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Shaggy, Burning Spear, Tarrus Riley and more to headline 30th anniversary of Rototom Sunsplash in Benicàssim

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Europe’s biggest reggae festival celebrates its 30th edition with its biggest line-up yet, welcoming over 250,000 people across 8 days of music, culture, food, wellness and more

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‘Celebrating Life’ is the theme that will define the 30th edition of super-sized international reggae festival Rototom Sunsplash, taking place from 16 to 23 August 2025 in Benicàssim, Spain. This eight day extravaganza is the largest reggae festival in Europe, boasting 18 zones of music, wellness and cultural activities plus a reggae university to educate about the culture and so much more. Tickets to this famously family friendly and inclusive celebration are free for under 13s and over 65s, with a 50% discount for those between 13 and 17. They are available now at https://bit.ly/4j8quM5 

Rototom Sunsplash is a global community and close-kit family of music lovers from all over the planet. 2024 welcomed guests from more than 100 countries which is testament to its inclusive community feel, with many returning year on year for the special feeling of unity the festival exudes. It was founded on values of peace, respect and community and to this day, it has a real social and environmental consciousness that has seen it win several awards and continues to be beacon of a love and togetherness in an ever growing festival landscape.   

The festival has always been committed to solidarity, diversity and understanding of one another and of the planet, which is why it is working towards being carbon neutral. It is also plastic free, has a water recycling system, promotes the use of locally sourced, ethical and organic products and much more. Over the years it has continued to grow and evolve, but has called Benicàssim home since 2010, and 2025 is set to be the biggest and best edition yet. 

Rototom Sunsplash is an endless opportunity to explore and is a vast site best navigated by bicycle, scooter or skateboard. You will find an endless array of nourishment for mind, body and soul, with a carefully curated music line-up that has something for everyone. 

The Main Stage features the cream of international reggae superstars and legends including Shaggy, Burning Spear, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Tarrus Riley, Steel Pulse, Misty In Roots, The Wailers, Julian Marley, L’Entourloop, Morgan Heritage, Ky-Mani Marley, Third World, Easy Star All Stars, Eek-A-Mouse and more. Head to the Dance Hall for sound system madness with David Rodigan, Jazzy T, Warrior Sound, Seani B, Izzy Bossy and more. The Dub Academy caters for big roots vibrations and dub, with the likes of Sister Nancy, Legal Shot, Mad Professor and Channel One, while the Jamkunda Stage features everything from Afrobeats to funk, soul and disco.

There is also a Social Forum with prestigious speakers, the famous Reggae University which gathers academics, artists, writers and producers as well as many other tents and labs that encourage a connection with mother earth, personal growth, talks on sustainability, meeting points for those interested in Rastafarian cultured a social art gallery, artisan and open air markets and so much more. 

Rototom Sunsplash’s theme of hope and optimism aims to encourage people to “live conscientiously” and advocates celebrating life and coexistence in these times of war and hatred in many parts of the world’. Through donations from ticket sales, the event will help fund scientific research, programmes for the inclusion of people with disabilities and projects to support refugees and migrant women in 2025 while supporting four NGOs: Human Call (Lebanon), A la par (Madrid), the Valencian AIPHYC and the local Conquistando Escalones.

Says the director of Rototom Sunsplash, Filippo Giunta, “Celebrating life means appreciating, honouring and fully enjoying existence, recognising the  value and beauty of life itself. With its moments of joy, of gratitude, of reflection, of sharing  experiences, like the one that Rototom makes possible every summer. When thousands of people of different ages, cultures and origins manage to live together peacefully and joyfully, creating a world of peace and love, that is ‘celebrating life’. And in these times of  war and hatred in many parts of the world, we want to celebrate these values more strongly than ever. Celebrating life is our leitmotif for this long-awaited anniversary; light, and calm, in difficult times.”

Accommodation options include on site glamping and clamping, with many hotels and AirBnBs also within close reach of the site, and without ever leaving the festival you can enjoy an extensive variety of cuisine with restaurants and bars offering dishes from Thailand, Italy, Argentina, France, Morocco, Venezuela, Senegal, Jamaica and local Spanish delights plus much more. 

Rototom Sunsplash is a celebration of music, culture and humanity on a vast scale but with an intimate family-feel. It’s an escape to a utopian world with a life-giving soundtrack and the 30th edition is set to raise the bar once more. 

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MAIN STAGE 

SHAGGY – BURNING SPEAR  – TIKEN JAH FAKOLY 

TARRUS RILEY – STEEL PULSE [50th Anniversary] – MISTY IN ROOTS [50th Anniversary]

THE WAILERS – JULIAN MARLEY & THE UPRISING – L’ENTOURLOOP

MORGAN HERITAGE – KY-MANI MARLEY – THIRD WORLD

SAIAN SUPA CELEBRATION – IJAHMAN & CULTURE FT KENYATTA HILL 

THE MEDITATIONS – EEK-A-MOUSE – TRIBAL SEEDS 

EASY STAR ALL-STARS (Performing DUB SIDE OF THE MOON)

 ARIWA POSSE [45 Years] FT BIG YOUTH – NADINE SUTHERLAND, AISHA, MAD PROFESSOR & THE ROBOTIKS – CIMARONS x LONE ARK – MELLOW MOOD  

CHALART58 & THE SOUL ADVENTURERS 

[Ft Joe Yorke, Roberto Sanchez, Matah, Sr. Wilson, Morgana Souljah]

ANA TIJOUX – TAJ WEEKES – BIG RED – VANDAL – 99 POSSE  

SOFIA GABANNA – EMETERIANS & FORWARD EVER BAND [20th Anniversary]

 KUMAR FYAH – DUKES OF ROOTS meet LASAI – JOE YORKE – E.T.S. – AURORAWAVE – CHARLIE P MOVIMIENTO ORIGINAL – NADIA McANUFF – MANGO WOOD
MARUJA LIMON – PUMAN – LA YEGROS – MYSTICALLY

DANCE HALL

DAVID RODIGAN

JAZZY T – WARRIOR SOUND – SPEXDABOSS – SEANI B – SILLY WALKS – XYCLONE 

DUNRICH WORLD SOUND – IZZY BOSSY – AYANNA HEAVEN KAYNIXE
LUV MESSENGER – BONY FLY – TEAM DAMP – DJ DEPA – ROYAL MARX SOUND – KGS KINGS CROWN – LARS VEGAS KANGAROOTS – VIBES STAR – DHAMIANO  JAMAFRICAN CREW – UNTOUCHABLE SOUND – SICILY REBELLIOUS – ROUGH TOWN 

DANCEHALL MADNESS EXPERIENCE
[Ft Docta Rythm selecta, Dj Luiz Dubs, Selecta Nesta, Iration Selecta]
CROSSFYAH SOUND – KIANKA TOWN SOUND – GC SOUND – UPPRESSOR’S CREW    

DUB ACADEMY

SISTER NANCY meets LEGAL SHOT, 

CHANNEL ONE ft MACKY BANTON, MAD PROFESSOR, MAFIA&FLUXY, MATAH, MOA ANBESSA full crew, MORGANA SOULJAH, ROBERTO SANCHEZ FT I-MAN CRUZ & RAS TWEED, OMEGA NEBULA, IRATION STEPPAS, VIBRONICS, SOUTH VIBES ft Emilio & Maca, WISE ROCKERS, EDICA+ & LASAI, BADALONIANS SOUND , ITAL SKOL, GREENLIGHT & FOOTSIE,

DUBQUAKE TAKEOVER: O.B.F. ft NIA SONGBIRD, Sr.WILSON & JUNIOR ROY + SECRET GUESTS, ESAÏA, MOTHERDUBBER & STEF O.B.F.

DUB JUDAH

JAMKUNDA STAGE

ZSONGO – AFROBRUNCH – OYOFE BISSAP PARTY – AFROSPLASH
FOLLOW THE PARTY – AFROVICE – SILLY WALKS [AFRO SET]

AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

BoomTown Fair 2014 Review

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“I never want to see another f**king hill again,” one BoomTown goer moaned as they left the festival early Sunday evening for the wind-protected respite of home. And so BoomTown came to an end for many in that fashion; drips and drabs of goers relenting after three days of hazardous rain and wind, tired limbs aching from raving up and down the hilliest festival in existence.

But it was certainly not a waste. Boasting one of the finest, most eclectic line-ups this summer, BoomTown Fair offered up a fair distraction from the beating rain.

Thursday and Friday afternoon, before the downpour, the likes of reggae punks Dirty Revolution, The Wailers and the dub-rap stylings of Soom T soothed many underneath the atmospheric awnings of the pop-up city; a veritable testament to themed festival architecture that rivals Glastonbury itself.

In fact, if one pictures BoomTown as Glastonbury’s South East Corner – yet boasting less dystopian anti-capitalist allegories – then one would hold an accurate drawing of the entirety of BoomTown Fair; all stages are a-flow with ornamental arrays and add-ons that belie the fact that they’re stages at all. Certainly it’s a feat Glastonbury could not manage given its size, but BoomTown manages just fine.

Unfortunately for the festival, some of the most coveted acts are outside in the would-be sunshine; halfway through The Skints’ 5.30pm set, the rain begins and seems to never stop. “We’re going to keep playing until they literally force us to stop,” jokes singer and guitarist Josh Rudge, but it appears their equipment may never recover from the storm. Moreover, the heavy rain dampens later sets from Easy Star All Stars, Russkaja, Afro Celt Sound System and Bellowhead; while all take the limited numbers and cheer in their stride as such impeccable musicians do, it begs the question; how bloody amazing would they have been inside, or in better conditions? Perhaps the organisers will find it in their hearts to give them another chance at next year’s BoomTown.

While the continuing rain drives festival goers to their tents, or to the inside late-night venues in hope of better fare, at least Saturday is all sunny sides up; save for the fact that Dunkelbunt were unceremoniously moved earlier, leaving many angry and confused when electro-swing pioneers Tape 5 take to their stage in their later slot. Luckily, Black Star Dub Collective prefaced the disappointment with an inspired set within the woodland retreat, while anarcho-punks Autonomads woke up the masses, as The Filaments with ‘Bastard Coppers’ were to later.

If only it could have lasted; the rain drives down once again during Slamboree’s Soundystem show at the towering Arcadia, carrying on through Dreadnought’s late-night ballsy set and until 11am the next day; many tents that were not flooded Friday, flooded that night.

Moreover, the Town Centre stage the following day proved to be a wash-out, as its cancellation added an extra fist-shake curse to the skies. Despite the day’s better weather, The Urban Folk Quartet’s fantastic triangle solo and Macka B’s ensuing good-vibe guide, Sunday proved too much for many as a chaotic miasma of abandoned tents blew over the site. While BoomTown, which sells out every year, certainly offers up first class entertainment and artwork second to none – accompanied by a scene-focused and professionally-picked line-up – it can’t hold off the weather. Despite this, the festival is one that all should flock to at each once; long may it reign.

Check out the official Boomtown Fair 2014 video right here!

Boomtown Fair 2014 SOLD OUT

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BoomTown Fair has sold out for the sixth year in a row! Even after increasing the capacity by over 20% to 38,000, this ever popular event has shifted all of the tickets to the annual Fair and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down! With an astonishing array of musical genres covered by the headliners alone; The Cat Empire, NOFX, Jimmy Cliff, The Wailers, Shaggy, The Skatalites, Tinariwen, Bellowhead, New Model Army, Alabama 3, Lady Saw, Raggasonic, Afro Celt Sound System alongside 400 more artists, this juggernaut of a festival truly does deliver across the board!

BoomTown Fair isn’t your average UK festival, offering its attendees or ‘residents’ a fully interactive pop-up city with boulevards of buildings to explore and various venues to get thoroughly stuck into. The fair has a hugely theatrical feel and delves into the attendee’s psyche to unlock the feelings of childlike wonderment and fantasy, and with the increased revenue from ticket sales being directly reinvested into the artistic and theatrical elements, BoomTown has further built upon its boundary pushing creative environment!! With hundreds of walkabout and sideshow performers, intricate and engaging sets as well as an ethical ethos and a disregard for the norm, over the past six years BoomTown Fair has established itself as one the UKs most spectacular events and unlike any other on the scene at the moment!

With the Fair a few days away it’s time to sum up what to expect at this year’s event, all the new areas, the old favourites and the stealthy shenanigans! New areas to keep an eye open for this year include the Wild West Street, which comes fully stocked with two watering holes, the Crazy Calamities and the Rusty Spur, a rogue Sherriff and some Hill-Billy Bluegrass bands on hand to provide the perfect soundtrack! Across the way in the OldTown district, the ginormous Pirate Ship, The Jolly Dodger has landed and will be the host of many a Pirate band including a full on Pirate Takeover on the Sunday of the festival. The Old Mines will be presiding over the wholesome Whistlers Green District with world class folk artists such as Bellowhead, Tinariwen and Afro Celt Sound System. As you might expect from BoomTown, nothing is totally traditional, much like the festival itself, the acts picked are known for pushing the boundaries and adding their own twist on things!!

BoomTown Fair will return to Matterley Estate from 7th – 10th August with a theme of Outrageous Carnival connecting the nine individual districts, the streets of BoomTown are once again going to be awash with amazing sets, colourful characters and creative communities!

Shaggy, The Skatalites and Alabama 3 join Boomtown Fair lineup

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Chapter six of BoomTown’s annual Fair is set to surpass anything they’ve done before, and that is no mean feat for the UKs most boundary pushing festival! New additions to its already immense line-up include one of the biggest crossover successes in dancehall reggae, the one and only Shaggy! As well as blues, country, electro fusion outfit Alabama 3 and the final edition to the bill is legendary Jamaican ska institution The Skatalites, if any one band could be attributed to brining the genre out of its homeland and to the masses, it’s this ever evolving line-up of ska stalwarts! These newly announced acts will be joining the hundreds of artists already announced including headliners The Cat Empire, NOFX, Jimmy Cliff, The Wailers, Tinariwen and Bellowhead.