RQL_WEBRADIO

During the RQL SummerTour we got the chance to interview and meet many artists. Each of them left us feeling extremely good, happy but most important with a piece more to add to our cultural luggage. Life is a journey where we never stop learning.  Today in the occasion of the release of their new album "The next generation", available in every digital store and available on a physical copy on their website ( here ). We are happy to host here on our website the amazing Harrison Stafford from Groundation, with whom we got the pleasure to have a short but awesome interview right after their show in Rototom Sunsplash. We hope you will enjoying reading it, as much as we enjoyed recording it ;). Hi! We never had the pleasure to meet before, would you like to introduce yourself to our listeners? -Sure ! My name is Harrison Stafford, singer of Groundation. Groundations is a group which has been around for 20 years. We have done about 9 albums and its roots...

Rototom Sunsplash was the lat stop of the RQL SummerTour. We can’t say that the “depression post festival” didn’t hit us, cause we will be lying.  The 25th edition of the festival that gather over 200.000 people from over 60 countries from all over the world was simply the best way to end our tour. Even tho it was only our second time in Rototom this one has been the best one, and we will keep the memories from this edition till the end.  Everything was simply great and everyone was so nice from the security to the staff, from the stage technicians to the artists.  The last two nights have been filled with love, dance, and a fantastic line up.  Night 6 started with the Spanish Green Valley, and there couldn’t have been a better way to start the day, the band itself is a hit of positivity, sending out messages of love and happiness. Followed by the Italian wave made with one of the  biggest Italian reggae artists Africa Unite & Train to R...

Rototom Sunsplash is an ever moving, ever dancing collective being. Thousends of cells, the Rototom people, breath together and make it alive year after year, now for 25 times. It seems there's no rest for the red gold green people. But ... but if you make an effort to have a walk in camping site around 8:00 am, when the die hard have finally returned from the last happenings in the festival area, you will enjoy an unbelieveble silence, broken only by some very small kid chatting. The peace after the storm. Day 3 and 4 have been full of interesting things and musical guests. Just to mention a few highlights:  the Skatalites, energy and pure ska-fun who lighted up the night on the main-stage area, with people crazily dancing on and off stage; Tiken Jah Fakoly and Jah Shaka on the 18th ; Kabaka Pyramid, Andrew Tosh with the Peter Tosh tribute band, Skarra Mucci on 19th . And workshops, art, children at play and circus and delicious food. If Rototom Sunsplash didn't exist, we sur...

Sun and rain took turns blessing the second day of  Rototom 2018. As this year's motto says ''25 years walking together'' either in the festival and in the camping place everybody seems to be in constant motion, walking from place to place, form activity to workshop to finally dance the day ( and the night ! ) away once the sun goes down. In the windwhirl of things available here some of yesteray's highlights ( beside the music of course). At 16:00 in the Reggae University we had the chance to see 'The Harder they come', followed at 18:00 by the conference 'Who jump the gun' Violence in Contemporary Jamaica. After these two interesting  but kind hard sessions, we  enjoyed  innocence and colors in the Magico Mundo, enjoying the kids playing together despite the different languages ( kids are always the greatest teachers !) and in the Zona Urbana-Skate Park where older and younger together could experiment with Parkour with the super kind crew wh...

Last year was out first year in Rototom Sunsplash, the biggest European reggae festival. When we left the gates of Rototom we made a promise to ourself that we would come back to the festival the year after as well. Well after many kilometers here we are ! Same place, same vibes a year after.  The 25th edition of the festival that brings together every year thousands of people, from different countries, different backgrounds, different lives with only a thing in common : the love for the music and life, has officially started yesterday.  Even if it was the first day we can say it has started pretty well, with music from 9 different stages, a very interesting reggae university conference with Koffee, circus and also a percusion parade.  Julian Marley (which we got to interview so stay tuned) was the first name for the Main stage, and was followed by the great Cocoa tea ft Koffee and to end the incredible night for the main stage Ben Harper !  ...

A few weeks back during Overjam Reggae Festival, we got the chance to interview one of our favorite reggae band ; Mellow Mood, the morning before their show of the main stage. We already had the pleasure to talk  and see them twice last year and it was a joy for us to talk and see them performing this year as well.  Enjoy the interview !  Hello guys ! First of all how are you ? Ready for tonight ?  -We are fine and ready, yes ! Is this the first time here in OverJam ?  -No, we already played here at least once but I have been (Giulio talking) at the time of Riversplash at least 10 years ago. We met about a year ago at Rototom Sunsplash. In these months so many things happened, and among them the release of your new album “Large”. Tell us something about it, how was the process, the feelings while recording….. -To record this album we had to stop a few months, almost a year. Usually we have the “bad habit” to keep touring and ...

As every year, Montelago ends on Lughnasa (Lammas). The day has been filled with events, the Rugby tournements, the battles, the donkey rides and celtic weddings. In the evening the conference with Jonathan Symmonds, the animator for the 3D dragons of Games of Thrones series has gathered hundreds of people in the Montelago Square. But as the sun is about to set a big crowd starts gathering in historical camp for the kindling of the Sacred Fire to celebrate the long Lughnasa night, a night of music, fun, dance and spirit, either the flowing one and the one which makes your heart flutter, when you think that already another festival has gone by and the year is more than half way flown. When at 6  of sunday morning the music stops, Montelago people knows that the dream has come to its end again for another year. Montelago might be a smaller festival as for the size, but with the biggest heart. A true glimpse in the Middle Earth, where people is different but the same aim. Where we ma...

The second day in the Middle Earth has flown away. A wind whirl of interesting activities, emotions, feelings. In the afternoon a short rain has cooled down the heat letting the montelago people enjoy their day even more. The festival during the day is a lot of fun, people basically living their everyday life all together, from showers to food shopping, from cooking to resting, all of this interwined with the daily activities offered. But it is during the night that Montelago really wakes up. The first show held on the main stage has seen the amazing Mortimer McGrave warm up the spirits. Flashing lights through the night, the unmissable ‘VALERIO’ scream (trademark of the festival, if you want ask more !) to keep us company until the Circle of Fire. The Circle of Fire is a gathering of fire jugglers, fire breather\eater which keep showing year after year that playing with fire ain’t always dangerous. The show has been amazing. In the cold, humid dark air of the plain, smoke and flames ...

Yesterday the magic kingdom of Middle Earth opened its gates to their people. Montelago Celtic Festival started its XVI edition between horns blowing, kilts twirling and fire sparkling. Montelago people gathered in the plain since wednesday, too eager to be there to wait one more night. Old faces and new comers, long time friends and new acquaintances, everybody is welcome, everybody is included.  Soon after 18:00 the first celtic wedding is held in the tent near the great Harp of Rebirth (Arpa della rinascita) but it's only at 21:00 that the music festival officially starts from the stage of the Mortimer Pub. And the first epic night takes off for the joy of its people. MONTELAGO HERE WE ARE !! People of Montelago Celtic wedding ceremony   Ideators of the Harp of Rebirth (Arpa della rinascita) 

D uring the 7th edition of the Overjam Reggae Festival we got the chance to interview a few of the artists performing there. One of the artists we got to interview is Marko G. From the Croatian band Brain Holiday just a couple hours before their performance on the main stage.    Enjoy !!  Photo Credit : Reggae.SL  Hello Marko, First of all thank you for taking your time answering our questions. So tonight is the big night, are you ready ? -Of course we are always ready.   We didn’t have the pleasure to meet before, would you like to introduce yourself tour listeners ? -My name is Marko G., I’m singer and guitar player of Brain Holidays, Roots reggae band from Croatia. I'm also a producer. How did you get  into reggae music ?  -It was really a long time ago, more than twenty years. Before that I was playing some punk.  I don't know how that switched it just happened one day. I star...

The 2,3,4 of august, in Taverne di Serravalle di Chienti, in the heart of Appennino Mountain, while out there in the world anger and rage grow, the small powerful elite gather even more privileges and people trusts xenophobes an superficial mouvements, the Montelago People is here to share their message of beauty, armony an closesness through dance as free expression of body and mind. Dance as a way to get closer an not apart, to merge generations and places . The XVI ed. of the Fantastic festival of Middle Earth task is just to make all those who believe in a brighter and better future dance at the sound of the best bands devoted to this mission. A vortex of 24 gigs on three stages, between historical celtic music bands, Montelago productions and younger bands from the 4th European Celtic Contest. Even dragons will dance straight from UK with the 3D dragons of Games Of Thrones and their creator J. Symmonds. And don't forget the Fantasy writing class-contest ...

Under a pristine sky, lovingly watche over by a perfect crescent moon, the catchy music invites us  to dance. We're in Beky Bay, wonerful venue straight on Igea Marina beach.People is gathering for the great night ahead, making themselves comfortable in one of the cozy lounges or quenching their thirst or hunger in one of the different elegant booths. The opening act for the night is Galup. As he hits the stage the audience immediately starts getting into the mood. The vibes from the stage are joyful; words of freedom, of love and plain fun flow in the mellow sunset air. Almost a hour of pure musical pleasure.     Just the time to catch a breath and let a few more enthousiasts reach the venue and the atmosphere on stage get's ready to welcome SOJA, all the way from the US, in their first date in Italy for this summer tour. When the eight men hit the stage the crowd is delirious. For the RQL crew it was a dream come true, as we have been following the band fo...

And also the 7th edition of OverJam reggae festival had come to an end. For RQL it was our first experience in OverJam and in Slovenia ; and we left a piece of our heart there. The only word we can think of, when we want to describe OverJam is "Amazing" ; the organization was excellent. From the secutiry to the info point, all we found was kindness and expertise. The artists were the real top notch of reggae scene. The last day was blessed by a gorgeous wheather, the river has quickly become the place to stay to chill in every sense. Workshop, children's area, music and a wonderful and powerful university with Italee ; and Israel Voice (which we later saw) about the role of women in contemporary reggae music. The last overjam night was amazing, the main stage displayed Shanti Powa followed by Brain Holidays(band from Croatia which we had the chance to interview soon before their show... So stay tuned ;) and Italee (a strong woman, with great energy and an amazing a...

The second last day of the 7th edition of OverJam festival, was an incredible day. It has started with 3 wonderful interviews with some amazing people, the first one was with the italian Mellow Mood, a band we have been following for a few years now and which we really love. Soon after we had the chance to meet and talk with the great Dub Master Paolo Baldini ( who had performed on the Dub Stage just the day before along with Andrew I. And last but not least the wonderful Sista Awa. ( Stay tuned to know what we talked about !!) In the afternoon we attended the daily OverJam University hosted by David Katz, where Macka B talked with us about the Sound System culture in the UK. Finally at the sunset the long reggae night begins. The slovenian Siti Hlapci started spreading the good vibes that reached the audience as a powerful wave. Wave that turns into a real seaquake when Sista Awa hits the stage. In spite her young age she can reach with her powerful voice and killer lyrics, ...