Buju Banton Adds Second Date For New York Concert Due To “Popular Demand”
Reggae and Dancehall star Buju Banton is giving New York fans another chance to see him live!
Due to “popular demand,” a second date has been added to his “Long Walk To Freedom New York” concert at the UBS Arena in Queens, New York. The second show will be held on Sunday, July 14, just one day after the originally scheduled July 13 performance.
“With the first show selling out in record time, the addition of the second show ensures that more fans and music lovers will have the opportunity to witness the legendary artist’s comeback,” a release to DancehallMag stated. “Long Walk To Freedom – N.Y. exemplifies Banton’s resilience and serves as a beacon of hope for fans around the world.”
Buju will be supported by his The Shiloh Band, while Dahved Levy will host the event, with music by Bobby Konders and Jabba.
The UBS Arena, an indoor venue that opened in 2021, seats up to 19,000 people for concerts.
Banton will also celebrate his 51st birthday on July 15.
“I give thanks for life each day, but on this weekend, there is a special thanksgiving and I look forward to celebrating with all of my family, friends and everyone who has prayed and supported me over the years,” he said.
In early May, Banton had revealed he had been granted a visa to return to the United States, which would make his upcoming concerts possible. The two shows will mark Banton’s first US performance in 13 years.
His last show in the country was the ‘Before The Dawn’ concert, which was held in January 2011 at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami, Florida, and reportedly attracted 10,000 fans.
The ‘Before The Dawn’ album itself, released in September 2010, went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in February of that year.
However, Banton was unable to attend the award ceremony because his trial for illegal possession of a firearm and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute was reconvened the following day.
He was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. A judge later threw out the gun charge and reduced his prison sentence to seven years.
Banton was released and deported to Jamaica in December 2018.
Over his 30-year career, Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie, has released 12 studio albums, most of them featuring recurring topics such as consciousness, justice, freedom, and love. His most celebrated album is Til Shiloh, which spent 104 weeks on the Billboard Reggae Album chart and peaked at No. 2 in October 1995. On its 25th anniversary, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Banton’s highest charting songs in the US and UK include Make My Day (1993), Champion (1995), Paid Not Played (2003), Driver A (2007), Holy Mountain with DJ Khaled, Sizzla and Mavado (2019), and Memories with John Legend (2020).
Tickets for the newly added July 14th show are now available for purchase on Buju Banton’s official website [www.bujubanton.com].