The beloved free outdoor reggae Summer Soundsystem Series that includes Coney Island Reggae On The Boardwalk and Reggae Under The Bridge returns in 2024 on June 9, July 7, August 4, and August 31st in Brooklyn and Queens, featuring an array of reggae vinyl specialist DJs from Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond.
The first event at K Bridge Park on June 9 from 2-7 p.m. featured DJ Puma from Brooklyn’s famed LP International soundsystem, DJ Misbehavior, DJ Anthony, African Violet Roots, Chanter The Timeless Sound, and Carter Van Pelt.
WKCR DJ Carter Van Pelt founded the event series in June 2010, originally conceiving it as a way to play classic reggae at an accessible location (the Coney Island Boardwalk) to a broad audience: “It caught on from the very beginning, and I feel proud of what it’s become and how the community has embraced it, including the support and endorsements of the Brooklyn Arts Council and Queens BP Donovan Richards. Over the last dozen years, there has been a growing interest in Jamaican soundsystem culture globally, and also vinyl DJ culture, which has raised the profile of the events. Thanks to social media, people know about the event around the world and have travelled from Japan, Australia, Europe, and Jamaica to attend”.
The events have also benefited from the participation of reggae and soundsystem luminaries, including Jamaican producers King Jammy and Jack Scorpio, singers Luciano, Johnny Osbourne, and Carlton Livingston, and emcees Ranking Joe, Sassafrass, Sister Carol, and Screechy Dan, among others. Giants in the soundclash world, including selectors Puma from LP International, Downbeat The Ruler, and others such as Federation Sound and Sir Tommy, have been regular participants. The events are multi-cultural and multi-generational, featuring a core of Jamaican/Caribbean selectors and others passionate about the music culture, both men and women, ranging from teenagers to octogenarians.
The large, Jamaican style soundsystem for the events at K Bridge Park are provided by Chanter The Timeless Sound of Brooklyn. New restrictions implemented in 2023 have downsized the system used at the original Coney Island location and Rockaway Beach, but the power of the music remains the same.
YouTube videos of the event have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, and traditional news coverage has come from mainstream outlets such as CBS-New York and The Release in Jamaica.
In 2021, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards brought the event to the Rockaway Beach Amphitheater as part of his Queens – Live! series, where it returns again this year on Saturday, August 31st for Labor Day Weekend. “Reggae and Caribbean culture as a whole are integral parts of the Southeast Queens and Rockaway communities. I can’t wait to celebrate these roots when Reggae On The Boardwalk returns to Rockaway Beach this summer for an incredible day of music”, said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.
The event series is free to the public and generously supported by community donations from attendees, by the Brooklyn Arts Council, and the Office of the Queens Borough President. (VP Records)
