Following on from last year’s all-star edition headed by A Tribe Called Quest, travelling hip hop festival Rock The Bells has kept the calibre high in 2009. This time round the headline act is a one-off team-up of Nas and Damian – œJr. Gong’ Marley, with a reunited House Of Pain fulfilling the nostalgia quota.

Other heavyweight bookings include Common, The Roots, Big Boi of Outkast, KRS-One, RZA and Sage Francis. Having released the Train Of Thought album together back in 2000, Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek will also appear as Reflection Eternal. Rock The Bells kicks off on 27 June, covering Chciago to Vancouver. Another enviable installment of acts is still to come, with surprise performances promised.

ROCK THE BELLS 2009 LINE-UP

Nas & Damian – œJr. Gong’ Marley
The Roots
Common
Big Boi (Outkast)
KRS-One
House of Pain w/ all original members featuring La Coka Nostra
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli + Hi Tek)
Tech N9ne
RZA (Wu-Tang)
Raekwon (Cuban Linx II)
Sage Francis
Slaughterhouse (Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Royce Da 5’9,” Crooked I)
M.O.P.
Charlie 2na (Jurassic 5)
Necro
Eyedea & Abilities
Evidence
Alchemist
Psycho Realm
Mystic Jouneymen (Sunspot Jonez + Lucky I Am)
Mickey Facts
Tabi Bonney
Slum Village (T3, Baatin, Elzhi)
Buckshot
K’naan