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This year’s Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival will kick off tonight at the Mindoo Phillip Park in Marchand. Opening Night will feature performances by iconic Jamaican musician Sizzla, Gretchen Wilson, Lady Lava, Dominican bouyon acts, and top Saint Lucian artists such as Shemmy J and General Banks, in what promises to be a spectacular opening to the festival.
During a media briefing on Monday, Tourism and Creative Arts Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire emphasised that this year’s jazz opener will outperform all previous events.
The Minister said that the first performer for Wednesday’s programme came to the island on Monday, and everything points to a magnificent performance. He affirmed that visitors are eager to book their tickets to experience the thrill of the upcoming jazz concerts, and that local organizing committees and community groups are completely prepared.
“The ticket sales are strong, and we are very encouraged,” Dr. Hilaire stated.
“We are trending ahead of last year, which is a positive sign—not just for the opening but for Main Stage performances, especially Kingdom Night,” he added.
The Minister expressed confidence that the organizers are on track to provide a “bumper” event, saying that “the art component is also shaping up nicely, and we anticipate some signature events.”
Dr. Hilaire responded to questions about the diverse range of artists for the opening show, which includes country & western, reggae, dancehall, and soca music in addition to other jazz events, saying, “We made two strategic decisions last year: to increase the number of ‘pure jazz’ shows, and now we have added a second show for pure jazz.”
He stressed, “This year, we extended the offer for the opening to include country and western music, which taps into a brand-new demographic for us. It’s about broadening the appeal, and we’ve already begun planning next year’s jazz.”
Dr. Hilaire elaborated, “We are currently engaged in serious discussions about the specific directions we want to pursue. There are many factors to consider: the costs associated with a festival of this scale, the emphasis on developing more local talent, and enhancing the arts component.”
The Minister indicated that the community events are largely aimed at developing local talent, recognizing that “there’s a limit to how many people can perform on the Main Stage.”
However, with so many community jazz events, there are plenty of possibilities for local talent to shine. Dr. Hilaire emphasized the importance of developing local artists through community jazz in order to ensure the festival’s long-term viability and affordability.
The increasing popularity of the jazz festival creates obstacles, such as preventing “recycling” of artists and adding new talent that is trending globally, both of which incur large costs.
To summarize, Dr. Hilaire believes that tonight’s presentation, on the eve of May Day, “will be a massive event and, by all accounts, will likely be the largest show we’ve ever hosted in Saint Lucia.”
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) stated that reggae legend Sizzla Kalonji has arrived in Saint Lucia to preach his strong message of love, unity, and cultural pride ahead of the 2025 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.
During a meet & greet, Sizzla acknowledged his strong attachment to the island, calling it “another home.” This is his first appearance in St. Lucia since 2019.
“It feels rejuvenating to be back home. I am honoured to perform for the beautiful people here,” he said, emphasizing his dedication to improving the neighbourhood alongside the Fire House Crew.
Sizzla’s music, which includes classics like “Thank You, Mama,” “Solid as a Rock,” and “Black Woman and Child,” combines powerful social commentary with themes of love and spirituality.
