Greetings massive!
Uppsala Reggae Festival is the largest strictly reggae music festival in Scandinavia and it attracts reggaefans from all over nordic Europe, as well as people with a general interest in music.
Uppsala Reggae Festival is a open and warm festival with an audience from all ages.
In connection with Uppsala Reggae Festival 2001 Uppsala was given the epithet ”The Reggae Mecca of Scandinavia” by the Swedish National TV, on the grounds that the festival then was the only real reggae festival in the whole of Scandinavia
The third Uppsala Reggae Festival was awarded that years cultural-award by Swedish National Radio Broadcasting and the fourth edition of Uppsala Reggae Festival presented the largest reggae-lineup ever to play in the whole of Scandinavia.
This year is the 8th edition of Uppsala Reggae Festival and it is time to once again prove that this is the Reggae Festival to recon with in northern Europe.
Uppsala has got a proud tradition in the world of reggae, and has hosted, in the latest 25 years
international artists like Burning Spear (2 x), Israel Vibration, Culture (5 x), Third World, Black Uhuru, Michael Rose (2 x), I Jah Man (2 x), Gladiators, Sly & Robbie, Tony Rebel, Iqulah (2 x), Gregory Isaacs, Itals, Linton Kwesi ”LKJ” Johnson, Frankie Paul, Kymani Marley, Luciano, Junior Kelly, Everton Blender, Prezident Brown, Beenie Man, Antony B (2 x), Yami Bolo, Morgan Heritage, LMS, U Brown, Yellowman (2 x) Macka B, Eek-A-Mouse (3 x), Red Rat, Mr Vegas (2 x) Big Youth, Tippa Irie, Misty In Roots, Barrington Levy, David Rodigan, Starkey Banton, Max Romeo, Gentleman, Blood & Fire, U-Brown, Kingston Airforce, Chukki Starr, Daweh Congo, Lady G, Bushman, Ini Kamoze, Kulcha Knox, Natural Black, Anthony Cruz, Chuck Fenda, Richie Spice, Mighty Diamonds, Alpha Blondy, King Shiloh Sound System (2 x), Stone Love Sound System, Ranto Boko, African Simba, Bush Chemists och Ras-I to mention a few, but far from everyone.
Besides this international acts Uppsala have also hosted numbers of shows with Swedish reggae highlighhts like Peps Persson, Nazarenens, Kalle Baah, Rootvälta, Svenska Akademin, P. Danielsa & Makreka, Governor Andy, the Cigarres, Ras Udo, Daddy Boastin, Papa Dee, Chilly & Leafy, Desmond Foster, Storsien, Zoro & DJ Clara, Meditative Sounds, Kingston Airforce, Roots Circus, Topaz Sound, Trinity Sound, KBC, King Solomon Sound, Majestic Vibes, Roots Defenders and Natural Way too name some.
Reggae music has evolved over the years with new influences and genres and Uppsala Reggae Festival always put great effort into represent theese styles, but with focus on the rootsreggae style.
The festival was first held in the summer of 2001. The name Uppsala Reggae Festival was actually used once as early as 1995 for a concert with Culture, Beres Bazza, Top Cat, Baby Ninja and Dub Syndicate Band, but 2001 was the first time it was arranged as a real, traditional outdoor festival and therefore 2001 is counted for as the birthyear of the festival.
It all started as a one-day festival on the open-air swimming center of Fyrishov in central Uppsala and the main acts was no other than the legendary band of Black Uhuru feat. Sly & Robbie and Culture.
The Festival received an enormous response this fist year and when the festival changed date from July to August the audience increased with approximately 70%.
That year the festival was arranged at Fyrishov as well and amongst the artists it is worth mentioning Luciano, Junior Kelly and Red Rat.
The event as a whole was tremendously appreciated by reggae-lovers all over the country and not least by the artists!
With the growing interest of the festival it was decided to add an extra day to the festival to create two days filled with rhythm and irie-feeling.
The Fyrishov area seemed too small so for 2003 the festival changed location to Ekeby Qvarn a couple of miles outside Uppsala.
A two-day festival was arranged in an area of great natural beauty with several fair booths, food-tents, pub-area, camping-area and approximately 30 acts from the four corners of the earth.
The festival of 2003 introduced reggae-phenomenon Gentleman for the Swedish audience. The big dancehall-star of Barrington Levy entered the stage, as well as legendary Max Romeo and the classical rootsreggae band of Misty In Roots returned to Sweden for the first time in over 20 years.
Theese two magical summernights resulted in an award from Swedish National Radio Broadcasting.
Once again it was time to place the festival within central Uppsala. With the help of Uppsala local government (who after 2003’s widespread success has decided to back the festival) a new location was found. The festival of 2004 was arranged in the natural area between Studenternas IP and Kungsängsbron close to the center of the town. The audience increased even further and thanks to the festival this area is now an official area for musical events in Uppsala.
This is also the area for the fortcoming 8th year celeberation of Uppsala Reggae Festival this summer.
2004 offered mores stages, food-tents, fair booths and three different camping-areas with themes directly from Jamaica (Red Hill, Trenchown and Montego Bay).
The festival could proudly present the largest reggae-lineup ever to set foot in Scandinavia. Amongst the artists there where no others than Iqulah, Bushman, Mighty Diamonds and Alpha Blondy to name a few of the 40 acts thats performed over the days.
Not to forget is that the festival this years introduced (among others) both Chuck Fenda and Richie Spice for the Scandinavian audience.
2004 also treated the crowd with a swedish masters cup in Soundclash. A returning theme.
The 5th celebration of URF in 2005 presented a great lineup. The festival pre-started already on thursday night and continued to play reggae almost nonstop for the remaining time of the weekend.
The headlining acts for friday and saturday (Anthony B and Capleton) gathered an enormous auidence. We had Gladiators among our acts, who made their last tour with legendary leader Albert Griffiths. Cocoa Tea mad his only european performance at the festival and due to public demand Gentleman made his second appearance.
The Xterminator label presented a massive showcase including acts as Jah Mason and Turbulence. The female rights were represented be the great Tanya Stephens. The festival presented Lutan Fyah and Chezidek for the Scandinavian audience and much much more. This was surely a celebration to remember.
In 2006 the festival grew to a 3-day happening with great performances of acts such as Sizzla, Don Carlos, Groundation and Israel Vibration amongst others. A great work was show by legendary Congos when they devcied to perform twice. Niceness!
In 2007 reggaelegend Bunny Wailer made an outstanding performance. Amongt the other headliners the festival presented a return to the festival of both Anthony B and Capleton, and Soldiers Of Jah Army made an impact at their first performance in northern Europe.
Uppsala Reggae Festival is a festival where people of all ages and of all nationalities comes together in one love under the reggae banner.
Our greatest asset in the work with Uppsala Reggae Festival is an amazing audience who has supported us through the years, and we wish to thank you for the seven years that´s been and hope we all see each other again at the festival.
Bless y´all and respect!,
URF Crew.
===========================================
===========================================
Some of the artists who have perfomed at Uppsala Reggae Festival over the years are:
1995
Culture, Beres Bassa, Baby Ninja,Dub Mystic Band, Rydim Killers
(one-day indoors festival)
2001
Culture, Black Uhuru, Sly and Robbie, Kalle Baah, Natural Way, Meditative Sounds
(one-day "outdoor" festival)
2002
Luciano, Junior Kelly, Red Rat,Chilly & Leafy, Natural Way, Meditative Sounds, First Class Crew ....
(one-day festival)
2003
Misty in Roots, Max Romeo, Gentleman, Barrington Levy, David Rodigan,Pepes persson, Trinity Sound, Desmond Foster, Gusto, Ital Skurk, Kingsfarm Guerilla, Svenska Akademien,Sky Juice Sound, Internal Dread & Reggaeterians,Natural Way,Crossfire + Tribulation Sounds,Exodus Sound feat Shagga & Junior dan,Meditative Sounds,King Solomon Sound, Tristes Tigres,Ranto Boko,MJM Propaganda, Rootvälta,LionDub,Posse 59 + Ayshe + Mellofant & G Ruff,Roots Circus, Ambassador feat Corcodile Crew, Topaz Sound ...
(two-day festival)
2004
Alpha Blondy, Mighty Diamonds, Bushman,Richie Spice, Chuck Fenda, Daweh Congo, Natural Black, Anthony Cruz, Lady G, Chukki Starr, Iqulah, Ini Kamoze, Stone Love, King Shiloh, King Tubbys, Grass Roots Band, Promeo, Svenska Akademien, Papa Dee, Blood & Fire Sound, U Brown, Moder Jords Massiva, Jaqee, Dubwise, Sheya Mission, Josehp Beckford, Scientific Feet, Kingston Airforce, Livelihood, Meditative SOund, Alerta, Kenny Knots, Topaz SPund, Bumbastik, Soul Captain Band, Komposti Crew, Simba Ngoma, KBC feat Michael Night, Million Vibes & Famous, Laleh, Kung Henry & DJ Lo Kut, Kung Kodum, King Fari Band, P Danielsa & Makreka, Iskariots, Format & Storsien ...
(two-day festival)
2005
Capleton, Prophecy Band, Anthony B, The Gladiators, Steel Pulse, Cocoa Tea, Gentleman & Far East Band, Tanya Stpehens, Julian Marley & Uprising Band, Turbulence, Lutan Fyah, Jah Mason, Chezidek, Jah Thunda, Gumption Band, Uppsala Allstars, Ingel Chanta, Kultiration, Roots Circus, Dag Vag, Nazarenes, Kung Kodum, Bröder Glöder, Jah Youth Sounds, Dubadown, Gumption Band, Silly Walks Movement, Roots Disciples, Alladin & Donny Dread, K-oss, African Child, Fi Rela Reggae Allstars, Soundclash SM, Meditative Sounds, Labyrint Collective, Fusion Sound System, Dj LArge, Dj Will Rock, Organism 12, Afasi, Filthy ...
(two and a half -day festival)
2006
Sizzla, Congos, Israel Vibration, Morgan Heritage,Fantan Mojah, Culture,Don Carlos, Groundation, Desmond Dekker tribute featuring The Aces & Ambelique & Delroy Williams & more, Seeed, Sister Carol, Jah Mali, Mr Perfect, Lukie D, Tasja & Chin, Internal Dread & The Reggaeterians, Kalle Baah, Governor Andy, Svenska Akademien,Trojan Sound System featuring Top Cat, Super Four & Chuckie Banton, Germaican Roadshow featuring Pionear & Ill Inspecta, Iration Steppas, One Love Hi Pawa, Meditative Sounds featuring Ras Peter, Bredda Daniel & ECU, Sound Killa, Urban Tribe, Junior Erik, Livelihood, Kapten Röd, Roots Disciples, Mekka, Classique Sound, Ital Skurk, Roots Alliance, Afro Kören, Äkta Bra Sound featuring Format, DJ Mat, Storsien & Abdi Shakur, AQueen Showcase featuring Ayesha, Sona, Lady V & LindaP, Äkta Kärlek, Topaz Sound, Dawn Penn, The Return Of Radio Västindien featuring Thomas Gylling, Kashu Man, Sound Killa Crew och RubADub Sunday Crew - Copenhagen med flera
(Three days festival)
2007
Bunny Wailer & The Solomonic Reggaestra, Buju Banton, Anthony B, Beenie Man, Capleton & The Prophecy Band, Gentleman & The Far East Band, Richie Spice, Natural Black, Lutan Fyah, Gyptian, Yellowman & The Saggitarius Band, Earl Sixteen, Prestige, Admiral Bailey & Bush Fire Sound, Iqulah & The Gideon Nyahbinghi Force, LUST (Lukie D, Thrilla U, Singing Melody & Tony Curtis), Midnite, Soldiers Of Jah Army, King Shiloh, Iration Steppas, Etana, Nazarenes, Million Stylez, Kultiration, Kapten Röd & Majorerna, Junior Natural Little Bim & Leiutenant Bam, USCB Allstars, Roots Harmonics, Natasja & Chin, P-Danjelsa, Lancy Rankin, Bamma B, Daniel Asher & Jah Covenant Band, Meditative Sounds feat. Ras Peter, Sud Sound System, Gumption Band, Oskar Franzén, Slag Från Hjärtat, Kollektiv Kanalisering (Feat. Abdishakur, Dele, DJ Mat, ECU, Format, Gibril Jobe, Kung Henry, Rami, Slummer & Storsien), Soundkilla Family, Roots Circus, Soundclash SM.
(Three days festival)
2008
Alborosie, Beenie Man, Burning Spear, Burro Banton, Cali P & Roots Harmonics, Chezidek, Chords, Daddy Rings, Dean Fraser, Derrick Morgan, Diego Jah & Rebel Youth Band, Driz & The Alarms, Dub Tribulation Sound System, Duane Stephenson, Dubtonics feat Kamau, Glesbygd´n, Groundation, Irie Love, Jah Shaka, Junior Natural, Junior Reid, King Fari Band, Lee Perry & Adrian Sherwood, Luciano & Jah Messenger Band, Lymie Murray, Massive B, Morgan Heritage, Natty King, One Love Hi Pawa, Papa Dee, Queen Ifrika, Ranking Joe, Richie Spice, Roots Defenders, Sean Paul, Tarrus & Jimmy Riley, Twinkle Brothers, and more
(Three days festival)
2009
Alpha Blondy, Third World, Kymani Marley, Inna Yard Allstars feat. Chinna Smith, Cedric"Congo" Myton, Linval Thompson, Kiddus I, Deraja & Matthew Macanuff, The Heptones, TOK, Busy Signal, Junior Kelly, Lutan Fyah, Don Carlos, Etana, Collie Buddz & The New Kingston Band, Roots Underground, King Jammys Super Power, David Rodigan, Ziggi & The Rennaissance Band, Nazarenes, Svenska Akademien, Kultiration, Internal Dread & His Friends?, Syster Sol, Jaqee, Rootvälta, Governor Andy, Roots Circus, Format & Storsien, Soundkilla Crew, Meditative Sounds, Hoffmaestro & Chraa, Safari Sound, Komposti Sound, Hailee Araya, Bring Down The Beat, Zumba, and more.
(Three days festival)
