Eight months after launching his first book, poet Richie Innocent dons his show promoter’s hat by staging Richie Innocent & Friends. The event takes place September 28 at VP Records headquarters in Queens, New York.

The event features dub poets including fellow Jamaicans Ras Manga, Killa Boo and Pat “Miss Pat” Chin, matriarch of VP Records.

“The concept of this event is to create a unique space where dub poets and other creatives can share their thoughts, observations, and energy with poetry lovers and enthusiasts. It’s an opportunity for artists to engage with an audience that appreciates this powerful art form, which continuously challenges social norms and touches people’s hearts, minds, and souls. Our message is unity and love, the glue that binds us together,” Richie Innocent told Observer Online.

Other artistes on the show are Maxwanette A Poetess, an American of Jamaican descent, Vachikepwe di Poet from Zimbabwe, Marcia Jackson, Judith Falloon-Reid, and Marjorie Walters.

Richie Innocent was born in Kingston and raised in St Elizabeth. His debut book Perseverance contains over 80 poems, which are in line with most of his socially-conscious songs which include Drugs fi Gun and Careless Shotta.

“There are about the community and yesteryears ,the need for love to be active like before. My works are explanatory and overall it’s about never giving up and always believing in the power and spirit of perseverance,” he explained.

Richie Innocent & Friends will be hosted by Sharon Gordon and is co-promoted by Cyber Leaf Entertainment.

– Howard Campbell