The 38th edition of the Summerjam Festival was highly anticipated. The line-up looked incredibly strong, and it was a special weekend—Vybz Kartel was set to perform his only show in Germany after being released from prison! We were all part of a historic moment, even if we didn’t fully realize it yet.

We arrived on Thursday to find a quiet spot for camping and to ease into the long festival weekend. The weather couldn’t have been better: plenty of sunshine and barely a cloud in the sky.

Our Electribe Stage was located, just like last year, right next to the Red Stage (main stage), which made it easy for people to come over after the concerts. And for those who didn’t know exactly where we were, there was a massive SJ25 sign, 4 to 5 meters tall, right next to us.

We played on Friday night after K.I.Z.. Performing after one of the biggest German rap groups is an amazing feeling, the crowd carried that energy over to us, and you could instantly feel how ready everyone was to party and dance deep into the night. Each of us played a one-hour set, followed by a short B2B between Foudjo and Piccell to close it out.

Saturday started just as strong as Friday: waking up to sunshine, wondering whether to go for a swim first or eat. We grilled in the afternoon and got ready for the evening and the shows, because this was the day the World Boss would hit the stage, and we were hyped.

Before Vybz Kartel, Shenseea performed and delivered a powerful set. She hyped up the crowd, no playback involved—her band and dancers were on point. After such a strong performance, everyone was eagerly waiting for Vybz, and it was well worth it.

With such an enormous catalog of songs, of course he couldn’t play everything, but the setlist was a solid mix of his biggest hits and songs that clearly meant something personal to him. You could tell he still knows exactly how to deliver a powerful show—despite his age and health issues.

After Vybz Kartel’s performance, our stage was already full. It had already been packed during his show, as you could hear everything clearly from our side. It felt just like last year, those who had joined us Friday night must have brought even more friends along.

It was beautiful to see so many people wanting to spend their night with us and dance deep into the morning hours. Piccell kicked things off with full energy, no messing around, and the crowd responded immediately. His skills as an MC are seriously underrated; he knows exactly when and how to speak to fire up the crowd even more.

Frau Beji once again impressed everyone with her track selection and her sound. She played a perfect blend of melodic and bass-heavy tunes, and the audience completely lost themselves in the rhythm, they couldn’t stop dancing.

Foudjo closed the night with a set that truly reflected who he is. He expressed himself through the music, just like Piccell and Frau Beji before him. The crowd asked for Batida, and Batida is what they got!

It’s always amazing to see how our music touches people. The conversations during and after our sets are pure gold. Some people stumble across our stage by accident and get drawn in by the sound; others come intentionally because they know what to expect—and they’re ready for the Barulho Experience.

With the Electribe Stage, we have the opportunity to represent Afroelectronic music and share it with a crowd that may not know us yet—but falls in love after hearing us.



Photo
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