International reggae festival Goa Sunsplash will be
held in Anjuna and will have international and Indian acts
headlining the Caribbean themed music festival. The 2017
edition will be held over two days and will see artistes and
festival goers from all around the globe.
Zorawar Shukla, co-founder of New Delhi based
group Reggae Rajahs and also a co-founder of Goa
Sunsplash, says, “Reggae as a genre encompasses many
different sounds and this year’s lineup features dub, roots
reggae, dancehall, ska and even a little bit of electronic
bass music.”
The second edition of Goa Sunsplash sees the return
of the hand crafted 10,000 Lions Sound System that
powered the festival last year. “This year, we have four live
bands and deejays and producers at the festival. Last year,
it was a one day event and the success made us think
about extending it to two days this time,” says Zorawar.
Goa Sunsplash will have three different music areas, live
art spaces, food stands and also stalls selling arts and
crafts.
“Reggae is still small in India but it is growing and
there are around 15-20 people who are really pushing
the genre in India. The reggae movement started around
eight years ago in India and there are many bands which
have gained popularity over the years. Reggae has been
listened to in India and had heavy influence on its music,
right from Apache Indian who had reggae style in his
music, to the newer bands which have been formed.
This festival took shape as a collection of like-minded
individuals got together for the love of reggae,” explains
Zorawar, who is part of a core team of five members.
“This year, apart from Indian reggae stalwarts like Reggae
Rajahs and Delhi Sultanate, we are proud to showcase
some of India’s youngest reggae talent like Dew Drops
from Shillong, Kavin from Chennai, Riddim Funktion from
Pune and Syncroshakti from Bangalore,” he says.
As the sounds travelled from Jamaica to India,
the organisers already had Goa on their mind. “When
deciding about the venue for the festival, it was our dream
to bring it to Goa as it was the best fit for the genre of
the music. The festival receives people from across the
country right from Shillong and Himachal Pradesh to
Hyderabad and Kolkata,” says Zorawar.
The festival will include artists Zion Train, Brother
Culture, Cali P, Manu Digital, Naaman, Vibronics, Reggae
Rajahs, Delhi Sultanate and Begum X besides many
more performances. Zion Train celebrated 25 years of
existence in 2014, playing all over the globe. Brother
Culture is an MC based in Brixton, London who started
his career as a part of the Twelve Tribes of Israel Rasta
brotherhood, Brother Culture toured in the USA, Jamaica,
Caribbean and Canada throughout the 80s. Cali P bears
an aura of spirituality often identified with those whose
sacred mission it is to take the message of Reggae and
Rastafari to the diverse parts of the earth. His delivery and
passion certainly remind his audience that the lyrical fire
of Rastafari burns brightly within his soul. Manu Digital
played in his first reggae band in 1994 and fancied the
Jamaican culture. Vibronics are a reggae collective,
centred on Steve Vibronics and Richi Rootz. Naâman,
with his groovy, melodic flow and invigorating voice,
draws inspiration from various music styles such as roots
rockers, ragamuffin and hip hop.
Reggae Rajahs are India’s first reggae sound system.
The crew of DJs and MCs are reggae entertainers and
promoters based out of New Delhi. Formed in 2009,
they have dedicated themselves to spreading the sounds
of dub, reggae and dancehall music across India. Delhi
Sultanate has long pioneered the sounds of Dancehall/
Hip Hop and performance poetry in India. In addition to
his solo career, he is the MC and a founding member of
BASSFoundation, New Delhi’s first Dubstep, Drum ‘n’ Bass
and Reggae sound system, as well as lead singer of India’s
first Ska and Rocksteady band The Ska Vengers.
Goa Sunsplash, an international reggae festival, will
be held on January 14 and 15, 2017 at Nyex Beach Club,
North Anjuna
