REGGAE MONTH

 

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February is Reggae Month. Reggae Month is a series of events and concerts, mostly in and around Kingston. You can attend lectures, view documentaries, discover upcoming talent, enjoy established talent, party at any of Kingston's weekly events, and go to reggae shows in and around Kingston. 


The Jamaican government officially declared February as reggae month in 2008. February is also Black History Month and both Bob Marley and Dennis Brown are born in February. Reggae Month itself is organised by JaRIA, the Jamaican Recording Industry Organisation, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.


Reggae month mostly features a series of recurring events, such as:

  • JaRIA Open University - a series of public discussions on all things reggae

  • JaRIA Live - a weekly series presenting local renown and upcoming talents

  • Reggae Wednesdays - a series of live concerts charting the evolution of reggae

  • Vinyl thursdays - King Harar Sound with Exile the Brave and Little Briggy

  • Reggae Mixer - weekly friday after-work jams

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 A detailed program of reggae month activities should not be expected months beforehand. The only thing you need to know is that, if you can travel to Jamaica in february, you should do it. And you should head straight for Kingston. Reggae month really kicks off on Bob Marley's birthday, February 6. Place to be is the Bob Marley museum on Hope Road. Regarded by some as something of a tourist trap on most days of the year, the museum really comes alive that day with nyabingi drummers in the morning and live shows during day time. On the days following Bob's Bday, there is mostly a stage show being held in Trench Town and a free stage show at the waterfront Downtown Kingston.

The JaRIA events are great, with well known reggae artists performing each wednesday, strictly vinyl selections on vinyl thursdays, and special editions of other Kingston weekly parties like Kingston Dub Club and Weddy Weddy Wednesdays.

There should also be a Dennis Brown memorial concert somewhere in february, and towards the end of the month you could head out to Belmont for the Peter Tosh memorial celebrations. 

 

WHEN

The whole month of February. A Reggae Month calender will be put up on the JarIA facebook page.

WHERE

Kingston is the place to be for Reggae Month. 

MORE

All info on the official reggae month events is to be found on the JarIA facebook page. Don’t expect too much information before January. An official Reggae Month calender lists the main events. Below is the 2019 calender, to give you an idea of this years events and activities.

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