Sud Sound System

Sud Sound System are the pioneers of raggamuffin and dancehall style, in Salento and in Italy. They performed for the first time outside Salento on January 21, 1989 in the Leoncavallo social center in Milan, although their recording debut dates back to 1991, with the 12-inch Fuecu/T'a sciuta bona. The impact of the band on the Italian music scene was immediately remarkable. Their reggae sound mixed with busy lyrics sung in Salento dialect leads them to live performances, television and radio appearances, up to the Festival of New Author Trends in Recanati. They are the protagonists of a documentary by Renato De Maria and a video by Gianluca Sgalambro, broadcast by the main national TVs. The experience of the SSS also becomes the object of analysis and debates in some Italian universities with the sociologists Georges Lapassade and Piero Fumarola.

Between 1993 and 1994, SSS performed on the first European stages together with international artists such as Macka B and Mad Professor, Little Owie, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Asher D, Chubby Rankin, Daddy Freddy, Thriller Jenna, Sweete Irie, Echo Minott , Shabba Ranks, the Wailers, Anthony B and Sizzla. In the same year they start the production of the Salento Showcase, in which they join the new voices of the Salento reggae scene, radicalising a real movement. The project will return in 2000, 2005 and 2007, with the birth of the Salento ShowCase Group.

1996 is the year of the Comu na petra disc, in which various Salento tambourine players collaborate, strengthening the link between the raggamuffin and the music of the Salento tradition. Among the songs Afro ragga taranta jazz and Crisce, but also Soul train on the theme of southern emigration.

In June 1999 the album Reggae party arrives, with excellent critical acclaim and sales. In the same year the band took part in the film Liberate i Pisces by Cristina Comencini and founded a recording studio, the Salento Sound Studio, and its own publishing house, the Salento Sound System, in San Donato di Lecce. 1999 was also the year of Giallurussu, the official anthem of the Salento football club from 2001 to 2003.

In 2001 came the album Musica musica and in 2003 Lontano. The latter makes the band win the Premio Tenco in the category "Best Italian dialect work". Hence the song The roots you hold, which has become a hymn to the origins of Salento. The video of the song wins the "Best video of the year" award at the Meeting of Independent Labels in Faenza.

The tours in Europe continue and in 2005 the SSS produce the new LP Acqua pe sta terra, in which they are joined by the big names Luciano, Chico, Anthony Johnson and General Levy. They participate in the soundtrack of the cartoon by Edoardo Bennato, playing The mouse eats everything and in an episode of the RaiUno Rockpolitik broadcast hosted by Adriano Celentano.

Always committed to the defense of the environment and the right to health, in 2008 they turned on the media spotlights on industrial complexes in Puglia that are harmful to health. Among these, the Ilva of Taranto and the Cerano power plant. The album Dammene ancora is centered on these themes which, among others, sees a collaboration with Neffa.

On 21 April 2009, together with 53 other Italian singers, they recorded the single Domani 21/04.2009, in honor of the victims of the earthquake in Abruzzo.

The partnership with the Bag A Riddim Band dates back to these years, their current backing band, the result of the merger between Ficupala, The Messapians and Maestro Garofalo.

After the single Bisogno d'amore, in May 2010 they released Ultimamente, an album denouncing the political system and collaborated with Riva Starr for the single Orizzonti.

In June 2012 The Best of Sud Sound System arrives and they participate live in Salvatore Tramacere's theatrical project Acido Fenico – Ballata per Mimmo Carunchio, camorrista.

In June 2014 SSS released a new album of unreleased songs entitled Sta tonu. With the participation of various artists, while in 2016 they start their first tour in Jamaica, guests of Richie Stephens with whom they will participate, the following year, at the Reggae Sumfest.

2017 is the year of Eternal Vibes studio work which will give rise to multiple dates and sold outs abroad. Collaborations with artists and tours continue that will see them engaged throughout Europe.

In 2020 Semper Tu is released, a single by the band that leads them to be hosted on Rai at "They call it summer" and "Telethon" conducted by Federico Quaranta.

In 2021 they released two singles and as many videos: "Come l'Edera" released in January and with the extraordinary featuring of Al Bano, and in November "Soul Jazz", both enthusiastically welcomed by the fans.

2022 was more focused on the restart of the band's live activity in over 50 clubs, festivals and squares.

On April 28, 2023 the new single “Girai Girai” is released.