IT’S sweet 16 for the Reggae Sun Ska Festival which will be held August 2-4 in Pauillac, France, located in the heart of the country’s wine region.

LACHAIZE… we’re working with the artists the entire year

The festival started with four bands, one stage and 2,000 fans. It has grown considerably to become one of Europe’s top reggae shows with over 60 bands from around the world performing on five stages.

There are two new stages: the Dub Foundation which promotes Dub music, and Uprising, for emerging bands.

Director of Reggae Sun Ska, Fred Lachaize, says the event has seen an increase in attendance since 2010, which forced promoters to change the festival’s site.

He told the Jamaica Observer that last year, 85,000 fans were at Reggae Sun Ska. Lachaize points to the quality of the card for this surge in popularity.

“We’re working with the artistes the entire year and we’re establishing a relationship of trust with them, with the agents, too, and the bookers… We’re starting to know them better,” he said.

“Artists know, too, that Reggae Sun Ska can be an important step for their career in Europe because 200 journalists are on the festival to meet them.”

This year, some of the acts on Reggae Sun Ska are Busy Signal, Protoje, Turbulence, U-Roy, Ky-Mani Marley, Third World, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, Barrington Levy, Don Carlos and Addis Pablo.