Reggae rocks New England

The summer reggae festival scene in the United States is heating up. Most of the established events take place on the country's west coast, most noted being Reggae On The River in California.

One of the newer shows is the Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival which is held in Newport, Rhode Island. This year's show is scheduled for August 13, with the featured acts being Bushman, Yellowman, Michael Rose, the Itals and the Skatalites.

In the 1980s, the New England reggae scene was vibrant. There were festivals in Rhode Island and Vermont and a thriving ska circuit throughout Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Though Jamaican music retains a strong club following in that region, the festivals have scaled down considerably. Last year, organisers in Newport launched their inaugural show with the Original Wailers and John Brown s Body as headliners.