COSMIC RAYS Burning Spear soaks up some sun before taking his act indoors at Filmore New York at Irving Plaza Sun 31.

It’s been said that the West Indian American Day Carnival brings more than 2 million people to Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn every Labor Day. While we can’t confirm that, we can assure you that the region’s top musical stars are typically in town for the occasion, as evidenced by the choice reggae, dancehall and soca performances that go down throughout the city during the weekend leading up to the parade. Let TONY be your guide for this year’s highlights.

Machel Montano
S.O.B.’s; Thu 28
Machel Montano sold out the Garden earlier this year, so an advance ticket is recommended for this intimate S.O.B.’s performance. Besides, the Trinidadian singer—long soca’s biggest act—is finally getting some mainstream love thanks to “Defense (The Anthem),” a remix of Pitbull and Lil Jon’s “The Anthem” (itself a remix of Enur’s “Calabria”).

Hot 97’s On da Reggae Tip with Assassin + Capleton + Demarco + Elephant Man + Junior Reid + Serani + Wyclef Jean
Hammerstein Ballroom; Fri 29
It’s been a quiet year for dancehall on these shores. The annual crossover anthem—an essential part of every NYC summer—never materialized, while bad-boy flavors du jour Mavado and Busy Signal are currently ineligible for U.S. visas. Somewhat fittingly, Hot 97’s annual breakdown of who’s hot in the typically youth-driven genre is heavier on veterans than it is on new faces.

Irie Jamboree with Beenie Man + Cocoa Tea + Elephant Man + Alison Hinds + Sizzla Kalonji + Tarrus Riley + Serani and Bugle + Yellowman
Roy Wilkins Park; Sun 31
Between Elephant Man, Sizzla Kalonji and Yellowman, the lineup of this year’s Irie Jamboree in Queens reads like a list of Jamaica’s top live performers. Barbadian soca singer Alison Hinds and up-and-comers Serani and Bugle—whose “Doh” is the year’s slickest dancehall single—help round out a daylong showcase of more than two dozen acts.

Burning Spear
Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza; Sun 31
Burning Spear’s newly dropped Jah Is Real has guest spots from P-Funk’s Bernie Worrell and Bootsy Collins, but it’s the frank lyrics about the music business that help the disc stand out among the elaborately dreadlocked reggae elder’s countless releases. Though he’s a longtime Queens resident, the date marks Spear’s first area performance in two years.

The Battle of the Bands with Bunji Garlin & Asylum Band + Krosfyah featuring Edwin Yearwood + Fayann Lyons + Red Hot Flames + Ricky T + Shurwayne Winchester
Roseland Ballroom; Sun 31
It’s not clear if this “Battle of the Bands” is an actual competition, but the multinational bill—including artists from Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia and Trinidad—brings together nearly all of soca’s biggest names (other than the aforementioned Machel Montano).