BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts Music Festival is just two days away and there is much hype and preparation surrounding this year’s sweet event as the committee is putting together the finishing touches to make the 16th celebration an unforgettable one.
The festival begins with Soca Night on Thursday (June 28) and will feature Machel Montano; Nicha B, Shakki Starfire and Ali Dee who will be backed by Grand Masters Band; Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah Band and also Spectrum Band.
For the Friday night which is dubbed Reggae Night, the event will feature Damian Marley, Popcaan, I-Octane, Morgan Heritage, Courtney Pine, Eric Donaldson and Lovindeer, while Saturday night or Lover’s Night will feature Toni Braxton, Omarion, Roberta Flack and Liamigua Project.
Flights coming into St. Kitts have also been added for tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday from Antigua, said Executive Member of the St. Kitts Music Festival Saju N’galla.
“We’ve added two flights from Antigua which starts tomorrow and Thursday. This is due to the demand we have gained from Antigua. People from Antigua want to come and complained there were no flights, so LIAT, St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the St. Kitts Music Festival partnered to ensure there are flights to bring the massive load in from Antigua and we’ve added another flight on Sunday for their departure,” he said.
He continued: “This reveals how powerful and attractive the St. Kitts Music Festival is to the region. Our music festival is world renowned, it is respected for its diversity in music, its quality and people just want to come.”
One of the major impacts for this year’s promotion is the Fantastic Four Girls that were seen at every festival promotion snapping photos with fans and promoting the event.
N’gozi, Chicklanker, Mika and Katherina dolled up in attractive outfits and Plush Accessories were the highlights at several local hot spots including 17 Degrees, Shigidy Shack and Buddies.
“We started the music festival girls last year and this year it has gone to the next level,” N’galla said. “Wherever they go they bring the energy, the vitality, they just bring that music fest experience. You feel it when they’re there. Everywhere they’ve gone they’ve left that message, that impact that the Sweet 16th St. Kitts Music Festival is going to be an experience like no other and one not to miss.”
N’galla said tomorrow would end the local promotions with a SKMF Jump Off-Downtown Basseterre where Fort Street would be blocked off and tickets and other festival memorabilia would be sold along with a number of giveaways from businesses beginning at 4:00 p.m.
The event will also feature the Nu Vybes Band.
N’galla, who is also the Marketing Communications Manager at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, said that there are only a few hotel rooms remaining.
“This shows that people are coming in. The music festival is there to ensure that during the slow season when people hardly come to the island we ramp up the economy by bringing in people. The festival is about bringing in tourists and promoting the destination as a top Caribbean vacation spot.”
Maybe that is the reason why each year a number of media personnel journey to the island for the festival and not only capture the nightly concerts, but also the exotic locations on the island.
“The St. Kitts Music Festival is indeed a tool of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority to further promote St. Kitts as a tourist destination. In order to reap the fruits we have to ensure the destination gets the coverage. That’s why we went ahead and brought in close to 20 media personnel and TV Networks,” N’galla said.
He said among the media personnel would be Splash from BET, WSVI TV 8 ABC of St. Croix, Caribvision and Caribbean Superstation, along with Headline Entertainment.
“These media are going to highlight our tourist attraction while, at the same time, doing their show on the St. Kitts Music Festival. That is how we get our destination out there and many of them have been asking to come. Our festival is big out there.”
Trinidadian company Rent-A-Amp is already busy making sure the final touches of stage, sound and lighting are perfect.
This year, the stage will be positioned on northern side of the Warner Park football field, facing a southern direction.
Production Chairman Adrian Lam said that everything is going smooth and a concert could even be held tonight.
A Masud Sadiki Tribute will also be held in memory of the late reggae/soca singer who was also scheduled to perform on this year’s event.
Lam said that on the Thursday night a short presentation would be done, but he however refused to provide details as he said he wanted it to be a surprise for fans.
