Pull It!! Beenie & beaches @ Summerjam 2007

As the rain continues to dampen Britain's dizzying array of festivals, the discerning exodus to continental Europe continued with Summerjam. From a country that still frowns upon Reggae's biggest artists, bashment heads made their way to Cologne, Germany for Europes' largest reggae festival. The trip was certainly worth the mission, as I experienced an atmosphere unlike any to be found on these wet shores. You heard me, the Germans got it locked.

A picturesque lake was the scene for 2 main stages, 1 tent, lots of soundsystems and a cloud of smoke - keeping the vibes intimate yet lively. The rain just about held out for the weekend, allowing the likes of Beenie Man, Sizzla, Tanya Stephens, Horace Andy et al to bring the sunshine through.

First night highlight Gentleman touched down in his hometown with a rousing set, displaying all the confidence of a performer and band at the top of their game. Total gridlock. T.O.K got things lively with a versatile set displaying dirty dancehall and sweet melodies, including anthem 'Marijuana'.

Saturday kicked off in style with the inimitable Fantan Mojah, exuding raw talent blessed by Capleton himself. As the sun shone and Fantan climbed the rafters of the stage, he delivered several of the biggest Culture hits including the sublime 'Hail Di King'. My moment of the festival arrived when the whole crowd sang the first verse/chorus of the inspirational 'Thanks & Praise'. Hair raising.

Tanya Stephens followed with her distinctive mix of dancehall and consciousness. She reliably delivered hits such as the sexy 'Boom Wuk', 'Its A Pity' and the personal favourite, 'Cant Breathe', although her style contrasted to the one drop sets of her male peers.

A short while later Turbulence supported the legendary Sizzla Kalonji. The latter's name is enough to incite a riot of energy and excitement and he did not disappoint. Running through a back catalogue that includes many of the greatest Reggae tunes of the last 15 years, the heaving crowd lost it completely on several occasions. Its an awe-inspiring sight to watch a 15,000+ crowd jumping in unison, calling rewinds and singing together. This quickly became a theme throughout the festival, and something that could not be witnessed in rainy, reserved UK. So as classics 'Solid As A Rock', 'Dry Cry' and 'Be Strong' dropped - trust - I was skanking with the best of them.

As if this was not enough, Beenie Man stepped up the pace even harder with a set that mixed anthems with a true show in incomparable style. Alongside his water-tight band he immediately launched into the explosive 'Hand Inna Di Air' (tune of the festival) then 'Come Again'. Spitting at an incredible speed he set the tone for a flawless hour-and-a-half. Summerjam went predictably nuts for 'Who Am I' and lively for 'Row Di Boat', while the 'Bam Bam' medley demonstrated his depth and longevity. Closing with 'Redemption Song' amidst a sea of lighters Beenie secured himself the title of Best Set of the Weekend. Blazing.

Sean Paul had the uneviable task of following this blissful afternoon, and his weak delivery and by-the-numbers hits underlined the chasm of quality. Nevertheless 'Gimme Di Light', 'Never Gonna Be The Same' and 'Im Still In Love' maintained good vibes throughout. Meanwhile Collie Buddz dropped 'Come Around' on the other stage to add a Hip Hop edge to the dancehall. The incomparable Roots then followed with their top-notch live Hip Hop, complete with massive tuba.

The final day saw Talib Kweli (!) become a welcome last minute stand-in, bringing a depth of quality Hip Hop to the appreciative crowd. After getting sunburnt on the beach Aswad represented the UK to full effect, while Anthony B closed the festival with a blinding set that cued mass singalongs. His rendition of Jah Cure's 'What Would It Take' and the anthemic 'Police' ensured that everyt'ing remained irie all the way on the plane back to London. The Germans certainly know how to party... "Pull it!!"