The count down to Irie Jamboree 2k4, has begun. Scheduled to be held at
Roy Wilkins Park, Queens, New York on Sunday August 22, 2004, the highly anticipated concert will present a fabulous line up of reggae, dancehall and old school superstars including top cultural singer, Luciano, lovers’ rock crooner Barrington Levy, Freddie McGregor, Bounty Killer, TOK, Cobra, Tanya Stephens, Richie Spice, Richie Stephens, Frankie Paul among others. The main event will feature no more than 25 performances, which should enable the production to be shorter and tighter. Without disclosing too much information, head honchos Bobby Clarke and Steven Williams, disclosed that Irie Jamboree 2k4 will be spread over four consecutive days - something which has never been attempted by a reggae concert promoter here in New York.

On July 18th the Central Park Summerstage Concert Series will be celebrating Haiti with free performances from Tabou Combo, Boukan Guinen, Emeline Michel, and Beethova Obas. The concert starts at 2:30 pm at the bandshell. Visit www.summerstage.org for more information on this and other concerts.

The Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival is coming to Brooklyn, New York as part of its tour schedule. The concert features Ziggy, Damian, Stephen, Julian and Ky-Mani Marley along with Nappy Roots, Toots and the Maytals, and more. The August 10th performance, being held at Prospect Park’s bandshell, is a benefit concert for the Celebrate Brooklyn Festival. Tickets are available through www.rootsrockreggae.com .
VP Records has just released its Reggae Gold 2004 compilation CD. This CD is following a tradition that puts all the songs that topped the charts over the past year on one album. True to its popularity Dancehall rules this compilation with up tempo songs like Capleton’s ‘In Her Heart’, Ele’s ‘Jook Gal (Wine Wine) Head Gawn Version’ and T.O.K’s ‘Fire Fire’. Sean Paul’s ‘Ay, Ay, Ay’ featuring Tony Touch is one among many cuts featuring collaboration’s with some of today’s hottest rap artists. The classic Reggae rhythms are displayed with Natty King’s ‘No Guns to Town’ and Beres Hammond’s ‘Pride & Joy’. Even Alicia Key’s Reggae Remix of ’You Don’t Know My Name’ can be found here.

King Bentley International Sound System launched. With over 14 years experience in the sound system arena, and wearing numerous hats by spreading reggae and dancehall music worldwide, Father Bentley has started his own sound system, "King Bentley International". Father Bentley began his tenure in the sound system arena when he earned his livelihood selling dancehall cassettes and mixed tapes. Those dancehall cassettes and tapes helped to establish some of the more renowned sound systems of the day. Since launching King Bentley International, Father Bentley has traveled to Zimbabwe (where he is currently constructing a sound system as a donation to the youths of that country, called Bentley Sound Zimbabwe), Japan, France and Canada. Courtesy of www.trinipulse.com.

Compiled by Odette Flemming