Sound System has become a driving force in the French scene. Inspired by artists like Jah Shaka, Jah Tubbys and Aba Shanti I, the crew built up its first self-made equipment in 2009 which was used in several sessions. The sound system has performed together with the most prestigious artists and was the first French sound to be invited to London by the University of Dub in 2009.
Currently Blackboard Jungle has one of the most powerful equipments in Europe, with 24 boxes, and it will be the resident Sound of the Dub Station 2012. It will open almost all sessions this year.
The other confirmations for Rototom Sunsplash 2012:
At Rototom 2012 over 30 group performances have been confirmed: Calle 13, who will end their European tour at the Festival; Cultura Profetica, performing for the first time in Europe; one of the Ska fathers, the legendary Derrick Morgan; the extraordinary jazz combo formed by Sly & Robbie, Monty Alexander, Ernest Ranglin and Bitty McLean. Also on stage: Marcia Griffiths feat. Kymani Marley and Andrew Tosh, Steel Pulse, Alpha Blondy, Beres Hammond, Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley, Raging Fyah, Alborosie & Friends, Michael Rose, Tanya Stephens, Barrington Levy, Etana, Protoje, Freddie McGregor ft. Chino, Jah Mason, Wailing Souls, Johnny Osbourne, Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters (for the first time in Spain), Max Romeo, Beenie Man, The Congos, C-Sharp, Obrint Pas and Zion Train ft. Jazzmin Tutum, Sis Bethsabee & Fyah Brass. Mighty Diamonds, Linval Thompson and Pablo Moses will perform during the free pre-festival event which will take place on the streets of Benicassim on the 15th of August.
