Judging by the social media self-reporting of oldsters shopping for European Beyoncé live performance tickets, having fun with Las Vegas residences (Usher, New Version) or crusing the open seas on music cruises, a brand new pattern appears to be forming. Like a cousin of vacation spot weddings in unique locales, constructing holidays round excursions, performances and festivals from our favourite performers is turning into a factor. With the summer time simply beginning, a few of us are already planning vacays round Lenny Kravitz enjoying Vegas in October, or December’s Jamrock Reggae Cruise to Jamaica. When you’re pondering of following the wave, your expertise would possibly go one thing like the next down at St. Kitts Music Pageant.
With a historical past over 25 years previous, the St. Kitts Music Pageant attracts 1000’s of soca, reggae, hip-hop, dancehall, R&B and reggaeton followers each summer time. This 12 months’s lineup boasted Mary J. Blige, Capleton, Rick Ross, Third World, Masicka, Freddie Jackson and extra throughout three nights, divided primarily into soca (night time one), reggae/dancehall (night time two) and R&B/hip-hop (night time three).
However earlier than indulging in any of the nights’ reveals (which may final from early night to after 4 a.m.), music-loving vacationists will wish to eat some deliciousness, hit the seaside and catch some sights. Boozies serves foodies a few of the finest lobster to be discovered on the West Indian island, alongside spots like Arthur’s and the Reggae Seaside Bar & Grill. Select the flavorful Spice Mill restaurant for its signature Hibiscus Spirits cocktails and its proximity to Cockleshell Bay Seaside. Wander to the seaside’s finish and luxuriate in St. Kitts Water Sports activities choices like parasailing, jet snowboarding and snorkeling.
Ultimately, the solar units and the music rises over at Warner Park Stadium. Evening quantity one of many competition was filled with testosterone, with an nearly all-male lineup of native Caribbean acts, damaged up by an electrical set by feminine Trinidadian soca star Nadia Batson. Bearded women’ man Adam O additionally made an impression. However the second night time drew a barely bigger crowd with the aware stylings of Jamaican reggae artist Kabaka Pyramid, legendary reggae-fusion band Third World and dancehall guiding gentle, Busy Sign.
Third World specifically bought ravers on their toes for “Now That We Discovered Love” and “Reggae Ambassador,” earlier than closing with lead singer A.J. Brown’s operatic, jaw-dropping rendition of “Nessun Dorma”—the aria made most well-known by the late Luciano Pavarotti.
Lastly, the closing night time introduced a welcome shock from the Nicholas Brancker Band, a horn-heavy ensemble led by Jamaican bassist Nicholas Brancker. The group’s set consisted of phenomenal variations of Seventies R&B instrumental classics like George Benson’s “Breezin’,” Herb Alpert’s “Rise” and Grover Washington Jr.’s “Mister Magic.” Sadly, the octet’s sensible, high-energy present bought minimize brief by a tune—however their impression on the night time was unforgettable.
Headliner Mary J. Blige finally took the stage head-bopping to her very first hit, 1992’s “You Remind Me”—a tune that arguably launched hip-hop soul. She flaunted her notorious dance strikes on My Life highlights like “Be Completely happy” and “You Convey Me Pleasure,” whereas “I’m Goin’ Down” offered a stay viewers singalong second prefer it has over the previous 30 years. In nice spirits, Blige talked about she’d by no means earlier than visited the Caribbean island and stopped her present proper on the stroke of midnight, possibly to catch a few of the island’s taste whereas she may.
Talking of which, music-destination vacationers might wish to spherical out their post-festival days taking in sights just like the majestic Brimstone Hill Fortress Nationwide Park or shopping for some keepsakes from Caribelle Batik. At this 12 months’s music fest, luminaries like French-Djiboutian indie singer Shay Lia and the previous Miss Antigua & Bermuda, Briana Anthony, have been discovered within the viewers having fun with the sounds of Pumpa and Mical Teja. Because the St. Kitts Music Pageant continues rising in recognition, anybody is perhaps noticed at subsequent 12 months’s present. Get in early and set your musical compass for the place the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea.
