The music genre known as jazz will be reverberating throughout Saint Lucia this coming week, as Saint Lucians prepare for another annual Jazz and Arts Festival, which opened in grand fashion last night at the Mindoo Phillip Park (MPP) in Marchand.
Last night featured Caribbean artistes like Kes the Band, Shenseea, and the local outfit DYP and Friends.
With the jazz flame now firmly lit, all fringe shows, a plethora of them, according to Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire, will be occurring throughout the coming week, before and during main stage shows.
Predicted to be another fantastic Festival with ticket sales said to be doing very well in some areas, the action today is known as Rainforest Jazz in Chassin, Babonneau where Midnight Groovers/BYP Band/ African Roots and more will rock the community.
Then on Sunday the action moves to Desruisseaux where WCK from Dominica will headline. Soufriere will sparkle on Sunday as well in what is called “The Experience”. At the Mini Stadium, Patrice Roberts, Christopher Martin, Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson, Arthur Allain and more will rock the night skies.
On Monday jazz action will be all over the island from the north at Ultra Lounge in Rodney Bay all the way to Grace, Vigier, Belle Vue, Pierrot in the south.
And so will the week go, all the way to the Festival’s closure on Mother’s Day Sunday May 14 at the Pigeon Island National Landmark.
“The fringe events have done very well on their own and we would like to commend them (organisers) for the effort that they put forward. What we’ve done as the lead event production for the State we’ve engaged them, we’ve helped them develop their site plans, helped them with central services and we are also supporting by the way of branding at these events,” said Minerva Ross of Events Company of Saint Lucia(ECSL).
Ross was unable to disclose the budget allocated for the jazz event, but said, there were several agencies involved in putting on the festival “and each one of them would have a budget.”
Commenting on the ticket sales, Ross declared: “The ticket sales have been fantastic. We’re thrilled …and there are some areas that are sold out. And some of the VIP offers for Pigeon Island, its’ going to attract another mass crowd for Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival 2023.”
The Line Up for the Main Stage Events are as follows:
Wednesday, May 10 – Kingdom Gospel Night:
Location: Pigeon Island National Landmark / Event Time: 7pm – 11pm. Performing Artists: Cece Winans, Sinach, Emrand Henery, Special Blend, Shirley Ann Cyril-Mayers, Shem Meluce, Michelle John Theobalds, Total Praise Gospel Singers.
Thursday, May 11 – Pure Jazz:
Location: The Pavilion on The Ramp, Reduit Beach/ Event Time: 7pm – 10pm.Performing Artists: Luther Francois, Gustavo Casenave.
Friday, May 12 – Caribbean Fusion in association with LIT Entertainment:
Location: Pigeon Island National Landmark/ Event Time: 9pm – 1am
Performing Artists: Buju Banton, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons, and The Ark Band.
Saturday, May 13 – World Beats:
Location: Pigeon Island National Landmark/ Event Time: 4pm – 1am. Performing Artists: Kizz Daniel, Oxlade, Ayra Starr, CKay, JoeBoy, Kassav, Kayo, Michael Robinson, Alfredo Naranjo Quintet, and Kalbas.
Sunday, May 14 – The Ultimate Celebration:
Location: Pigeon Island National Landmark/ Event Time: 2Pm – 10pm. Performing Artists: Sting & Shaggy, Ronald “Boo” Hinkson, Teddyson John Project, Barbara Cadet, Irvin Ace Loctar.
In view of the busy schedule planned for this year’s jazz event, the RSLPF Traffic Department has issued a Traffic Management Plan in effect for the Main Stage shows at the Pigeon Island Causeway.
The designated routes and regulations are as follows:
Castries –
– Road Closures: The road will be closed at the intersection of:
(1) Pigeon Island Road and Landings Hotel intersection.
(2) Pigeon Island Causeway and Sandals Grande intersection.
Diversion of: The traffic Flow will be diverted at the intersection of: Traffic Flow (1) Pigeon Island Road and Landings Hotel intersection. (Detour right)
Pigeon Island Causeway main gate entrance. (Detour left).
– No Parking
Pigeon Island Causeway (both sides).
Pigeon Island Road (both sides)
Pigeon Island Road near Landings Hotel.
– No Entry and Barriers: Location
– Pigeon Island Road and Landings Hotel intersection
– Pigeon Island Causeway and Sandals Grande intersection
– Pigeon Island Causeway main gate entrance.
General parking: Clico Lands along main access road and vacant lot next to Landings hotel.
Shuttle and security services will be provided at each location.
Shuttle Services: Shuttle services will be available at all park and ride locations.
VIP parking: VIP’s will park in a designated area on Clico lands.