Uppsala Reggae Festival venue: "Downtown", Uppsala date: 2004-08-06 After weeks of rain and grey skies the weather Gods decided to clear up the sky and send us some warm and inspiring reggae weather. It was time fore the Uppsala reggae festival. The festival is considered to be the biggest reggea festival in Europe. The first festival took place in the summer of 2001 when Cultures, Berez Bazza, Yop Cat, Baby Nija and Dub Syndicate Band played at Fyrishov. Since then the festival has grown and is now competing with other big festivals in Sweden. This year the festival tickets where sold out one week before day one. People from all over Sweden and even Europe had packed their bags and landed in the camping area in the centre of Uppsala, a plush old town a little north of Stockholm. Whole families, crowds of friends and the odd “lone ranger” had come to meet and listen to the biggest names in reggae today. . Love was in the air and despite the festivals size, it has managed to hang on to the warm feeling of a backyard party. The festival also managed to gather some of the hottest bands on the reggae scene with bands like Alpha Blondy, Bushman, Mighty Diamonds, Richie Spice and Chuck Fender kept the international reggae spirit high. Sweden was proudly represented by Papa Dee, Moder Jords Massiva, Kingstone Airforce and many more . The festival area contained two big stages where the bands where playing and one smaller (the yellow tent) where the DJs kept the audience going with their dance beats. This year the Sound Clash SM was held at the festival and many of the folk and fans gathered to give their support to the competing teams. Finally after ours of hard work Trinity Sound System won the silver cup naming them the best of the best. . All and all the festival has overcome the practical problems they had last year with long lines and to few “bajjamajjor”. This year the festival clearly proved it’s greatness and the fact that it’s growing with pride and becoming a must attend event.. I look forward to many festivals to come. - So friends if you missed out on this years festival you’d better start looking for ticket to next years event now….. Keep up the good work Yared and Sten! /Jenny