10 Reggae Summer Concerts/Festivals

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to summer! Before you know it summer will be here, so if you haven’t already you may want to start planning your summer outings, get togethers, road trips, carnivals, fetes, brunches, day parties and of course festivals! Reggae with a backdrop of a nice summer day go hand in hand. It’s prime season for reggae concerts and festivals here are ten of the hottest concerts and festivals happening this summer!

Best of the Best Concert  (May 24 – Bayfront Park, Miami FL)

North America’ largest Caribbean music festival Best of the Best Concert(BOTB) returns for its 9Th edition with even grander plans; kicking off with the announcement of round one lineup Monday December 1, 2014! With over 25,000 patrons passing through the hallowed BOTB gates under sun kissed South Florida skies, Best of the Best returns to the striking landscapes of Bayfront Park and the Miami Beach skyline on Sunday May 24, 2015 respectively, with every intention of making history again!

Oracabessa Festival – Roy Wilkins Park – Queens, NY

Memorial Day Monday, May 25 – Tarrus Riley, Sean Paul, Alaine, Freddie McGregor Sean Paul, Christopher Martin, Josie Wales, Dexta Daps, The Grace Thrillers and more TBA!

Groovin’ in the Park – (June 28, Roy Wilkins Park, Queens)

The newest, but fast staple is the fifth staging of Groovin’ in the Park. The festival caters to the grown and sexy crowd with an appreciation for R&B Classics mixed with Reggae acts. This year’s line up features reknown pop ballad since Michael Bolton and Billy Ocean along with Morgan Heritage, Luciano, Capleton, Cocoa Tea, and Stitchie.

Reggae SumFest – (July 12-18, Montego Bay, Jamaica)

The reknown reggae seven day festival held at Festival at Catherine Hall in Jamaica has been a staple for XX years. Set up with a Dancehall, Reggae and International nights Reggae Sumfests’ variety has been more than pleasing to fans of all kinds of music. Not to mention the great parties, vendors and nearby resort settings catered to all aspects for those who visit Jamaica just for this event. The line up has not been released yet, but check back because they are sure to announce soon.

 

Montreal International Reggae Fest – August 14 – 16

Beres Hammond, Lady Saw, Shabba Ranks Cocoa Tea and more headline this year’s Montreal International Reggae Festival. Montreal’s festive summer season was augmented in 2004 with the emergence of The Montreal International Reggae Festival – offering three days of “Reggae Rocking” on the Quays of The Old Port. With an aim to not only showcase the pulsating Reggae beat of internationally renown musicians, but also to highlight excellence amongst a diverse set of ‘Reggae Ambassadors’ from all corners of the world including Canadian based musicians, this festival continues to be held in high esteem. Consistently embracing the theme, “United Against Violence” the Montreal International Reggae Festival has become a significant tradition for Reggae music lovers in and outside of Canada.

Hot 97 on Da Reggae Tip

 

VP Records 35th Year Anniversary – (June 27, New York City)

VP Records has teamed up with SummerStage to celebrate the label’s 35th year in business. From VP’s artist roster, reggae stars Maxi Priest and Gyptian as well as soca royalty Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons will take the stage in NYC’s Central Park for this momentous occasion. DJs Bobby Konders and Jabba of Massive B will also provide sounds throughout the day. The free concert kicks off at 2pm and ends at 7pm on June 27, 2015.

Chronixx & The Zinc Fence Redemption Band – (Various cites and dates)

Chronixx has been one of the most talked about reggae artist of the last two years. The young reggae star has garnered much adoration from the reggae/dancehall fans across the world. I’ve seen Chronixx in concert at Toad’s Place in Connecticut (he’s back there on June 2) and he was great in concert! With positive lyrics and a great band, if you haven’t seen him in concert catching him this summer

Catch a Fire Tour – (Various cities and dates)

The Marley brothers are back on the road and this time they’re bringing a few other friends with them on the Catch A Fire Tour, with Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Morgan Heritage, Taurus Riley, Jo Mersa and Black Am I . The tour is hitting very select cities including Philadelphia, New York and Boston at the the moment, but I’m sure there may be more dates added.

Reggae on the River – (July 30-August 2, Humboldt County, CA)

Mateel Community Center presents the 31^st anniversary of the longest running reggae festival in the U.S., the one-and-only Reggae On The River.  Set on the banks of the majestic Eel River and delivering the best in reggae and world music, this iconic gathering will feature global luminaries like:

Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Cham, Alborosie & Shengen, Tarrus Riley & Blak Soil, Protoje & The Indiggnation, Ce’Cile, Collie Buddz, Nahko and Medicine For The People, Ghetto Youths International featuring Jo Mersa, Christopher Ellis, Black-Am-I, & Wayne Marshall; Emmanuel Jal, The Congos, Katchafire, Stick Figure, Exco Levi, Alerta Kamarada, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Fortunate Youth, Mr. Williamz, Aaradhna, HIRIE, Empress Unification, Lior Ben-Hur, and lots more!

The 31^st annual Reggae On The River will also showcase more than 60 vending and non-profit booths, the ever-lively KidLandia, an opportunity to help with the Tools For Change humanitarian outreach program (and other worthy causes!), and- of course- the camping, community, and irie vibes which have made Reggae on the River famous.

On Da Reggae Tip – (TBD – usually the Friday of Labor Day Weekend – New York City)

New York Hip Hop station  Hot 97 has been a long supporter of reggae music thanks to Massive B’s Bobby Konders and Jabba. Their annual concert features the hottest artists in Dancehall, Reggae and Soca. Although the line up has not been announced, you can assure that it will be great a great time to kick off the Labor Day Weekend in New York City, which coincides with New York’s West Indian Day Parade (New York’s Carnival weekend)