After the pre-selection with 36 bands and the semi-finals (10 bands) the three finalists for the Benelux Reggae Contest are now known.
Based on the number of votes submitted by the public and critical assessment by an independent jury, Fullannny & The Rootscontrolahz, Skarbone 14 and Sunrockers are selected for the live finale. This will take place on Friday, April 6, at the Muziekgieterij, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
A short introduction of the finalists :
Fullanny & The Rootscontrolahz
Fullanny (Orlando Gambier) is a concious reggae artist from Surinam, born and raised in the Netherlands. Grown up in Rotterdam Fullanny starts to know reggae music since youth and at the age of 14 he wrote his first song. In 2001 Rastafari came in his life and he became the leadsinger of a Surinam/reggaeband. Nowadays Fullanny’s message is not only for the Surinam people, but for all people across the earth, no matter what colour they have or religion. Cyan loose cyan fail we are all winners!! Love is the answer!!
Skarbone 14
Skarbone 14 is an experienced ska-rock band with a great sense of humour and full of energy. Their mix of ska, rock, cumbia, merengue and salsa is very infectious and it’s hard to imagine that you won’t move your body and feet during their performance. After more than 400 concerts that brought them in many countries of Europe (a.o. Dour Festival, Sziget Festival, …) they’ve clearly proven that the stage is literally their playing field. Their festive ska-rock music is coupled with lyrics generally engaged, sometimes crazy, about the simple things of life and the worlds in which we live…
Sunrockers
Formerly known as “SUN”, these musicians from Brussels met in 2000, while playing in a collective named “Black Mystic Erotic”, based on improvisation with 20 Belgian artists with a multiple musical background. Four of them shared together the passion for Reggae music. They delved into the classic three-vocal harmonies, which was often used by the Jamaican roots bands from the sixties and seventies (The Abyssinians, The Congos, The Gladiators, …). Their music never stopped evolving and is also influenced by various other experiences that these guys in their musical careers have come across, but always with a pure Roots Reggae base. The lyrics and grooves of SUNROCKERS melt together in a kind of trance that is never far away from Africa, where they often travel…
As usual the live finale will feature public voting and a critical assessment by a professional jury. Every paying visitor will receive a card on which he can vote for the band he loves to see again on a few events during the festival season (and beyond).
After all the winner gets an extensive prize package including fine shows on Reggae Geel, Dour Festival, Zwarte Cross, Rastaplas, Reggae Fèr, Future Reggae Ruigoord, Reggae in Duketown, Kokopelli, Jamin (Rogery), Petrol, Vk* and Democrazy. Besides that they’re also going to record a CD produced by Not Easy At All, Clash Productions and Marley’s Mellow Mood as well as professional support from Skinfama, 22Tracks, reggae.be, Worldareggae.com and Black Star Foundation.
Benelux Reggae Contest Final with Fullanny & The Rootscontrolahz, Skarbone 14 and Sunrockers, host Mr. Montego and DJ-sets by Irie Nation. Friday April 6 at 20:30 hours, Muziekgieterij, Maastricht (the Nederlands). Gate pressure: € 10. More info @ www.beneluxreggaecontest.eu
Tickets for the finals at the Muziekgieterij can be booked in advance via tickets.4.brc @ gmail.com. It is important that your full name and number of tickets are clearly stated. It’s possible to make online reservations until Wednesday, April 4.
Please note: reserved tickets can be collected at the venue’s box office until 21:30 hours. Then they go on sale to the public!
