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Summerjam 2025 - Festival Report

07/04/2025 by Gardy Stein

"Full Of Energy" is the motto of this year’s 38th Summerjam edition, and if the weather is any indication at all, we are up for a fine weekend to recharge our festival batteries. The city of Cologne welcomes the visitors with blue skies and sunshine, and excitement hovers all around the Fühlinger See, where music will rule til Sunday night. 

Make sure you bookmark this page, as you will not only find our festival report here, but also the visual impressions that our diligent photographers collect for you. Let the games start!

WATCH HERE: SUMMERJAM 2025 VIDEOS

THURSDAY - JULY 3, 2025 @ VIBEZ VILLAGE
As always, the good vibes start with an opening party at Vibez Village, a stage constructed at parking lot 2, surrounded by food-, drink- and clothes-stalls. With a new camping concept in place (only festival ticket holders have camping access), the size of the available camping space has diminished slightly, and those who are already here have clearly managed to set everything upand are ready to enjoy.

Queen Tafari and Top Gyal are the first to play before "Mr. Summerjam" Andrew Murphy, backed by Boneshaker Sound, makes his appearance. He takes it mellow, singing songs like Imagine and Three Little Birds, a perfect fit for the sunset mood. Before leaving stage, he invites us all "if you are not too mash up" to join him at Stage Red on Sunday, 2:10pm, where he will perform again. 

After him, Lolo Sace takes over for an hour, followed by DJ Louis, Junior Lion, Yaneena and Romana, who invite us on a ride through various styles. The undisputed energy-packed highlight of this first night, however, is the anniversary-party of local heroes Pow Pow Movement, who celebrate 30 years of soundsystem culture tonight. The place is full by now, people looking their best, enjoying the mild summer temperatures, falling into each other's arms and, most of all, dancing. Not only in front of, but also on stage, where friends and family join Ingo and Backra for the madness.

While watching a lady groove to the beat next to us, smiling radiantly and singing along now and then, an idea takes shape that has to do with the motto mentioned above. Throughout the weekend we'll ask you, dear visitors, what gives you energy and quote you right here. The lady's answer? "Sunshine, music, and this spliff!" 

FRIDAY - JULY 4, 2025
Charged and ready, we ride into day one of the big bad Summerjam Festival. The morning was sunny and warm, but compared to the incredible 40+° of last Wednesday, this is really enjoyable. At the splendidly decorated press area, Team Reggaeville is reunited, and I'll take a moment to introduce the team: Munchy and Celine are in charge of interviews and reels, Rune, Marox and Björn take care of the visuals, me (Gardy) does the writing and CEO Julian brings it all together in the backend. As last year, our honorary member Meta Dia is part of the crew again (responsible for good vibes and laughter), and, last but not least, Linda and Jasper have the important task to share out the brandnew issue of our Reggaeville Festiville Magazine. Grab a physical copy as long as they are available!

3:25pm, BARRACCA REPUBLIC @ GREEN STAGE
Barracca Republic is in full swing, enjoying the honour of  opening Stage Green to the max. The young band from Palinuro, Italy, won this year's Summerjam band contest and, from what we hear, rightfully so. Sound engineer Silvio Parente skilfully mixes Luca Masotti on drums, Pietro Lorenzotti on bass, Angelo Trotta on keys, another Angelo D'Adamo on guitar, Walter Di Bello on  sax, percussion and vocals as well as lead singer/ guitarist Eduardo Napolitano, who play a lively slot in the bright sunshine, and a little crowd has already assembled to dance along to their infectious beat. When they finish, moderators Ganjaman and Nay welcome the visitors and pass on some info concerning the festival grounds, inviting everyone to donate their cups to Viva Con Agua or to buy a lottery ticket to support the Help Jamaica Foundation. Every ticket wins, and they are limited to a 1,000, so you better hurry to get one!

4:17pm, MIWATA @ RED STAGE
"Hands in the air! When we come together like this, remember to wish your fellow human beings everything you wish for yourself." Over at Stage Red, German singer Miwata is in the middle of his performance, and next to some of his older stuff he also presents new songs together with DJ Fleggo and guest Umali. A goosebump moment is the emotive delivery of his song Nie Mehr Wieder Weg ('Never leave again') - one of my all-time favorites!

4:53pm, EESAH @ GREEN STAGE
Over here, the crowd has considerably increased, rocking to the voice of Jamaican artist Eesah. At least part of his backing band are from the House Of Riddim crew, and they provide a fine groove to which the singer presents songs of praise to Haile Selassie and the holy herb, and while he was a bit off key in the beginning, he finishes his set with a flourish.
During the break, we take a stroll along the colorful stalls that line the island, offering clothes and festival accessoires asa well as mouth-watering foods and drinks. The prices have risen again, compared to last year, and some dishes cost as much as a full meal in a restaurant, but there are long rows in front of them, anyway, cause people haffi eat.

5:30pm, MOOP MAMA & ÄLICE @ RED STAGE
"If you love wind instruments, you have to love this band!" With these words, Andrew Murphy announces the next act Moop Mama, who have played here before, but this time teamed up with Hamburg-based rapper Älice. They are a perfect fit indeed, dressed in matching pink and red outfits, and the ten musicians on stage "machen Laune", as we say in German - they are fun to watch and listen. "It's my first time here, and I love to see your beautiful faces!" Älice tells us before jumping into yet another song (called Alles Aufm Weg or Typische Verhältnisse), accompanied by a driving dancehall bass and 6-fold brass. Pure energy!

6:14pm, THIRD WORLD @ GREEN STAGE
The well-known melody of Now That We Found Love hovers over the field, with clouds of dust raised by many shuffling feet. Veterans Third World are in top form, with AJ Brown on the mic and Stephen "Cat" Coore sitting on the left side of the stage. Bassie Richard Daley had to be replaced because of health issues, but Rupert Bent and Norris "Noreiga" Webb (keyboards) as well as Tony "Ruption" Williams (drums) assure the typical Third World vibe. Announced as special guest, Kumar delivers a sweet cover version of Barrington Levy's My Time. "Come see him tomorrow!" Cat says before the band dive into an extended version of Dubb Music. While most people enjoy the vibe, some struggle: despite the late hour, the heat is still intense, and a woman in the front row of the packed crowd collapses. She is swiftly lifted up my security and friends, and within seconds, two paramedics are on the spot with a stretcher to take care of her. Big up to everyone working behind the scenes to make sure the festival runs smoothly and is safe for everyone!

7:02pm, BLAIZ FAYAH @ RED STAGE
Speaking of inclusion and safety: Team Summerjam has improved the accessability for visitors with restricted mobility, erecting ramps at both stages so that wheelchair users can have a good view (still, the festival grounds are a challenge to navigate, so make sure you help those concerned). With Blaiz aFyah rocking Stage Red right now, this is a good option, as the place is packed. The Shatta ambassador rules stage and crowd, incorporating live instruments (drum and guitar) as well as a DJ and an MC in his performance. And two dancers! They definitely add to the heat, at one point even swirling real flames around. Mad Ting! "We gonna do something different now", the young artist then says, "are you ready for carnival?" Well, we are, and after the ensuing jumping frenzy, he presents the Kybba-produced, Konshens-featured Pon Di Ting, to which most people sing along. 

7:54pm, ETANA @ GREEN STAGE
A completely different vibe waits for us on Stage Green. Etana, looking gorgeous in a tight red dress with matching lipstick as well as golden earrings and highheels, sings a tender love song before tightening the tempo considerably with a ska medley. Simmer Down, Monkey Man and Wings Of A Dove (and, after that, Dawn Penn's No No No as well as Bob Marley's Is This Love) pay homage to Jamaica's musical past, but of course she also performs her own songs. The last one is I'm Not Afraid, one of her empowering anthems. Thank you, Etana!

9:02pm, FEEL GOOD AREA  
The seaside stage next to the Riddim Tent has expanded considerably, both in spatial and technical terms. It is prettily decorated, too, creating a welcoming atmosphere, especially with the water springs on the lake in the background. Today, ten soundsystem play back to back, and right now Romero is on the controls. He provides the soundtrack to the Riddim meet & greet "next door" that Ellen & Pete and their team have organized again, making many fans happy. Miwata and Eesah were there earlier, and at the moment Blaiz Fayah is taking pics with those who came to see him, followed by Kybba and Tribal Kush.

9:42pm, MR. VEGAS @ GREEN STAGE
From the Feel Good Area it's not far to the Green Stage, so that's where we are heading next. Mr. Vegas has started his set with Marley's Don't Worry and his own Sweet Jamaica, and the golden rays of the setting sun provide a fitting atmosphere. Flags are up, the place is packed, and the Joyride Medley that his backing band starts now makes the crowd move. They sing along too, especially to his anthem I Am Blessed, which expresses perfectly well the feeling of gratitude of being alive and being right here, right now. Thank you, Jah! Worth mentioning is also the performance of the four dancers during his set, all of whom are dressed in black, yellow and green to match the artist's own outfit. Jamaica, Jamaica!

10:39pm, IVAN's JAMAICAN COOKING
Diner, finally! Waiting in the long line in front of Ivan's food stall, we can't help but overhear the Berlin-based HipHop-formation K.I.Z. which followed singer Paula Hartmann on Stage Red. Their German lyrics are raw at times, provocative and brutally critical of social and political conditions in their country - interesting, but nothing for the current mood. We thus grab our rice & peas dishes and make our way back to the Reggaeville workstation before moving on to...

11:13pm, ALBOROSIE & SHENGEN CLAN @ GREEN STAGE  
"Are you tired? Do you wanna go home? You are young and full of energy, so let's celebrate! Today is my birthday, you know..." Happy Birthday, Pupa Albo! The Italian-born, Jamaica-based singer celebrates 48 years on earth today, and of course he receives blessings in abundance, both from the audience and the festival organizers. After he delivered hits like Kingston Town and Ring The Alarm, they roll in a cake that looks delicious, and he vows to share it with the audience (did any of you get a piece, though?). A special surprise is the guest appearance of Etana, still in her gorgeous red dress, and together they sing Blessing. The show ends with loud  requests of an encore, and the whole band comes out again, delivering Redemption Song, Herbalist and a mad Dancehall medley during which the background singers each grab the mic and join in the fun. The dancer that has accompanied Albo's show jumps into the crowd, heating up things further, and to loud applause, the birthday boy leaves the stage. WATCH HERE: ALBOROSIE INTERVIEW

1:38am, DANCEHALL AREA
Kybba pon di ting! The young producer and DJ from Amsterdam has left a mark on the musical world with his basshall productions, some of which he now presents. Blaiz Fayah, who has worked with him extensively, grabs the mic and talks to the crowd, and those who might have missed his show earlier get a taste of his performance skills. With Kalibwoy, Tribal Kush and Limitlezz, the party vibes continue well into the wee morning hours, and different dancing crews turn the stage into a boiling pot. Pandemonium!

Asked for what gives you energy, most people today said music (big up Greta, Rebecca and Franka!), but some mentioned other factors, too:
"Peace, fun and relaxation. That gives me energy!" (anonymous)
"Love, friends and family. And satisfaction in your job!" (anonymous) 
"Dancing! And my friends." (Chris)
"Rest, sleep, music. And French Fries!" (group of friends)
"The espresso that Björn did in the press area. And the people!" (Jasper)
"The people who dance and smile the whole time and spread good vibes give me energy. And also the good music all around, and the good weather." (Linda)

And with these statements, we say good night for today. As the screen behind us says, "Thank you, see you tomorrow!" 

SATURDAY - JULY 5, 2025
Day 2 starts with bright sunshine again, promising another warm festival day. Since the night was short, energy levels are a bit low, but the first performance on Stage Green is well attended neverthelss. The local men's choir called Grüngürtelrosen is a fun way to start the day with: they perform songs everybody can sing along to such as the Pokémon theme song or Abba's Gimme Gimme Gimme. Another location to start the day is the Beach Splash Party with ZJ Chrome and Jugglerz at the Blackfoot Beach on the other side of the sea, and friends who were tell me it was a vibe. Laughter and movement already abound - what else will this day bring? 

3:25pm, KUMAR & THIRD WORLD @ RED STAGE
"Daddy, move, I don't see!" A little girl of about 5 years complains when her father blocks her view of the Red Stage, where Kumar started his set "with the mighty members of Third World", as Andrew Murphy announced. Next to performing Raging Fyah classics like Irie Vibe, Running, Far Away and, a personal favorite, Judgement Day, he also presents some of his new works such as World Wide Love, Never Give Up or the cover of Message In A Bottle. Just like Third World featured Kumar as special guest yesterday, he now invites Cat Coore to the stage, telling us that this is his teacher, just as the late Ibo Cooper (founding member of Third World) was at the renowned Edna Manley College in Kingston. He then sings Stick With You, sending out a shout-out to producer "DJ Densen, anywhere you deh!"

Looking around, I have to smirk at a group of people struggling with their inflatable seats, trying to catch air to make themselves comfortable. Behind them in the FOH I spot Debo Ras on the controls, and after the show we exchange a hug and a chat. He tells me that he will be sound engineer for Inner Circle and Shenseea, too, so these shows will be ear candy fi real!

4:04pm, ST DA GAMBIAN DREAM @ GREEN STAGE
On my way to the Green Stage I run into my colleague Munchy who has tears in her eyes. Concerned I asked what happened, and she says it's tears of emotion and I should go into the photo pit to find out the cause. Lo and behold, there is a solid crowd of SeneGambian people there, smiling, screaming at the top of their lungs and stretching their hands in greeting to the man on stage: Brikama Boya aka ST Da Gambian Dream! The pride and happiness the audience feels is almost tangible; as his name implies, the artist comes from Gambia and is a big star there, and he is received with enthusiam by the diaspora present here, too. He has a band of seven with him: two dancers, drums, two keyboards, guitar, bass, percussion and djembe. The latter two (Musa Filly Jobarteh and another talented brother whose name I still have to find out) also act as MCs, and after a song they performed together, ST says: "We have to do this as one family, one tribe, one people. Make some noise!" Much of the other interaction with the crowd is in Wolof, the language predominantly spoken in Gambia (next to Mandinka), and the reaction of those who speak this language is thundering. They roar another round of applaus when a singer called Benjahmin makes a guest appearance, Gambian flag in hand. Djeredjef, Team ST!

4:50pm, JAH9 @ RED STAGE
Inna Di Yard! More than any other song, this one is an anthem of the young reggae movement in Jamaica (sometimes called, not without controversy, reggae revival). Jah9 has been absent from stages for a few years, so it is a welcome blessing to hear her voice again. The band led by guitarist and producer Omar Johnson aka Jallanzo plays extended dubs during New Day and Humble Me, and the singer's conscious lyrics are brain food for those with a mind to listen. "A spiritual woman is the greatest threat to the status quo." With Avocado, Jah9 speaks to the sensual side of women, then expressing her respect to the good men out there with Brothers (telling us that "some men out there are hurt so bad, we have to be open to heal each other!") before introducing a new track and saying goodbye. WATCH HERE: JAH9 INTERVIEW

5:19pm, LANAE @ GREEN STAGE
A different kind of feminity is celebrated over here, with young singer Lanae outta Jamaica performing in a sizzling hot outfit. She's not alone in this, as three dancers (Lillah, Tahmimss and Lady Lis) add their considerable charms to the show, explicit movements and all. And here's a message to all those who will comment "This is not reggae!" under the reels posted about this act: you're right, this isn't. This is Dancehall! 

Just moments after this energetic show, Munchy asks me to assist her in filming an interview with Lanae, so we collect the equipment and meet the artist in her backstage for a chat about upcoming releases and more. Since we proceed to interview Jah9 right after that, we miss both Inner Circle, who are currently playing on Stage Red, and Meta Dia's impromptu performance to substitute Junior Kelly, who didn't catch his flight. Since we are close to Stage Green, however, we at least hear Meta sing, backed by the Third World band, and it is a joy to listen to Jah9's deeply personal reasoning.

7:08pm, SOUNDCLASH @ FEEL GOOD STAGE
Promoted as Anything Can Happen Clash, three soundsystems have drawn a considerable crowd at the Feel Good Stage: Warrior Sound from Germany, Heavy Hammer from Italy and Code Red from Jamaica clash against each other, playing round after round of dubplates and tunes. Shotta Paul (Jugglerz) moderates the happening, and the usual banter and bickering between the DJs adds an element of entertainment to their encounter. Fast forward to half an hour later, the crowd is asked for their votes on the three contestants, and although one was a clear favorite, no winner was announced. Unity in the community!

8:02pm, TEEJAY @ RED STAGE
The sun is not scorching anymore, but there's still a lot of dust in the air, making a short rain shower desirable. I meet up with a group of friends from Hamburg and Berlin (big up Frank, Tim, Henry, Aline, Stumble and LoR1zon any time!) in front of Stage Red, where Timoy Janeyo Jones aka Teejay is now performing. The artist from Montego Bay has a solid catalogue, presenting both original tracks like Drift or Hundred Million Dollar and some covers. He brings a band as well as 2 female and 4 male dancers on stage, adding to the strong impression that this visual aspect of Dancehall culture has finally arrived at booking agents' desks.

8:47pm, GREEEN @ GREEN STAGE
Like last year, the field in front of Stage Green is packed when this man performs: Pasquale Denefleh aka GReeeN has a lot of fans, especially young ones, and they are here to show their support, holding up signs or sporting a sunflower outfit like those three girls in the first row. They are thus matching the decoration on stage, where Paul Krackowitzer on drums, Anna Thienes on guitar, Melanie Demissie on backing vocals and DJ Chris "Qris" Böttcher add to the visual and, more importantly, the sonic niceness. GReeeN now asks the audience to form a circle and jump in unison during his dubstep-infused THC, and thousands of hands are up during his final Stoned Durch Den Wald. 

9:30pm, SHENSEEA @ RED STAGE
Starting with Buju's Our Father In Zion, DJ Fiyahskull is building up momentum to one of the highlights of this year's Summerjam edition: Shenseea! After playing, in quick succession, songs like Love Jamaica, Welcome To Jamrock and I'm Still In Love, the guitarist takes over, playing a solo to which bass and drums join in. And here she is: beautiful and talented Chinsea Linda Lee aka Shenyeng enters stage with style and grace and vocals to massive cheers from the crowd. She keeps up a lively interaction with her fans, asking some ladies in the first row where they are from: Germany, Jamaica, Croatia, Guadeloupe and Gambia are the answers. She then invites them on stage for a lil dancing contest, and DAMN do they deliver! WATCH HERE: SHENSEEA INTERVIEW

Since the place is packed almost to maximum capacity, I chose the camera team's tent backstage to watch Shenseea's show in the live stream, and I happen to sit next to Denis, dispatcher of Interpool.tv and one of the main coordinators of the camera teams. He explains that there are at least 30 people on the ground for filming and cable issues, making sure the gigs are captured from every possible angle, plus those sitting in the two production containers of WDR Rockpalast, ZDF and arte concert who are responsible for the live streams. With all the sexy bubbling happening on stage right now, they joke that their colleague Philip, currently responsible for the hand cam used for close-ups, must have the time of his life.

"When you work hard and pray, no one can stop you from achieving your goals!" Shenseea now says before delivering the final part of her show with songs like Hit & Run and Lighter. Boom! 

11:34pm, VYBZ KARTEL @ RED STAGE
Another, if not THE lighthouse event of this festival is the return of the Worl Boss aka Vybz Kartel. It's his first show on European soil in two decades, so expectations are high and the place is even more packed than before. ZJ Chrome plays a warm-up selection (although the place is still hot from Shenseea's show), and then MC Nuffy announces the man all have been waiting for. The place explodes when Kartel enters the stage, dressed in a black-and-white Adidas training suit (he'll later tell us that he loves Germany and that he is wearing a German football jersey underneath). What follows is a crazy ride through roundabout 50 of his hits, and while neither sound quality nor vocal delivery were convincing, the sheer enthusiasm of his fans makes the performance a memorable one. Imagine 15,000 people (or even more) singing along to your songs, word for word!

Further highlights are the guest appearances of Ishawna and Bonez MC as well as the fact that Kartel addresses his audience throughout the show, sharing insights about the hard times in prison as well as his satisfaction of being here. 

00:27am, IRIE RÉVOLTÉS @ GREEN STAGE
From the amount of people over at Stage Red I'd expect Stage Green to be kinda empty, but it's far from that. The crowd is impressive, and right now a rubber boat is making its journey over that sea of people, collecting deposit beakers for a good cause. The NGO Viva Con Agua provides clean drinking water for thousands of people in the global south by digging wells, especially in rural areas, and thus every Cent counts. Representative Jan tells me later that the total of donations from the Summerjam massive was € 2,000 - thank you, good people! 

Irie Révoltés, the band performing over here, separated in 2017 and are now back to celebrate their reunification, full of energy. They are brothers Pablo and Carlito Charlemoine as well as Silence (Andreas Spreier) on vocals, idoT (Tobias von Kitzing) on guitar, Ziggi on bass, King Kong on drums, Chriggi (Christian Comba) on keys, Toby! (Tobias Bär) on sax and Mickez (Michael Comba) on trumpet. Their show is a stark contrast to the Kartel hype over at Stage Red, both in sound (well-balanced here, plus live instruments) and content (sociopolitical criticism instead of slackness). "Antifascist forever! Nazis, fuck off!" is the message of the song currently played, and thousands of hands are raised in agreement. Even after the song finishes, the audience keeps chanting "Alerta, alerta antifascista!", and that's the spirit we urgently need. "20 years ago was the first time we've performed here," singer Mal Élevé now says, "and we are happy to be back again. Thank you for your incredible energy - we'll never forget this moment!" 

With a song called Travailler ('work') they close their set, telling us, in parting "We'll see at the Dancehall tent!" Jugglerz and Code Red will be running things there tonight, promising another unique Summerjam experience. Speaking of promises: we said we'll collect your quotes on what gives you energy, so here are today's picks:
"Family and music." (Sarah)
"The sunshine." (Anne) 
"The food!" (Security)
"Evenings like this!" (anonymous)
"The nice weather at the moment, and being with my family." (anonymous)

SUNDAY - JULY 6, 2025
Vybz Kartel's performance is the talk of the island this morning. People comment on his outfit, his stage show, his vocal delivery or the overdriven sound that made people leave because it was unbearably loud in the first rows. Still, the consensus finding is that they were happy to be part of the performance of this leading Dancehall figure, especially since there was no live stream during his show. Temperatures have fallen a bit and it rains from morning, which is not the perfect festival weather, but at least the annoying dust has now settled, and the air is fresh and clean.

1:24pm, DANCEHALL WORKSHOP @ VIBEZ VILLAGE
Who is this, sporting our Maad Sick Reggaeville T-Shirt on the Vibez Village stage? It's dancer Damion BG in high spirits, teaching around 50 most female participants some basic Dancehall moves. Despite the rain, the dancers have fun, copying every move of their instructor to musical samples like Christopher Martin's Mama or Kevin Lyttle's She Drives Me Crazy.

2:32pm, ANDREW MURPHY @ RED STAGE
Mr. Summerjam kept his promise and sings for us again, opening Stage Red with his own band of five. He shares some personal stories in between the songs, and tells us that one of his favorite Summerjam shows ever was that of South Africa's reggae legend, the late Lucky Dube. In tribute to him, the band plays a cover version of his song Prisoner. Niceness!

3:01pm, HELP JAMAICA TENT
The Help Jamaica lottery is still running, and the main price, tickets for next year's festival, is still in the box. I hang around a bit to witness the next draw, listening to the last minutes of Omar Jatta's performance on the Green Stage (and the beginning of Albi X, the first ever Congolese artist performing at Summerjam). A group of friends comes along to buy a few lottery tickets, and one of them tells me he was the lucky winner of the festival tickets last year. This time, he wins a Riddim rag, a poster, a CD and rolling papers. Congrats, and thank you for supporting Help Jamaica! 

3:49pm, MORTIMER @ RED STAGE
"I know it's not the ideal weather for a festival, but I enjoy this! Have you been to Jamaica? Do you know the heat there? So for me this is really nice." Mortimer makes sure to spread positivity right from the start of his set, blessing us with his beautiful voice and lyrics in songs like Sister Queen, Fight The Fight or Rock And Come In. Between the pieces, he talks about his journey, how he writes songs and what performances like this one mean to him. Up close and personal! "I greet you in the name of love! It means so much to us that you stand here in the rain, and we take none of you for granted. Thank you, Summerjam, for bringing me out tonight!" His final song is the incredibly touching Lightning, and when those present sing along to the chorus, the beauty of it all brings tears to my eyes. Forever grateful for moments like these!

5:30pm, MORGAN HERITAGE @ RED STAGE
With a little delay, the family band Morgan Heritage start their impressive performance with hits like Don't Haffi Dread, Gully Side and Down By The River. Goosebumps straight! In memory of the late Peetah Morgan who passed away last year, his portrait is shown in the video accompanying their show, and they even play a snippet from an interview with him: "Life is the true meaning of why we're here, so live it! Don't be fooled by illusions." Listen to the words of the wise!

Gramps Morgan then tells us that his son "Jemere keeps the fire burning!", and he delivers his song Keep Blazing with his uncle Mojo, holding each other's hands. Family! They continue with Reggae Bring Back Love ("to the heart of Germany") and a fine medley on the Liberation riddim, to the great delight of the longtime reggae fans present. Sing along again! They are also the first and only act I hear expressing their gratitude to the man behind the scenes of the festival: "Give thanks to Marius and Summerjam productions for us to be here - big up the whole team!" Closing their set with the powerful Light It Up (again with fitting flame visuals) and Jimmy Cliff's Reggae Night and their battle cry "Morgan Heritage to the year 3,000 and beyond!", they leave us energized after a very emotional show. While some opt to check out the more HipHop-flavored runnings at Stage Green, where Kwam.E, Afrob (featuring Samy Deluxe) and Curse were, are and will be playing, respectively, others (including me) hunt for food.

to be continued...

WATCH HERE: SUMMERJAM 2025 VIDEOS