Twinkle Brothers ADD

Best Moments... No Logo Festival 2025

08/14/2025 by Gerry & Kevin McMahon

The 12th edition of the No Logo Festival in picturesque Fraisans, France was a super success - sold out!. Described as the biggest reggae festival in France, hosting the cream of reggae’s crop, it ensured that all tastes – from ska and rocksteady to roots, hip-hop and dancehall - were catered for. 

Starting in 2013 with ~9,000 attendees, No Logo now boasts an audience of 53,000 across 3 days. Considering that it is an entirely independent non-funded festival, it is truly remarkable that it has survived the cutbacks and closures being experienced by many comparators around the globe.

DAY ONE | FRIDAY - AUGUST 8, 2025
The festival came to life in the early evening, when Jah-Lil successfully roused the audience via the Main Stage with some slow and easy sounds. This was a fitting nod to the sun’s strength, as he began with slow emotional tracks like Currency Called Time, in which he turned storyteller and paid a beautiful tribute to his deceased aunt and nephew, both lost in quick succession in 2024. As the sun dipped, he picked up the pace, unleashing a fiery duo, Above Water and Warn Yuh, before closing with End of War, a hard-hitting track produced by French beatmaker Fatbabs, earning a roaring response from the crowd.

Thereafter, the colourfully attired Clinton Fearon appeared with his  upbeat disposition, giving full vent to Vision (from 2006), followed by a selection of classics, including Let Jah Be Praised, Rich Man Poor Man and Chatty Mouth (when he took a turn on percussion). Fearon also added in Sleepwalking and Jah Is Love from his new album of the same name.  

Next up on the Main Stage came the legend that is Burning Spear aka Winston Rodney.  His short set – frequently interspersed with bongo beating, dancing and hand-clapping exhortations to the audience -  included some surprises.

These included Jamaica from his latest album to open the show, followed by Tumble Down from 1991, before Rocking Time served to remind all that this Spear has been burning since 1969. The long-time favourite Pick Up The Pieces followed, with Slavery Days, Nyah Keith, and Call On You featuring before the African Postman left the stage in his shredded jeans and colourful Hawaiian style shirt. With a wonderful musical legacy, his likes will not be seen again.

French favourites Taïro and the (hip hop) Fonky Family then  both brought high quality and high energy inputs as the Main Stage’s penultimate acts, before David Rodigan took us on a characteristically whirlwind tour. This spanned the genre, from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Panhead, to Protoje and Lila Iké. Despite competing with the Mad Professor (ably aided by Aisha) who was performing a heavy bass set at the Dub Factory at the same time, both artists drew large, responsive and appreciative audiences. 

DAY TWO | SATURDAY - AUGUST 9, 2025
The festival’s second day was jam packed with artists like Mellow Mood, Third World and Biga*Ranx on the Main Stage. But it was a day bookended by two very different, but impressive and well received shows from native artists. Firstly, via instrumentalist extraordinaire Youthie and finally via Fatbabs and associates, with their tribute to the dearly departed Naâman. 

Youthie’s set at the Dub Factory spanned 14 delightfully enlivening tracks, that allowed her to give full vent to accomplished use of the trumpet, flute and accordion. But it was her Celtik Mode track that most energised the late afternoon audience, when she wielded her bagpipes back and forth across the stage. This artist’s disarming stage presence, pleasant pace of delivery, alongside instrumental inputs of perfectly pitched pirouettes from an array of instruments, enabled her sounds to span the globe, making this a show of some superiority.  

And all the while Meta and The Cornerstones delivered a solid set on the Main Stage, before Italian twins Jacopo and Lorenzo Garzia of Mellow Mood lit up the mainstage with their characteristic energy and flair. Giving out hits like Home or Abroad, Sound of a War and Rub A Dub Suavecito, they also treated the audience to an exclusive unreleased track recorded with Naâman, that elicited a rapturous response.

This was followed by the immortal Third World (with Cat Coore to the fore), who kicked off with their 96 Degrees in the Shade classic, before treating us to some other golden oldies like Reggae Ambassador and Now That We Found Love. Next up came Biga*Ranx, whose performance reminded everybody as to why his name was top of the bill. Numerous tracks from his recently released album Rainshine can already be said to have ‘classic’ status, whilst fans also sang along heartily to Danse and Villa Aston. Thereafter, Petite Marie (from his 2021 album of the same name) that has just turned diamond - as it surpassed fifty million streams – saw Telly* Del Mundo (the artist’s alias) tease his audience with a pause and rewind effect, before closing the set with the hugely popular My Face, for what was probably the best attended set at the festival.

As the night wore on, the Main Stage continued to witness heartfelt tributes to the immortal Naâman, from both French and non-native artists. Temple Road flags were waving, lighters burning and beautiful songs and stories relayed to honour the Dieppe native. This swell was leading up to the highly anticipated tribute taking place at the festival’s campsite from 2am for full 3 hours!

After homages at SunSka Festival and No Logo BZH Festival, this No Logo was the venue for the final tribute show, at a jam-packed campsite, underneath a bright full moon. Fatbabs was the heart of the tribute, acting as MC, guiding the crowd like a conductor and curating the lineup with seamless special guest introductions, effectively creating a festival within a festival! There were wonderfully warmly received appearances from Jahneration, Marcus Gad, Biga*Ranx, Davojah and Vanzo, all of whom delighted fans with powerful cover versions. Emotions ran high as Naâman’s parents pulled on heartstring-style flying flags (on stage), whilst his wife wowed the assembly with her vocals and heartfelt message for the spellbound fans. At the show’s close the adoring crowd chanted loudly, as Fatbabs and his star-studded team assembled on stage to soak up the applause. Despite closing, the crowd’s chanting signified an endless appreciation for the late icon, leaving all in attendance both emotional and euphoric, but definitely grateful for the gift of life.

DAY THREE | SUNDAY - AUGUST 10, 2025
For many, the festival’s closing day threatened to be overshadowed by a sleepless night at the Naâman tribute. However, the Twinkle Brother that is Norman, with his large warm visage, wreathed in locks, soon sorted that out. Kicking off with Human Independent, before giving us Let Jah Be Praised, Babylon Falling, Throw Away The Comb, Faith Can Move Mountain, Never Get Burn, Robot and Rasta Pon Top, Grant then shut up shop with Repent. Much credit is also due to this Twinkle for his preparedness to give voice on behalf of the hungry in Palestine, the Ukraine and Africa. One might have been expected to hear more on these topics at a ‘conscious’ reggae festival, but this was not to be.

Thereafter Ky-Mani Marley took to the Main Stage with his 8 piece-band, where he traded on his father’s legacy with ‘Heathen’ setting the pace, followed by ‘Roots Rock Reggae’ amongst others and interspersed with his own New Creature, The March, Warriors and the Rasta Love Protoje collaboration. 

It was entirely fitting then that French favourites Danakil should continue the party, as they lit up their set with inputs from the likes of the great Omar Perry, Winston McAnuff and New Caledonia’s Marcus Gad, assisted by the rare and welcome sight (in reggae circles) of a quartet of brilliant brass!

As they closed the set with a powerful rendition of ‘Redemption Song’, Omega was linking with her nephew Alpha Steppa over at the Dub Factory, celebrating 15 years of Steppas Records. The Dub Factory put in a strong Sunday, with Sumac Dub and Ashkabad also garnering sizeable attendances, before the Steppas’ anniversary input that spanned 3 sets over 3 hours!  This was hugely helped by vocals from the likes of Jonah Dan and the towering gentle giant that is Ras Tinny.

So, if some sweet reggae music is your thing, put No Logo Festival in the calendar for 2026. This is a festival not to be missed.