By Chris Godfrey
Jamaican music legends are set to bring a wave of reggae and dancehall magic to Newark, NJ and Coney Island, Brooklyn this summer courtesy of Jammins Events. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and Coney Island Amphitheater will each host an evening of Jamaican music and soul on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17, featuring the iconic Beres Hammond, the indomitable Marcia Griffiths, and dancehall star Baby Cham. The performance at each venue promises “feel-good music and uplifting vibes”. Fans are already buzzing about this rare gathering of reggae royalty – a lineup that spans generations and styles, from lovers’ rock to roots and dancehall. Special guests Romain Virgo and Louie Culture are also scheduled to join the bill, making it an unforgettable celebration of Jamaican culture and music.
Headlining the show is Beres Hammond, often hailed as the “king of lovers rock” for his soulful, romantic brand of reggae. Now 69, Hammond brings decades of hits and a signature blend of smoky-sweet vocals and smooth reggae rhythms. “I don’t sing for charts; I sing for hearts,” he famously says – a motto that reflects his focus on touching souls rather than chasing trends. Indeed, Hammond’s music has been the soundtrack of love for reggae fans worldwide. Classics like “Rockaway,” “No Disturb Sign,” “What One Dance Can Do,” and the seductive “Tempted to Touch” remain perennial favorites that ignite sing-alongs whenever he performs. His 1990s anthem “Tempted to Touch” even topped reggae charts internationally, exemplifying how his passionate songwriting transcends borders.
Beres Hammond’s influence in reggae is profound. Though he’s humbly never had a mainstream U.S. pop hit, he’s a two-time Grammy Award nominee recognized in the Best Reggae Album category, and his work commands respect from the biggest names in the industry. Pop superstar Rihanna once publicly sang along to Hammond’s lyrics and tweeted lines from his song “They Gonna Talk”, while rapper Drake expressed he’d want Hammond to sing at his wedding. Even fellow artists revere him – on their 2001 duet “Dance 4 Me,” Wyclef Jean crowned Hammond a legend, declaring “All you fake singers, bow down to the legend”. Such accolades underline Hammond’s status as a reggae living legend. His rich, grainy voice has even drawn comparisons to soul greats like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke for its emotive power.
On stage, Beres is a consummate showman who thrives on live performance. At Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest last year, he had a crowd of 15,000 in the palm of his hand, spanning “three generations of fans” united in song. Here in New York, Hammond recently sold out arenas like Brooklyn’s Coney Island Amphitheater and NJPAC itself as part of his Forever Giving Thanks Tour. Concertgoers describe his shows as almost spiritual experiences. “When Beres sings, you feel every word in your heart,” says longtime fan Michelle Young, 47, of Queens. From the moment he saunters on stage – often opening with upbeat favorites like “What One Dance Can Do” and “She Loves Me Now” – the atmosphere is pure joy. He engages the audience with playful banter and heartfelt delivery, making every person in the hall feel the love in his lovers-rock anthems.
Sharing the stage will be the one-and-only Marcia Griffiths, aptly known as the Queen of Reggae. Griffiths is celebrating an astonishing 60 years in the music industry, a milestone that underscores her status as reggae’s most enduring female vocalist. From her early days in the 1960s rocksteady era to her global tours today, Griffiths has continuously broken barriers and inspired generations. At 74, she still belts out songs with the same soulful fervor that first captivated audiences in Kingston. Her career is studded with hits: “Feel Like Jumping” (her breakout 1967 solo hit), the uplifting duet “Young, Gifted and Black” (a 1970 top-5 UK hit she recorded with Bob Andy), and of course the timeless “Electric Boogie.” Released in the 1980s, Electric Boogie sparked the global “Electric Slide” line dance phenomenon, making Griffiths a crossover star and a household name far beyond Jamaica. To this day, no wedding or party feels complete without her feel-good anthem powering the dance floor.
Marcia Griffiths’ contributions go even deeper: she was one of Bob Marley’s renowned I-Threes harmony trio in the 1970s, lending her voice to classics like “No Woman, No Cry” and touring the world as Marley’s backing vocalist. In doing so, she helped carry the message of One Love worldwide and cement reggae’s global legacy. Her artistry earned Jamaica’s highest accolades – she received the Order of Distinction in 2014 and, most prestigiously, the Order of Jamaica in 2023, becoming the only Jamaican female artist ever to earn that honor. It’s a fitting recognition for an artist often described as “the only Queen of Reggae”, and “arguably the most influential woman in the history of reggae”.
Despite her decades of success, Griffiths remains as hardworking and humble as ever. Just last year, she completed tours of Europe and Japan, thrilling overseas fans even as she quietly conquered a personal fear of flying to do so. “The show must go on,” she says resolutely, noting that it’s the fans’ love that motivates her to keep performing no matter the obstacles. She recalls doing shows “money or no money” simply because the audience was there, hungry for the music. That devotion runs both ways: Griffiths has fans so loyal, they’ve named their children after her – a testament to how deeply her songs touch people’s lives across the globe.
When Marcia Griffiths takes the stage, expect a master class in reggae history and positivity. Whether she’s serenading the crowd with her 1970s love ballad “Truly” or getting everyone dancing to “Electric Boogie,” her performance is sure to be a highlight. “I can stay in one place and send my voice to the four corners of the world and touch souls,” Griffiths says of her calling – and on these two nights; August 16 at NJPAC and August 17 at Coney Island Amphitheater, her voice will undoubtedly unite young and old in celebration. Fellow artists revere her as well; dancehall icon Shaggy and reggae star Buju Banton have both collaborated with her in recent years, demonstrating her continued relevance. Truly, the Queen’s reign continues stronger than ever, and her set is likely to be an inspiring trip through six decades of reggae magic.
The evening will shift into high-energy gear with Baby Cham, the dancehall superstar whose hard-hitting anthems and crossover collaborations have made him a force in reggae and hip-hop circles alike. Born Damian Beckett and now often billed simply as Cham, he first burst onto the scene in the late ’90s and achieved international fame with “Ghetto Story” in 2006 – a gritty, authentic narrative of inner-city life that resonated across the world. “Ghetto Story” became an international hit and a defining song of modern dancehall; it was so influential that it spawned answer tracks (“chapters” of the story) by other artists. The song’s appeal even caught the attention of R&B superstar Alicia Keys, who jumped on the official remix. The “Ghetto Story Chapter 2” version featuring Keys helped propel Cham further into the U.S. mainstream, with a glossy video on MTV and BET and a peak of No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. (To date, the Alicia Keys remix’s official video has racked up over 45 million YouTube views, underscoring the track’s enduring popularity.) Cham earned a Grammy nomination for his work – highlighting how his blend of reggae authenticity and hip-hop savvy made waves beyond Jamaica’s shores.
Beyond Ghetto Story, Baby Cham has a catalog of dancehall hits that get parties bouncing. Tracks like the cheeky “Vitamin S”, club bangers “Boom” and “Wine”, and guest verses on hip-hop remixes have showcased his versatility. He’s also a noted collaborator: throughout his career Cham has teamed up with a who’s-who of R&B and rap, including Foxy Brown, Rihanna, Carl Thomas, Mims, Akon, T-Pain and actress-singer Keke Palmer. Indeed, Cham’s charismatic flow and crossover appeal helped pave the way for dancehall in the American charts during the mid-2000s, following the path of Sean Paul’s breakout. He’s stayed true to his roots as well, frequently working with legendary Jamaican producer Dave Kelly (the mastermind behind many of Cham’s hits) and even recording with reggae royalty like Damian “Junior Gong” Marley.
On stage, Baby Cham is pure energy. Fans can expect him to deliver rapid-fire rhymes and command the crowd with the confidence of a seasoned dancehall deejay. Whether he’s performing the hard-hitting original “Ghetto Story” or the remix duet with Alicia Keys, the song’s thumping bass and catchy “this is my story” hook are sure to bring the audience to its feet. Cham’s presence on the Beres Hammond & Friends lineup also brings a younger generation’s flavor to both nights – he represents the bridge between classic reggae and contemporary dancehall. As an artist who found crossover success without compromising his Jamaican identity, Cham remains a powerful voice in reggae and dancehall music, showing that the genre’s new school can hold its own alongside the veterans.
With Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, and Baby Cham all sharing one stage, for Jammins Events very special Beres Hammonds & Friends concert series, August 16 and August 17 will be a weekend of musical fireworks. It’s a rare opportunity to see three eras of Jamaican music excellence – roots, lovers’ rock, and dancehall – converge in one concert. Romain Virgo, a rising star known for his silky lovers-rock vocals, and veteran sing-jay Louie Culture add even more depth to the lineup. Virgo, at just 33, represents the next generation inspired by legends like Hammond (in fact, Virgo has covered Beres’s songs in tribute) and Griffiths. Louie Culture, for his part, brings the flavor of 90s dancehall with hits like “Gangalee,” connecting past and present. Together, the roster truly spans the spectrum of reggae music’s evolution.
For tickets to Beres Hammond & Friends on Saturday, August 16 at NJPAC and Sunday, August 17 at Coney Island Amphitheater visit ticketmaster.com or call (646) 210-6615.
