PREPARATIONS are moving smoothly for the Soufriere Creole Jazz & Arts Festival call, “a party under the Pitons”, the organizers, the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation said yesterday.
The much-anticipated festival this weekend is two days of art, culture and music which provides an unforgettable experience that thousands of St. Lucians look forward to each year. The venue is the Soufriere mini-stadium.
The Soufriere Foundation has promised an inescapable social, cultural and melodic experience. Said Foundation, Chief Executive Officer, Walter Francois: “Our festival is a unique blend of activities and music which we hope leads to a memorable experience. Festival goers can engage in sailing with Mystic Man Tours, have an unmatched culinary and accommodation experience at the world-renowned Ladera Resort or Sugar Beach AViceroy Resort, do fine dining at Orlando’s Restaurant or take a visit to Sulphur Springs Park. There is something for almost everyone.
The addition of an arts and culture component will strengthen the indigenous nature of our product and complement the Creole flavour of the festival. And of course, there is the fine collection of musical performances that the festival is well known for which has attracted patrons year after year.”
This morning, the Soufriere Waterfront will come alive with residents and visitors contributing towards the painting of a community collage, while, artisans from the neighbouring communities and Soufriere will engage in an outdoor exhibition of sculpting and craft, batik, pottery and basket making.
Festival goers will be free to try their hands at making their own creative productions with the consent and assistance of the artisans.
From midday until 4:00 p.m attendees will be treated to cultural dances, music and theatre from the Soufriere Primary School La Marguerite Group, Choiseul La Rose Group and KomicKingz, This session will climax with a rendition of contemporary dance by the Temptation Dancers of Fond St. Jacques, Soufriere,
At 6:00 p.m, Clarites Dance Group will kick off the night’s proceedings with a demonstration of quadrille dance. Their performance will be followed with a much-anticipated display of steel pan playing by the award winning St. Lucy Steel Pan Orchestra from Micoud.
Thereafter, cultural music group, LapoKabwit, will change the tempo a bit and help reconnect with the colonial past through its selections of cultural songs expressed creatively through drums.
In addition, no truly St. Lucian cultural experience is complete without the pulsating indigenous rhythms and song of AvotServis. With their popular songs, “Coco” and “Sis Misye”, the group is sure to have festival goers longing for more.
The honour of closing the night will go to a local musical band, New Vybez. Having performed at Soufriere Creole Jazz in 2012 and weekly at local hotels, the band is by no means new. This group of talented, versatile and energetic young musicians will give festival goers a taste of what the tomorrow’s music fest will deliver.