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The 24th Annual Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival is Ready to Rock the Island
SAINT LUCIA (April 15, 2015) – The 24th annual Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival kicks-off 11 days of star-studded musical performances, art showcases, and a couture fashion show on April 30 through May 10. Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts is renowned for infusing local flavor and talent with a series of “festivals-within-the-festival” island-wide.
The HOT Couture fashion extravaganza on Wednesday, May 6 at the Johnsons Centre in Rodney Bay features full runway presentations sporting the latest designs from some of the region’s leading talent including Anya Ayoung-Chee, winner of Project Runway’s ninth season in 2011. Other designers hail from Saint Lucia, Trinidad, Turkey, Guyana, Cuba and Guadeloupe. Attendees can sashay to the after-party on Rodney Bay’s floating entertainment venue, The Pearl, with VIP packages available. One-of-a-kind pieces from participating designers will be on display for purchase at the HOT Couture Trunk Show on Thursday, May 7 at the Baywalk Mall.
The Fringe Market at Rodney Bay Strip will be filled with local artists, crafters and designers selling authentic Saint Lucian paintings, clothing, jewelry, sculptures, and souvenirs from Tuesday, May 5 through Saturday, May 9. The market will also host live demonstrations, art installations, community art and local jazz musicians.
Additional festivities taking place throughout the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts festival include:
- Soufriere Creole Jazz – The region’s renowned rock, bouyon, soca and jazz musicians will take center stage at the Soufriere mini-stadium on Friday, May 1 headlined by Jah Cure. Doors open at 3:00 pm.
- Monchy: Mizik En Kwéyòl – On Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 pm local bands including The Royal Saint Lucia Police Band and headliner Derek Yarde Project will perform at Monchy Square in Gros Islet.
- Jazz on the Square – Free performances will be held at Derek Walcott Square in Castries on May 6, 7 and 8 at noon.
Other must-see events include the Jazz Showcase on Thursday, May 7 at the National Cultural Center in Castries. Main stage events begin on Friday, May 8 at the Pigeon Island National Landmark and continue through Sunday, May 10 for a festival finale filled with all-star performances. Internationally renowned performers taking center stage this year include singer/songwriter Robin Thicke, two-time Grammy winner Jon Secada, Jamaican reggae musician and actor Jimmy Cliff,Latin sensation Timbalive, American rapper Flo Rida, acclaimed Paris-based pianist Alain Jean Marie featuring Grant Stewart, two-time Grammy nominee Joey DeFranceso and reggae singer Beres Hammond.
Tickets can be purchased at locations island-wide including The Cell in Castries, Baywalk Mall in Rodney Bay and Gablewoods Mall near Vieux Fort. Online tickets can be ordered via http://stluciajazztickets.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event_listings.asp
For more information about the 24th Annual Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival visit http://www.stluciajazz.org.
For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1-800-456-3984, or 1-888-4STLUCIA or visithttp://stlucianow.com/.
About Saint Lucia
One of the Windward Islands of the West Indies’ Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia (pronounced Saint LOO-sha) is nestled halfway down the Eastern Caribbean archipelago. The “Helen of the West Indies,” Saint Lucia is known for its natural beauty and diverse attractions, including the signature Piton Mountains – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a tropical rainforest and one of the world’s few drive-in volcanoes. Culturally rich offerings include the bustling marketplace in the capital of Castries, quaint fishing villages along the coastline, and the annual Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. Saint Lucia’s wide range of accommodations includes world-class five-star resorts, all-inclusive resorts, intimate inns and value-oriented properties. Saint Lucia also is home to world class cruise and yachting facilities. The island is continually recognized as one of the Leading Wedding and Honeymoon destinations worldwide.