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| Sunsplash | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sunsplash |
| Genre | Reggae festival |
| Location | Kingston, Jamaica; various international locations |
| Years active | 1976–present (intermittent) |
| Founders | Jamaican Tourist Board; Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation |
| Dates | Annually (varied) |
Sunsplash Sunsplash is a longstanding reggae music festival and concert series originating in Jamaica in the mid-1970s, notable for live performances, sound system culture, and televised broadcasts that influenced global reggae dissemination. The festival has intersected with major artists, record labels, broadcasters, promoters, and cultural institutions across Jamaica, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. Sunsplash events tied to tourism initiatives, cultural diplomacy, and recording projects helped connect artists, producers, venues, and audiences across multiple decades.
Sunsplash was created amid interactions between the Jamaican Tourist Board, the Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation, and private promoters, arising during the 1970s alongside venues such as Kingston's National Stadium and festival circuits involving Reggae Sunsplash-era promoters, Prince Jammy, and engineers who worked with studios like Studio One, Tuff Gong Studio, and Channel One Studios. Early editions featured collaborations with labels including Island Records, Trojan Records, Greensleeves Records, and producers such as Lee "Scratch" Perry, Coxsone Dodd, and Glen Brown. Political and social contexts—interacting with figures like Michael Manley and events including the 1976 Jamaican general election—affected scheduling, security, and artist lineups. Over time, the festival's organization involved international stakeholders including Island Records executives, UK festival promoters linked to Glastonbury Festival logistics, and North American booking agencies such as William Morris Endeavor and CAA (talent agency). Archives and broadcasts were captured by media houses like BBC Television, ITV, MTV, and regional Caribbean stations, while journalists from outlets including The Guardian (London), The New York Times, and Rolling Stone covered major editions.
Typical Sunsplash formats mixed live stages, sound system clashes, and televised specials. Events incorporated stages modeled after venues like Madison Square Garden, amphitheaters akin to Wembley Stadium, and outdoor parks similar to Hyde Park (London). Production teams included stage managers from companies related to Live Nation Entertainment and equipment rented from suppliers tied to PRG (Production Resource Group). Broadcast formats used multi-camera setups comparable to BBC Two music productions and OB trucks used by networks such as Sky UK. Features often included long sets by veteran performers, DJ toasting akin to work by U-Roy, dub cuts inspired by King Tubby, and collaborative "sound clashes" referencing the traditions of crews like Stone Love and Killamanjaro. Ancillary features—record booths, vinyl markets, and autograph sessions—mirrored setups at conventions hosted by entities like Reed Exhibitions.
Performers at Sunsplash have included many pillars of reggae and related genres: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Desmond Dekker, Sly and Robbie, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, Capleton, Chronixx, Alborosie, Alpha Blondy, Ziggy Marley, Anthony B, Max Romeo, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Mavado, Patra, Lady Saw, Jah Cure, Koffee, Chronixx, Junior Murvin, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Horace Andy, John Holt, Dennis Alcapone, Big Youth, I Wayne, Garnett Silk, Mikey Dread, The Heptones, The Abyssinians, Israel Vibration, Peter Metcalfe, Sugar Minott, Third World, Aswad, UB40, and crossover appearances by artists associated with Ska revivals and 2 Tone (music) such as The Specials and Madness. Collaborative sets and surprise appearances tied to producers like Sanchez and engineers like Errol Brown created memorable moments documented by photographers working for agencies such as Getty Images and magazines like Mojo (magazine).
Sunsplash influenced popularization of reggae across markets serviced by distributors such as EMI Records, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment. Critics from NME (magazine), Pitchfork, and The Village Voice wrote about the festival's role in raising profiles of both veterans and emerging artists, while cultural scholars at institutions like University of the West Indies, SOAS University of London, and Columbia University examined Sunsplash in studies on diasporic music and tourism policy. The festival affected career trajectories for artists linked to labels like VP Records and inspired spin-offs and tribute editions in cities including London, New York City, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Tourism analysis by bodies such as the Caribbean Tourism Organization cited Sunsplash-related events in economic and cultural impact assessments, while archives in repositories like the National Library of Jamaica and British Library preserve recordings and promotional material.
Large Sunsplash productions required coordination with unions and crews similar to those represented by IATSE in North America and stage contractors used by SFX Entertainment-era companies. Sound design often involved consoles and speaker arrays from manufacturers like Meyer Sound Laboratories, L-Acoustics, and mixing desks by Yamaha Corporation. Lighting rigs utilized fixtures by Clay Paky and control systems from MA Lighting, while broadcast-grade cameras came from manufacturers such as Sony Corporation and Arri. Recording workflows were compatible with studios using analog tape machines from Studer and digital audio workstations like Pro Tools by Avid Technology. Security coordination paralleled protocols used at festivals staged by Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival organizers and medical services provided by organizations like St John Ambulance.
International editions and variations of Sunsplash were produced under different promoters and licensing arrangements, appearing as branded festivals in metropolitan centers such as London, New York City, Toronto, Paris, Brixton Academy, The O2 Arena, Irving Plaza, and club nights at venues like Notting Hill Arts Club. Spin-off events included tribute concerts, anniversary retrospectives, and studio-to-stage series involving labels such as VP Records, Greensleeves Records, and broadcasters including BBC Radio 1Xtra and RJR Communications Group. Collaborative festivals paired Sunsplash-style programming with cultural festivals like Notting Hill Carnival, world music showcases at WOMAD Festival, and reggae stages at multi-genre festivals such as Glastonbury Festival and SXSW.
Category:Reggae festivals