NEW YORK, United States — The second staging of‘Poetry: Echoes of Expression’ will take place on September 27 at VP Records’ offices in Queens, New York.

Staged by Richie Innocent, it features performances by poets and authors.

He told Observer Online that with roots-reggae and dancehall benefitting from major live shows in Europe, Japan and North America, it is critical for poets to have forums to expose their work.

“It is important to have events like Echoes Of Expression to give community members and their families the option of receiving clean and wholesome entertainment through cultural exhibitions and exchange,” Richie Innocent noted “Those in attendance will get to meet and greet authors and poets and have their signature affixed to their purchases.”

Celebrating the 30th year since he recorded his first song, Richie Innocent is the headliner for the event. He shares the bill with Marcia Jackson, Marj Da Poet, Blaq Ice, Brimstone Bucannabis, Amaziyah The Great and Sharon Gordon.

At last year’s show, Richie Innocent launched Perseverance, his first book. Recently, he released The Passover, a song he co-produced with Marlon Wright.

Born in Kingston and raised in St Elizabeth, Richie Innocent was part of the wave of socially-aware artistes who emerged from central and southern Jamaica during the 1990s.

Key figures in that movement were Tony Rebel, Everton Blender, Garnet Silk and Yasus Afari.

His songs include Hills mi Deh, Drugs fi Gun, Monster and Herbalist.

—   Howard Campbell