Life is great! In these times of global economic recession, hope and joy is needed. Yared Tekeste, the founder of Uppsala Reggae Festival in Sweden, thinks this world needs more reggae spirit:

“There are so many wonderful things in the world, but we need to help each other understand and appreciate them. Therefore Uppsala Reggae Festival encourages all reggae media and festivals to challenge their audience to share the joy and optimism in a creative and generous manner”.

As an example Yared mentions the positivity-project, Life is Great. Through a blog people are contributing with art, photos, poetry, video, music and share their ideas on Life is Great (www.lifeisgreat09.blogspot.com). The best material will then be published in magazines and exposed at Uppsala Reggae Festival 2009, which has Life is Great as a festival theme this year.

”The Life is Great concept, including the logo, may be used by all reggae lovers who accepts the challenge”, says Yared Tekeste.

Uppsala Reggae Festival, august 6-8, 2009
Uppsala Reggae Festival is northern Europe’s biggest reggae festival. Every year the Uppsala Reggae Festival brings some of the biggest stars of reggae to Uppsala just north of Stockholm and attracts around 20 000 visitors during three days. The festival is one of the most popular summer festivals in the otherwise dark and cold Scandinavia, where the sun goes down at noon during the winter and the short summer is celebrated as the highlight of the year. This year a unique mix of legends and young rising stars are presented at Uppsala Reggae Festival. Apart from the music, there will also be Reggae Soccer, Reggae Cinema and Life is Great art exhibitions.

“Reggae is advancing in Scandinavia and that is not all due to the music, but also because of the culture and lifestyle. People are looking for new ways to meet, and now more than ever the world needs us to spread the positivity”, says Yared Tekeste.

International artists 2009: Alpha Blondy (CIV), Busy Signal (JAM), Third World (JAM), Ky-Mani Marley (JAM), Don Carlos (JAM), Etana (JAM), Junior Kelly (JAM), Lutan Fyah (JAM), The Heptones (JAM), Collie Buddz & The New Kingston Band (BER/JAM), David Rodigan (UK), King Jammy’s Super Power (JAM), T.O.K (JAM), Rootz Underground (JAM), Ziggi & The Renaissance Band (NL), Komposti Sound (FIN), Inna Yard All Stars feat Cedric ”Congo ” Myton¬ – Linval Thompson – Earl” Chinna” Smith – Kiddus I – The Viceroys – Deraja – Matthew McNuff (JAM).

Swedish artists 2009: Svenska Akademien, Jaqee, Kultiration, Syster Sol, Governor Andy, Hoffmaestro Chraa, Nazarenes, Meditative Sound, Safari Sound, Junior Natural, Roots Circus, Rootvälta.

For more information:
- Yared Tekeste, yared@uppsalareggaefestival.se, +46 76 064 59 27, +46 18 477 67 66
- www.uppsalareggaefestival.se
- www.uppsalareggaefestival.se/press/presspicture.php
- www.lifeisgreat09.blogspot.com

Uppsala Reggae Festival is northern Europe’s biggest reggae festival and has been held annually since 2001. Every year the festival presents some of the world’s leading reggae artists and legends – Swedish as well as foreign. The festival attracts around 20 000 visitors over three days and is situated along the side of the Fyris river on the outskirts of central Uppsala. The festival’s mission is to make reggae music more accessible to more people and to provide a meeting place for people who want to experience love and togetherness – Oneness. The whole operation is founded on a deep understanding of reggae music and reggae culture.