SummerJam 2025 ADD

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!

SUMMERJAM LIVE STREAM: DAY ONE | DAY TWO

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, BARACCA 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. Luca on drums, Pietro on bass, Angelo on keys, another Angelo on guitar, Walter on backings, sax and percussion as well as lead singer/ guitarist Eduardo 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 two DJs. 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.

to be continued...