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Montserrat Jazzes Up Annual Calabash Festival
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 Montserrat News |
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Brades, Montserrat – June 18, 2009 – In a celebration of culture, creativity and music, the island of Montserrat will host the 4th Annual Calabash Festival, July 11 -19, 2009. The week-long event offers a wide selection of festivities that highlight the hidden talents of local artisans and designers. Key events on this year’s program include a fashion show, a performing arts production and a live musical showcase featuring internationally known jazz musicians Paul Lunga and Arturo Tappin.
Named after the calabash fruit that was traditionally used to produce eating utensils, musical instruments and decorative items, the festival seeks to promote the destination through a range of events that include a family fun day, hike to Rendezvous Bay Beach, island bus tour, boat excursion to former capital city Plymouth and a food fair. Additionally, the fourth installment of the festival will see the introduction of a fashion show to the schedule of festivities. With the theme Fashion Fusion and Calabash Style, local designers will have the opportunity to showcase a collection inspired by the versatile fruit.
The highlight of this year’s event, however, is a jazz showcase featuring the musical styling of “African King of Jazz,” Paul Lunga, saxophonist Tony Chambers and celebrated jazz/reggae saxophonist Arturo Tappin, who has performed with the likes of Monty Alexander, the late Luther Vandross, world renowned reggae band Third World and reggae artist, Maxi Priest. Dubbed An Evening of Jazz, the concert will be held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre, a state-of-the-art facility made possible by the fundraising efforts of former Beatles producer Sir George Martin, on Sunday, July 19.
For ticket information and additional details on the menu of activities during Calabash Festival 2009, contact Merle Galloway at merle@tropicalmansion.com.
Montserrat, the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday, is a lush green and mountainous island of approximately 39 square miles that lies in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. Known fondly as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, this pear shaped island is a traveler’s paradise for nature lovers, divers, adventurers, family and villa vacationers, and honeymooners. This British overseas territory boasts the spectacular Soufrière Hills Volcano, a modern day Pompeii in the form of its buried former capital city Plymouth, alongside lush, green mountains, world class nature trails, deserted dark sand beaches, untouched reefs and a quiet friendly charm reminiscent of the way the Caribbean used to be. For more information on Montserrat and its breathtaking scenery and unspoiled, unpolluted coral and volcanic vistas, visit www.visitmontserrat.com.
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