THE BARCLAYS CENTER WELCOMES CARIBBEAN AND REGGAE MUSIC

THE BARCLAYS CENTER WELCOMES CARIBBEAN AND REGGAE MUSIC

By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger

Photographer: George Whylie

Videographer: Maxine Nolan

Sharron Smith: Reporter

The Barclays Center is the newest addition to the Brooklyn skyline and it is kicking into high gear as it begins to host the National Basketball Association’s Brooklyn Nets.

However, the new indoor arena is not just about sports. The doors recently opened to the first event to christen the Center and welcomed native New Yorker Jay-Z for eight sold-out performances from September 28-October 6, 2012 that drew loyal followers and fans who were even treated to an onstage visit from his wife and talented songstress, Beyonce. It was an ingenious way to start the publicity flowing for The Barclays Center.

One of the next big events to make its way to the Brooklyn’s Barclays Center will be the Caribbean Fever Music Festival. While New Yorkers start taking their coats out of the closet in preparation of the cold winter ahead, the Caribbean breeze blows in for one night, November 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

It will be a night of special sounds as the best dancehall, reggae, soca and classic hip-hop make their way to the Barclays Center’s Cushman & Wakefield Theater.

You can be sure you will see and hear international favorites such as Trinidad’s Machel Montano who has been called the Soca King and Jamaica’s answer to reggae at its finest, Baby Cham along with Slick Rick the Ruler and Mr. Vegas. Topping off the show will be Doug E. Fresh of Barbados and none other than the Queen of the Caribbean herself, Alison Hinds.

Before the night has even had a chance to warm up, the talented list of performers will have you dancing on your feet and in the spirit of the island.

If you haven’t had enough of the Caribbean, you are in luck because The Barclays Center plans to bring back the sizzling sounds of reggae with BioLife Sounds of Reggae: UB40, Beres Hammond, Shaggy and Maxi Priest. This great show will feature the diversified British reggae/pop band UB40 and one of the most popular reggae artists of all time, Maxi Priest, for an evening of fantastic music. With the addition of other all-time favorites, romantic crooner, Beres Hammond and musical maestro, Shaggy, the arena will be jammin’ on December 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. This event is a show not to be missed for reggae lovers who just happen to be in the New York area during that time. It promises to be a sold-out show.

The rhythm will move you at these two entertaining events and at the same time you will have a chance to experience the newest venue that will house a multitude of exciting events in the coming months.

The talented and lovely Barbara Streisand will be performing tomorrow evening, October 13, 2012.

In addition to NBA Basketball, boxing comes to the Center on October 20, 2012.

Trance event Sensation America takes place on October 26-27, 2012.

Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will debut on December 5, 2012 marking the only New York performance for him in 2012.

The Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice and Champions On Ice will all thrill children and adults alike as they make their way to the arena.

WWE will host their pay-per-view on December 16, 2012.

Dave Matthews Band will wow audiences on December 21, 2012.

Green Day performs some of their greatest hits on January 16, 2013.

Swedish House Mafia tantalizes with techno on March 2-March 4, 2013.

Lady Gaga makes her way to the Center on March 6-7, 2013 to the delight of her fans.