Rocksteady legend Leroy Sibbles set to sizzle Tri-State Family Fun Festival

Rocksteady and reggae pioneer Leroy Sibbles is set to headline the 26th Annual Tri-State Family Fun Festival on Sunday, Aug. 9, at Heckscher State Park, Pavilion #2, East Islip, Long Island.

The festival, organized by Conroy Allison and Irie Jam Radio, has become a summer fixture for families across the Tri-State area, “mixing music, games and community spirit into one full day out,” according to Jamaican-born, New York-based entertainment publicist Anthony “ER Guru” Turner.

“Sibbles has played New York many times before. He knows what the crowd wants,” Turner told Caribbean Life on Tuesday.

Sibbles also told Caribbean Life: “It’s always a pleasure playing for the do-it-yourself crowd, because these are people that have grown with me mostly, and we have a party.

“It’s party time when we come together,” he added. “There are certain people there…when I am on stage and they are in front of me, it’s a get-together. It’s joy, it’s fun.

“These people know the songs, they sing along, and it couldn’t be better,” Sibbles continued.

He said it’s not hard to balance the classic rocksteady hits with new produced materials.

“All you have to do is drop one or two new songs in there, because the original hits that have been established a long time ago have the edge over any new material right now — those are hits, and those are the songs that everyone knows,” Sibbles said.

“I always look for a great performance whenever I am appearing,” he added, stating that the expected over 10,000 patrons will be soundly entertained.

“I expect it to be great,” Sibbles continued. “It just does not depend on me alone. It depends on the crowd, and how the people are feeling too. If the mood is right, then the stage is set for a great show.

“With the help of the Almighty God, I’ll do the rest as I usually do,” he said. “I’m asking all the people — come out. We are all in this together. So come on out and let’s have fun on the day.”

Besides Sibbles’s performance, Turner said reggae pioneer Derrick Barnett will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Turner said Andrew Morris (Sam’s Caribbean Marketplace) and Glamor Wayne (legendary New York DJ) will be named “Families of the Year.”