BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER making her mark as one of the top female sprinters from the Federation, Virgil Hodge is returning to the big stage—this time as a performer at the St. Kitts Music Festival, where she will share the spotlight with some of the industry’s biggest names.
This year’s festival, scheduled for June 26–28, boasts a star-studded lineup featuring Shenseea, Vybz Kartel, Jennifer Hudson, Dejour, Romain Virgo, and Christopher Martin.
SKNVibes Entertainment recently caught up with Hodge, who is making waves in the local entertainment scene. She expressed her excitement about the opportunity to perform at the festival.
"It's a very exciting opportunity," she said. "This is not my first time performing at the festival, but it's my first time as a solo artiste, especially now that I’m working as a reggae artiste and finishing my EP. By then, I'll have two songs from the EP to perform, and I'm looking forward to the event and the exposure on the international stage."
The St. Kitts Music Festival is widely regarded as the biggest platform for local artistes, offering them the chance to showcase their talent to an international audience and explore potential collaborations with regional and global performers.
Hodge is set to perform on June 28—the festival’s final night, commonly known as Reggae Night—alongside Hudson, Virgo, and Martin.
"I'm excited! I’m really looking forward to that night and to meeting Jennifer Hudson as well. She’s someone I remember watching on American Idol years ago," Hodge shared.
She is also eager to perform alongside two of her reggae favorites, Romain Virgo and Christopher Martin.
"Of course, we've seen them perform in St. Kitts before, but they have made it big as reggae artistes. Since reggae is the genre I'm focusing on, I would love the chance to collaborate with either Romain or Christopher. That could open doors for me to perform on more international stages in the future."
Reflecting on the moment she received the news about performing at the festival, Hodge admitted it was emotional.
"I almost cried, but I trust in God and what He can do for me," she said. "Last year, I branched out on my own from cover bands and told myself, ‘Hey, I want to do this as a solo artiste. I'm going to start having concerts.’”
With her performance contract now signed, Hodge is focused on taking her career to the next level. She has already hosted four solo concerts, performing a mix of cover songs and original music, which she sees as essential to building her reputation as an artiste capable of holding her own on international stages.
"During that time, I was also working on writing songs for my reggae EP. With everything happening so quickly, I really have to thank God for this opportunity," she added.
Fans attending the festival can expect a dynamic performance, complete with male dancers and possible costume changes.
"People are expecting a great performance based on what they’ve seen from me before, and I want to leave them in awe," she said with a smile. "I want people to walk away saying, ‘She needs to be on an even bigger stage!’ That’s the impact I’m hoping to make."
Hodge, who is also an educator, is well-known in local and regional circles. She confirmed that several promoters have shown interest in booking her for performances across the Caribbean, depending on how she delivers at the festival.
With her sights set on international success, Virgil Hodge is ready to captivate audiences and make a lasting impression at the St. Kitts Music Festival.
