Because he came of age as a music-savvy businessman during the 1990s, Bobby Clarke has a soft spot for trends from that decade. Artistes from the era are on the Oracabessa Festival, scheduled for September 1 at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York.

The event is promoted by Clarke’s Irie Jam company, a leading player in Big Apple entertainment for over 30 years. It features acts like Louie Culture, Mr Eazy, Marcia Griffiths, Lady G and soca artiste Edwin Yearwood.

“Irie Jam was born in the 90’s and the music and artistes of that era, and prior, we will always showcase and celebrate. Thirty-plus years later, as our music has evolved, we understand the importance of blending the old with the new sound of reggae, dancehall, soca and calypso, hence our lineup is diversified to cover the age group and backgrounds represented by our Caribbean audience,” said Syntyche Clarke, event director of the Oracabessa Festival.

The event recognises Irie Jam’s 31st year as an organisation. Irie Jam radio station debuted in New York in October 1993, a time when dancehall music was making inroads in the American mainstream market.

Thanks to a hip roster of disc jockeys, Irie Jam became one of the mediums that enhanced the genre’s profile in New York City, which has been home to a massive West Indian populace since the early 1970s. The region’s diverse culture will be on show at Oracabessa Festival, which Syntyche Clarke describes as, “a Caribbean music festival showcasing our arts, our culinary offerings, our rich history and traditions and of course our diverse music.”

Bobby Clarke was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in 2017 “for over 20 years of dedicated media services to Jamaican nationals of the New York Tri-state area.”

Jada Kingdom, Patrice Roberts, Ian Sweetness, Valiant, Terry Linen, Jr Demus and Majah Hype will also be featured on the Oracabessa Festival.