Reggae/dancehall artistes invade Europe

Europe can expect a Jamaican invasion this summer.

Summerjam, an annual and highly anticipated reggae music festival held in Germany, will showcase myriad Jamaican acts.

Last summer, Rising Stars success Christopher Martin was featured. The Big Deal singer performed for an audience numbering near 30,000 and said: "When you go to a marketplace, let's say you love fine art and you go out and see the art that you really want to buy, that's what Summerjam is. They come for wonderful, sweet reggae music and we have so many different types of artistes to showcase that at Summerjam; and the organisers always do a wonderful job of bringing irie vibes to Germany."

This Summerjam line-up will feature the likes of the 'Unruly Boss' Popcaan, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley and American rapper Nas.

Also slated to perform are veteran reggae bands the Skatalites and Toots and the Maytals, as well as reggae revivalists Kabaka Pyramid and the Bebble Rockers, Jah 9 and Dub Treatment, and up-and-comer, Runkus.

Besides Summerjam, Jamaican acts have committed to a number of British tours during summer 2017.

SOLD OUT

In May, Chronixx and Zinc Fence Redemption band, who sold out the courtyard of the historic Somerset House in 2015, will play six dates, including Leeds, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham.

Protoje and The Indiggnation band have eight shows the same month, while in June, Kabaka Pyramid and his Bebble Rockers will also take on performances in four cities.

Grammy nominated Raging Fyah will also be touring, accompanying the accomplished UB40 for 10 dates in June, in cities across England, Scotland and Wales.