The Church Avenue Business Improvement District presented “Island Sounds” as part of Caribbean Heritage Weekend on Church Avenue on Saturday June 21, 2014. The free Caribbean Music Festival featured Kompa, Reggae, Soca and Dancehall music. Community members were encouraged to come out, pick up a snack at any one of Church Avenue’s many food stores and enjoy the live music at the BID’s outdoor plaza filled with palm trees, tables and chairs.
The Church Avenue BID partnered with HealthPlus Amerigroup to kick off a three-day Caribbean-American Heritage Weekend on Church Avenue from June 20 – 22, 2014. This three-day event included face painting, music, and giveaways from small businesses on Church Avenue between Coney Island Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
However, the main attraction took place on Saturday, June 21, 2014 (the summer solstice) in conjunction with the Make Music New York concert series, when the BID presented “Island Sound,” a free Caribbean music festival, featuring live Kompa, Reggae, Soca, and Dancehall music. This three-hour concert was held on the corner of Church Avenue and East 17th Street next to the Downtown Natural Market
The Festival line-up included former Dancehall/EDM, now turned Christian Reggae and Calypso DJ powerhouse SkerritBwoy, Guyanese Singer, Songwriter, and Producer Safo, Haitian Reggae and Kompa Artist Woodie and the BAZ Troubadou Band and Jamaican Reggae/Pop Artist K-Star.
The atmosphere had everyone in a party mood. Attendees and passer-byes alike jammed, waved their hands, whined their waists and sang along to the awesome Caribbean sounds sung and played by these talented artists and musicians while enjoying natural fruit and vegetable juices from Downtown Natural market and free promotional giveaways. Even members of the BID joined in on the fun, dancing and singing with K-Star and his partner Finesse. It was truly a fun-filled event enjoyed by all.
The Church Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) is an organization that seeks to enhance the Church Avenue commercial district for businesses, residents, and shoppers by making it cleaner and safer, promoting the neighborhood as a shopping destination, and providing development resources to Church Avenue merchants and property owners.
Photo by Kevin Bollers
