BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALL performers are ready and raring to go this evening (Jun. 22) for the first of the three-night 2017 St. Kitts Music Festival, where fun, frolic and high energy Soca performances are expected.
Alison Hinds and the Square One Band, Shanna Raymond, Rucas and Ricardo Drue are just several of the top performers billed for this evening, which would also feature a band clash between the Grand Masters and Small Axe Bands.
This morning at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort’s Sky Lounge, the performers all faced the media ahead of the event and invited the public to grab the remaining tickets for what they described as an energy-filled evening of high quality Soca.
Hinds and her band have been around for 31 years and they are on a one-off tour to St. Kitts for the Festival, and she is expected to belt out some of her popular tunes, including ‘Faluma/Makelele’.
“St. Kitts, yal lucky because you guys are the first people outside of Barbados to get the original Square One Band,” Hinds said.
Minister of Tourism Hon. Lindsay Grant told reporters that the event is in its 21st year, adding it has been “a great 21 years” and that he expects no less this time around.
He reminded that the Festival started 1996 and “it was really to create an activity to enhance the tourism product, and to strategically place St. Kitts and Nevis as a major – and a major player - tourism destination”.
The Minister publicly recognised those who had volunteered and are volunteering during the period, which lend credence to the top-quality product held over the years.
Ambassador Jonel Powell, who heads the Selection Committee, indicated that it has been a long process to get to the position of hosting the 21st Edition of the event.
He stated that they started in October, last, and they are finally at the staging of the event.
“It is amazing to see the acts, to see the artistes here in St. Kitts. We don’t have all at this press conference this morning, but they are all here and it is going to be amazing.
“I can’t help but noting the excitement and the hype behind the Band Clash. That is something that we would have added to the line-up this year. It seems to be very well received. Certainly, for tonight, we think that we have put together the best Soca line-up that we can get in the Caribbean and in the world,” Powell added.
Trinidad and Tobago reigning Soca Monarch, Voice, is also expected to grace the stage this evening, while Ultimate Rejects is also on the card.
The event is slated to kick off at 8:00 p.m. at the cricket section of Warner Park.
