Jingle Bells All the Way to Tortola
~~Adz:Left~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts (January 04, 2008): The Jingle Bells String Band rang out the flavor of Kittitian cultural music when members participated in the first ever Virgin Islands Fungi Fest in Tortola, BVI late last month.
Fungi Band, the term used by Virgin Islanders for String Band, was the focus of the two-day event. Chairperson of V.I. Fungi Fest 2007 Mr. Ariel Smith said the “ultimate goal is to increase the involvement of the country’s youth and help in the preservation of our [Caribbean] culture and showcase local music around the world.” It also has the objective of bringing all string (fungi) bands together.
Thirteen bands took part in the V.I. Fungi Fest; five on Friday, December 21st and eight on the Saturday night. The bands came from the islands of Anguilla, Virgin Gorda, St. Maarten, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Kitts and host country Tortola.
Friday night’s performers were Leon & the Hotshots, Tanny & the Boys, The Originals, Unity Vybes, Native Rhythms, Smokey & the Boys and Tortola’s famous Lashing Dogs.
Saturday featured St. Kitts own Jingle Bells Sting Band and the Elmore Stoutt High School Fungi Band, Egbert & the Serenaders, Koko & the Sunshine Band, Four Strong International, and Energetic Superfly.
Jingle Bells was accompanied by Lorna “Ava” Henry from the department of culture. Band members would like to express gratitude to the Lashing Dogs and Mr. George Lewis of Tortola and the Department of Culture and the Ministry of Finance of St. Kitts.
The Fungi Fest was organized by the Lashing Dogs Fungi Band of Tortola in collaboration with Music and Steel organisation.
