THE Labor Day weekend in the United States is a big deal for the West Indian community in New York City.

This year’s festivities take on added significance with the Caribbean

Fever Irie Jamboree show which runs August 30-September 1.

The three-night music event takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a borough with a strong West Indian heritage.

It features different sounds and performers from the Caribbean. Soca will be represented by acts like Bunji Garlin while Lady Saw and Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley are among the dancehall/reggae acts.

Steven Williams is a spokesman for Caribbean Fever Irie Jamboree, which was previously known as Irie Jamboree.

What we have done this year is to take a successful premium product that has been tried and tested, and we have placed it in the heart of the

Caribbean celebrations over Labor Day weekend, he said. The response so far has been fantastic.”

Opening night will feature performers from the French Caribbean. The following night sees soca from the Eastern Caribbean taking the spotlight with reggae and dancehall closing the event.

Caribbean Fever Irie Jamboree is a joint venture between three companies: Williams’ Enterprise LLC, Irie Jam Radio and Caribbean Fever.

All have promoted events with a Caribbean flavour in New York City.

The boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens have been home to West Indian immigrants for decades. Jamaican culture has thrived there. Restaurants and record stores have grown from ‘mom and pop’ outlets to major establishments.

Some of the success stories coming out of these boroughs are Jamaican singer Denroy Morgan (best known for the 1981 hit song, I’ll Do Anything For You), his deejay compatriot Shaggy and Rayvon, the Barbados-born singer who recorded chart-topping songs with Shaggy.

Influential rappers the Notorious BIG, Busta Rhymes, Slick Rick and Doug E Fresh who burst out of these communities, all have West Indian heritage.