Kickstarter

The Coney Island Reggae Soundsystem Series is a continuation of reggae boardwalk parties conceived and launched in 2010 by Carter Van Pelt of WKCR's "Eastern Standard Time" Jamaican music program and co-hosted by Sound Liberation Front, a Brooklyn-based music and event organizing/marketing startup.

This project will fund four (4) free, daylong Sunday events (June 3; July 15; August 26 **rescheduled from August 12**; September 9, 2012) featuring reggae selectors playing through a "yard-style" soundsystem heard over a large outdoor area - in this case the historic boardwalk at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, at West 19th Street. As Jamaican popular music was almost entirely produced to be heard at public dances through large public soundsystems, these events celebrate an important cultural context specific to reggae that is not widely understood in the ipod/mp3 digital music era. 

As free events, the Coney Island Reggae Soundsystem Series have introduced new listeners to Jamaican popular music (ska, rock steady, reggae, dancehall, dub, etc.) and is giving those (non-Jamaicans) already familiar with reggae a more authentic context for hearing it.

By its location in Brooklyn, NY, the events benefit from the participation of a large community of Jamaicans integrally involved with the music culture as selectors, singers, producers, and emcees. 

Most importantly, these are family-friendly events and everyone is welcome to attend and share in a multicultural community experience only possible in a place like Brooklyn.

The funds raised through this campaign will be used for sound system rental, transportation, generator fuel, and the parks and police permits, and marketing for all four events.