The town of Merano is preparing to host the MeranoSplash Festival – two free music events dedicated to reggae, a musical genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s and has, over time, become an international symbol of cultural expression, inclusion and dialogue between communities.
The initiative is organised by the City of Merano’s Cultural Office in collaboration with the Arci association, based on an idea by Rebel Lion Sound. The festival kicks off on Thursday 24 July at Thermenplatz with an evening bringing together nationally renowned guests and local music groups. From 8 pm, the historic Merano band We and Them will take to the stage; they were among the leading figures of the Italian reggae scene in the 1990s and have released several albums as well as collaborated on numerous projects, including with Pitura Freska.
This will be followed by a performance from Sir Oliver Skardy, the legendary voice of Pitura Freska, with the show ‘Sir Oliver Skardy celebrates Pitura Freska’ – a tribute to the famous band from Veneto, known for their Venetian dialect and their appearance at the Sanremo Festival in 1997. Throughout the evening, Ste the Cool Selecta (Rebel Lion Sound) will entertain the audience with a selection of reggae music, helping to create a rousing and participatory atmosphere.
The second event will take place on Friday 25 July at Park’O (Marconi Park on Innerhoferstraße), a venue run by Arci, starting at 7 pm. The evening promises to be a veritable music marathon featuring Rebel Lion and Friends, who will entertain the audience until the star guest, Vitowar, takes to the stage: a legendary DJ, founder and presenter of Reggae Radio Station, one of Italy’s oldest radio programmes dedicated to this genre.
“With the MeranoSplash Festival,” emphasises Antonella Costanzo, Councillor for Culture, “we are offering residents and visitors a free opportunity to come together and interact through music. Reggae, with its history and messages, is a universal language that unites people of different generations and backgrounds, whilst also celebrating the contribution of the local arts scene.”