Irie Jamboree 2010 - Canceled - Reggae Festival in Jamaica, Queens

UPDATE: For 2010 Irie Jamboree has been canceled. Stay tuned for 2011 when we hope to see the Labor Day weekend reggae bash return to Queens, New York.

Irie Jamboree is an annual reggae and dancehall music festival in Queens, New York. The all-day event brings top name performers to Jamaica, Queens. The college's outdoor area will be flooded that day with flags from throughout the Caribbean, especially Jamaica and Guyana, and you better get your tickets early and get to the park early.

This year's headliner is cross-over star Sean Paul.

In 2009 Irie Jamboree marks its ninth year. Its 2006 concert won the honor of Top Concert at the International Reggae & World Music Awards in 2007, beating out Jamaica's own Reggae Sumfest. Promoters claimed 25,000 attended the 2006 festival.

• Irie Jamboree - CANCELED
• Sunday, Labor Day Weekend
• Gates open at noon. Music starts at 1 p.m.
• York College, Jamaica, Queens, NY
• Main Entrance - 94-45 Liberty Avenue, Jamaica, NY
• Map to York College (Google Maps)

• Tickets - $60 general admission, $100 VIP online - see Irie Jamboree.com for ticket venues.

Lineup is still in progress, as of August 30, 2009:
Mr. Vegas, T.O.K., Spice, Shinebead, Sean Paul, Ras Shiloh, Bushman, Assassin, Queen Ifrica, China, Etana, Anthony Cruz, Freddie McGregor, Bushman, Sugar Minott, Ken Boothe, Gramps Morgan

Headlining in 2007 was Grammy-award-winner Stephen "Raggamuffin" Marley, one of Bob Marley's sons. His debut album Mind Control came out in early 2007. He's known for producing and performing with his brother Damian Marley, and was once a member of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers.

The entrance to Irie Jamboree at York College is at 105-20 Guy Brewer Avenue, Jamaica, NY. The location is much more convenient to mass transit and parking than the older location at Roy Wilkins Park.

From the Van Wyck Expressway, exit at Liberty Ave. From the north, turn left onto Liberty. From the south, turn right. Continue east until 160th St.

From the Grand Central take Parsons Blvd, and go south. At Archer, turn left and then right on Guy Brewer.

There will be parking, but don't count on it. Public transportation is recommended.

• Map to Irie Jamboree at York College (Google Maps)

Subway at Jamaica Center - E, J, Z subways at Jamaica Center (Archer Ave and Parsons Blvd). Walk east to 160th St and turn right, or go two blocks farther to Guy Brewer Blvd and turn right. Either street you will pass under the LIRR tracks and then see the fields of York College and signs for the festival.

Train at Jamaica - Take the LIRR to Jamaica. It's a long walk down Archer Ave toward York College, and might make sense to take the E subway one stop from the LIRR station. See above.

Lots of buses stop in Jamaica Center, in close walking distance to Irie Jamboree at York College:
Q4, Q5, Q25/34, Q30, Q31, Q42, Q44, Q54, Q65, Q83, Q84, Q85, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, and N4.

Irie Jamboree is a presentation of Irie Jam Radio & Black Emperor Entertainment.