This is how everything started:

1. 5.7.1986, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Reggae Sunsplash
   visitors: 10.000
   major acts: Black Uhuru, Dennis Brown, Wailers, Manu Dibango
   The first big Reggaefestival in Germany. I was just 15 years old, one year ago I had startet listening to Reggae (Marley, of course), one month before Reggae Sunsplash, as it was called, I saw my first Reggae concert: The Gladiators. I still remember that athmosphere on the beautiful Loreley rock: The weather was brilliant, the audience was phantastic and then the Wailers plaed "No woman no cry". :-)
2. 12.7.1987, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Reggae Sunsplash
   visitors: 18.000
   major acts: Jimmy Cliff, Third World, Steel Pulse, Aswad, Curtis Mayfield, Toure Kunda, Freddie McGregor, Johnny Clegg
   It was so hot in the arena that I couldn't even move to the next shadow when Toure Kunda came on stage and brought the life back into my body! Absolutely briliant!
3. 2. & 3.7.1988, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Loreley Summer Jam
   visitors: 24.000
   major acts: James Brown, Sly & Robbie, Ziggy Marley, King Sunny Ade, Burning Spear, Eek-A-Mouse, Kassav
   The first Summer Jam festival: The original organizers of Reggae Sunsplash devided into two new companies, one of them got the name ('Sunsplash') the other one got the festival :-). Contour said last year: There were juridical reasons to rename it! I still remember that short after James Brown was brought to the stage with a very very large, white Mercedes Benz (he startet dancing, I started laughing) he hurled his microphone-stand at the cable (he was so cool) when suddenly he lost control on the stand and on his feet... And I lost control on my laughter. He was really cool!
4. 1. & 2.7.1989, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Loreley Summer Jam
   visitors: 18.000
   major acts: Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jimmy Cliff, Black Uhuru, Osibisa, Ltd. Stitchie, Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, Wailers, Inner Circle
   The only year with really bad weather on Loreley, and the only year I wasn't there (On that weekend I traveled by train from Rome to Dublin... InterRail!)
5. 14.7.1990, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Loreley Summer Jam
   visitors: 14.000
   major acts: Mutabaruka, Manu Dibango, Abyssinians, Macka B, Twinkle Brothers, Femi Anikulapo Kuti
   Manu Dibango's bassman Armand Sabal Lecco from Kamerun did a 7 minutes bass-solo. It was unbelievable, the whole Loreley freezed of awe! After last years total traffic breakdown around the Loreley area the organizers had to reduce the festival from two to one day again.
6. 7.7.1991, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Loreley Summer Jam
   visitors: 14.000
   major acts: Ziggy Marley, Kid Creole, Wailers, I-Threes, Mikey Dread, Dean Fraser & 809 Band, Freddie McGregor
   The I-Threes played backed by the wonderful Dean Fraser and his 809 Band and of course they came back on stage, when the Wailers started playing 'No woman no cry'
7. 4.7.1992, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Loreley Summer Jam
   visitors: 25.000
   major acts: Burning Spear, Maxi Priest, Youssou N'Dour, Sly & Robbie, Gregory Isaacs, Misty in Roots, Culture, Freddie McGregor, Tiger
   Shabba Ranks was announced next, when the host came on stage and said that he was sorry and so on and that they did find an artist, who could be a good compensation: TIGER! And Youssou N'Dour did one of his best concerts ever. In the prohibited area in front of the stage hundreds mostly black people danced and celebrated an African party!
8. 3.7.1993, at Loreley Open Air stage: The Loreley Summer Jam
   visitors: 22.000
   major acts: Inner Circle, Israel Vibration, Aswad, Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Third World, Baaba Maal
   This year Shabba really did come, but he was so bad... Third World missed their flight from London and arrived two hours too late for their concert. But they did an phantastic half hour show at the end of the day.
9. 1. & 2. & 3.7.1994, at Wildenrath Airfield: Summer Jam '94
   visitors: 15.000
   major acts: Lucky Dube, Manu Dibango, Chaka Demus, Jimmy Cliff, African Headcharge, Misty in Roots, Lee Scratch Perry, Dub Syndicate, The Skatalites, Mad Professor, Buju Banton
   The Loreley got too small for the Reggae posse. Contour decided to bring the festival to Wildenrath, an former airport of the British Air Force. The area is absolutely plain and very uninteresting. You can't compare it with the athmosphere you get on the Loreley and in the open air arena. Very sad! But of course the Reggae posse did everything to have a wonderful weekend in Wildenrath, too!
10. 30.6. & 1. & 2.7.1995, at Wildenrath Airfield: Summer Jam '95
    visitors: 13.000
    major acts: Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N´Dour, Bunnny Wailer, Burning Spear, Israel Vibration, Yothu Yindi, Shinehead, Macka B, Supercat, Inner Circle
    Big African opening on Friday evening, wonderful concerts by Burning Spear, Israel Vibration and magic show by himself: Bunny Wailer! The Sunday was a littlebit wet and cold and the bands were very unenthusiastic...
11. 6.&7.7.1996, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam '96
    visitors: 11.000
    major acts: Bunnny Wailer, Lucky Dube, Toots, Shaggy, Third World Chaka Demus, Culture, Buju Banton, Pato Banton, Linton Kwesi Johnson Baaba Maal, Pato Banton
    Lots of rain during the festival but good reggae vibes on the new venue in Cologne (Koeln). Great performance by Lucky Dube, Bunny Wailer, Buju Banton Third world and Pato Banton, very poor performance by Shaggy
12. 5.&6.7.1997, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam '97
    visitors: 15.000
    major acts: Burning Spear, Ziggy Marley, Olodum, Toure Kunda, Israel Vibration, Luciano, Bounty Killer, Apache Indian, Inner Circle, Big Mountain, King Chango, Messer Banzani, Vitamin X, Bim Sherman and Pow Pow Sound
    Heavy rain on Saturday afternoon, but musically a ver good Saturday. Phantastic concerts by King Chango, Messer Banzani, Burning Spear and the Marley Kids Poor performance by Inner Circle, Big Mountain and Bounty Killer. Very chaotic organisation by Contour...
13. 3. - 5.7.1998, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam '98
    visitors: ????
    major acts: Alpha Blondy, Jimmy Cliff, Lucky Dube, Anthony B., Culture, Third World, Steel Pulse, Buju Banton, Dennis Brown, Dub Syndicate and many more...
    For the first time Contour presented a parallel program on the small tent-stage. Ska, Dub, Worldmusic and special Reggae-acts got a nice forum. The athomspere on the new party island was amazing, I haven't seen that since the days of Loreley. The Summer Jam is getting bigger and bigger and it is defnetly the European Reggae Festival. Still there were many problems with the organisation but it's getting better...
14. 2. - 4.7.1999, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam '99
    visitors: 20.000
    major acts: KHADJA NIN + BURNING SPEAR + FREUNDESKREIS + ANTHONY B + GENTLEMAN + KY-MANI MARLEY + MORGAN HERITAGE + LUCIANO + THE GLADIATORS + YELLOWMAN + TIPPA IRIE + WAILERS and many more...
    This one was really BIG! A wonderfull festival with great concerts and an incredible athmosphere. The soundsystem-tent as well as the small tent stage were phantastic. Great concerts on all stages!
15. 30.06. - 02.07.2000, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2000
    visitors: 22.000
    major acts: Asian Dub, Femi Kuti, Ziggy Marley, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Michael Rose, Everton Blender, U Roy, Alpha Blondy, Israel Vibration, Abyssinians and many more...
    After that Mega event in 1999 Summerjam was again a huge festival but the athmosphere of former years with peace and love and really much fun was missing a lot. Probably there have been too many visitors on this now too-small area. But still: THE Festival!!!!
16. 06.07. - 08.07.2001, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2001
    visitors: 25.000 (sold tickets)
    major acts: Sizzla, Cocoa T, Burning Spear, Third World, Culture, Everton Blender, Luciano, Anthony B, Sly and Robbie, Black Uhuru and many more...
    Summerjam is getting incredibly big. 25.000 sold tickets result in a very crowded festival area on the island and at the camp grounds. But this does not affect the niceness of the people and the positive vibes of the massive. Even with bad weather conditions the European Reggae Posse had a incredible friendly party!
17. 05.07. - 07.07.2002, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2002
    visitors: 24.000 (sold tickets)
    major acts: Wailers, Capleton, Alpha Blondy, Beenie Man, Luciano, Bushman, Buju Banton, Seeed, Max Romeo, Orchestra Baobab, Eek A Mouse, Junior Reid, Gentleman, Dub Syndicate, Dr. Ring Ding, Zion Train, Ras Ites, Angelique Kidjo, Lucky Dube and many more...
    Still Summerjam is very crowded but remains a lovely festival, great live music on two open air stages plus 2 tents for Soundsystems, party all night long, high level music!!
18. 04.07. - 06.07.2003, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2003
    visitors: 24.000 (sold tickets)
    major acts: Jimmy Cliff, Sean Paul, Seed Beres Hammond, Anthony B, Junior Kelly, Gentleman, Patrice, Max Romeo and many more...
    The island was packed again, people getting younger and younger every year ;-).
19. 02. - 04.07.2004, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2004
    visitors: 20.000 (sold tickets)
    major acts: Bounty Killer, Lucky Dube, Junior Kelly, Steel Pulse, Culture, Beenie Man, Luciano and many more...
    Significant reduction in sold tickets results ni a very nice and relaxed festival. Very good atmosphere at Cologne Bay.
20. 08. - 10.07.2005, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2005
    visitors: 25.000 (sold tickets)
    major acts: Gentleman, Seeed, Groundation, Israel Vibration, Black Uhuru, Yellowman, Anthony B, Gregory Isaacs, Alpha Blondy and many more...
    Full Island on Saturday, relaxed people all over, great event, sweet athmosphere, good management.
21. 14. - 16.07.2006, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2006
    visitors: 25.000 (sold tickets)
    major acts: Damian 'Jr.Gong' Marley, Junior Kelly, The Gladiators, Elephant Man, Jimmy Cliff, I-Jahman Levy, The Mighty Diamonds, Ziggy Marley, Andrew Tosh, Morgan Heritage, Luciano, The Congos, Cécile, Toots & The Maytals, General Degree, Apache Indian, Lord Kossity, Chico, Warrior King, Rasites, Joy Denalane, Jan Delay, Orishas, Jamaram, Patrice, Culcha Candela & Band, Tiken Jah Fakoly and many more...
    Summerjam - Big Up!
22. 06. - 08.07.2007, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2007
    visitors: 25.000 (sold tickets)
    major acts: Anthony B, Bauchklang, Beenie Man, Blumentopf, Clueso, Collie Buddz, Fantan Mojah, Gentleman & Far East Band, Groundation, Horace Andy, I Am, Maxi Priest, Nasio Fontaine, Ohrbooten, Osb Crew, Ronny Trettmann & Ill Inspecta, Sebastian Sturm, Sly & Robbie feat. Bitty Mclean, The Roots, The Slackers, Tony Rebel, T.O.K., Warrior King, Ziggi and more
23. 04. - 06.07.2008, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2008
    visitors: 25.000
    major acts: Stephen Marley, Shaggy, Patrice, Common, Culcha Candela, Jah Cure, Clueso, Alborosie, Alpha Blondy, Ky-Mani Marley, Ken Boothe, Collie Buddz, Luciano, Buju Banton, Cocoa Tea, Lady Saw, Pressure, Mono & Nikitaman, and more
24. 03. - 05.07.2009, at Fühlinger See in Cologne: Summer Jam 2009
    visitors: 25.000
    major acts: Bunny Wailer, Jan Delay, UB 40, Anthony B, Patrice, Buju Banton, Sly & Robbie, Junior Kelly, Groundation, Arrested Development, Nosliw, Tinariwen, Ward21, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Babylon Circus, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Bitty Mclean, U Roy, Glen Washington, Baaba Maal, Nneka, Pablo Moses, Horace Andy, Freddie Mcgregor and many more

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