The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival returns from April 30 to May 12, featuring more than 30 performers in a number of different genres, from jazz and gospel to soca, zouk and reggae. This year's event at Pigeon Island National Park will feature headline performances from soft rock legends Air Supply as well as Davido, Machel Montano, Samara Joy, Beres Hammond, Jon Secada and Chloe Bailey.
The opening night will kick off with Caribbean soca star Voice the Artiste and his band from Trinidad, Jamaican reggae sensation Romain Virgo, singer-songwriter Rapper TeeJay from Jamaica and the Saint Lucia Allstars.
Jon Secada will perform on May 11 at the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jon Secada
May 4 to 7 will showcase Saint Lucian culture across the island with an eclectic mix of events. Showcase performances include those from American bassist and composer John Patitucci and St. Lucian composer and pan player Allison Marquis.
Kingdom Gospel Night on May 8 will feature singer Donnie McClurkin, who will headline the evening's show. Other performances include those from Nigella St. Clair-Daniel, Marvia Providence and Jamaican singer Carlene Davis. The May 9 Pure Jazz lineup will feature singers Vaughnette Bigford and Samara Joy, a two-time Grammy winner, including Best New Artist in 2023. Locals jazz artists Christa Bailey and Shannon Pinel are also on the schedule.
The May 10 Caribbean Fusion evening will spotlight St. Lucia reggae artist Meshach, Ezra D'Fun Machine and Invasion Band, "King of Soca" Machel Montano and reggae legend Beres Hammond.
The May 11 World Beats showcase will present an eclectic mix of Caribbean and global acts, including St. Lucian singer-songwriter Arthur Allain; New York-based Haitian konpa band VAYB; Grammy Award winner Jon Secada; R&B star Chloee Bailey backed by St. Lucia party band DYP; Afrobeat artist Joeboy; and Afrobeat singer-songwriter Davido.
Legendary soft rock duo Air Supply will be the headliner on the final day of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. Photo Credit: Air Supply
The festival wraps up on May 12, Mother's Day, with Air Supply as the headliner. The lineup will also bring together Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer Babyface; Carl Gustave; Michele Henderson from Dominica; and St. Lucian saxophonist Augustin "Jab" Duplessis.
The arts scene in St. Lucia will continue last year's "Art and the City" theme, centering on the artwork of Saint Lucian artist Llewellyn Xavier. Other arts events will take place in Derek Walcott Square, The Cathedral, National Culture Center, La Place Carenage Waterfront and University of the West Indies Campus. More than 1,000 pieces will be on display making it the largest one-person exhibition in Saint Lucia's history.
Bay Gardens Hotels & Resorts is offering commissionable packages when booking through the Bay Gardens website. Other commissionable packages will be available, as well.