Bequia Music Fest delivers a fantastic week of live entertainment

Attendees of the Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest 2023 are begging for the return of the Big Band Solid out of Grenada next year, following an outstanding performance last Saturday at De Reef for ‘Fete Nite’.

SOLID lead singers

The 11-member band graced the stage with renditions of Prince’s “Purple Rain” the hit song “Calm Down”, the latest soca and a wide range of music, with the three female vocalists dancing in sync and mesmerising the crowd!

Carriacou’s Skinny Banton, who headlined the night, had the crowd chanting and enjoying his hit songs “Soak It Good” and “Wrong Again”. Equally amazing was SVG’s own ragga-soca master Skarpyon, whose 2022 hit “Big Road” had De Reef, Bequia in a frenzy.

THE Elite Steel Orchestra.

Topping off a fantastic week of live entertainment, Bajan Band Philip 7 and Masala, who promised to be the most versatile band in the world, did not disappoint and brought the house down, with genre after genre from Hip Hop to Soca.

With over 90 musicians from around the region and SVG performing for the five-day, six- event Festival, there was something for everyone’s musical taste, throughout the festival!

Gersham

Without a doubt, the 2023 Bequia Musicfest delivered!

Wednesday, January 25 opened the festivities with a Jazz and candlelight dinner at De Reef featuring the talents of violinist Samuel Toka, Dexter Rose’s Jazz Tropical Project and the soulful voice Dominican Jazz singer Lí-Lí Octave. The divine dishes were prepared by visiting private chefs Peter Ollivierre and Orell Jack.

Gary from Ultimate 5

Frangipani Hotel had the pleasure of hosting ‘Steel Pan n Ting’ with the 14-piece Elite Steel Orchestra, led by Kesslon Wilson and his group of young steel pan players, who gave a first class performance, followed by DJ Tha Fugitive ramping it up at the world-famous BBQ & Buffet dinner.

Shady Ladies bass player Emma Boucher

The beautiful Plantation Hotel hosted two events, first on Friday night with Cocktail Jazz featuring Grenada’s talented Sabrina Francis on vocals, backed by SVG’s own Hi Profile Band, who also provided back up throughout the Festival.

Bequia’s Kyron Baptiste also performed Friday night rocking the crowd with his talent and skills on stage! Gary Peters, Ultimate 5 Jazz Band was also well received, showing the world that St. Vincent has a wide range of musical talent of all genres.

JOSHU

Local and foreign talent danced through the palm trees at Plantation’s daytime lime on Saturday afternoon’s Live Music on the Green. Patrons adored performances by Bequia band The Shady Ladies, as well as Jan & Louis, Stephen Hart, Dynamite, the band Contagious and headliner Antiguan acoustic guitarist Joshu, back in Bequia once again. It was an afternoon of good vibes, much loved by families and children, with live music, games and booths of local products for shopping, including Bequia Threadworks and Greenhouse 0Cafe.

Sabrina francis

There was good food all around, with particular praise for the roast pork and other local cuisine, being prepared grill style while you wait!Other Vincentian talent spread across the five days were Hi Profile as the Official Festival Band, Jay R the Artiste, soca duo Dymez and daPixel, and particularly impressive was Krystian Mark, who rocked the stage at Sunday’s Beach Lime & Rhythm event and has been dubbed the “Jimi Hendrix of St. Vincent”, with his insane skills on the guitar. Bequia DJ teams We Dem Boyz and the Addicted Family turned up the hype on Saturday and Sunday night respectively, with DJ Blaze ramping up the energy even more to close off the 2023 festival on a high! All were sad to see the week come to an end.

Li-Li Octave

The success of the Festival was noted by the joy on the faces of both the patrons and musicians, with one attendee going so far as to say, “This year had the baddest music than ever before!” The Bequia Mt Gay Music Festival is owned and operated by the Bequia Tourism Association and its Music Fest Committee, with Director Sabrina Mitchell at the head of the decision-making and organizational processes.

Skinny Banton

The BTA and the SVG Ministry of Tourism notes how significant the Bequia Music Fest is in the country’s tourism calendar, with yachts filling the bay and every accommodation booked out weeks or months in advance bringing in millions into the economy.

SKarpyon

Sabrina Mitchell offered her thoughts on this year’s festival, “I am proud that we delivered a fantastic week of live music, ensuring our place in SVG’s Tourism Calendar.” “We accomplished a lot with a very small budget, and the challenges we faced coming out of a difficult two-year hiatus from the Pandemic!” “For me, it’s about bringing joy to people, and once I accomplish that, I am satisfied!” I wish to thank the sponsors, who believed in our ability to produce a top quality event, all of our patrons who supported, and my team of volunteers, who worked tirelessly to ensure top level hospitality provided to all of our musicians, and
all attendees.” “I look forward to an even bigger and better Musicfest in 2024!”

Kyron Baptiste

Being without the festival for the last two years presented its challenges in pulling off the 2023 Festival, particularly with the financial constraints the Pandemic has created. However, due to the undoubtable revenue brought to Bequia during the Festival, the Committee was determined to push through and managed to pull off yet another amazing six events.

Toks violin

The long term goal of the Music Fest Committee is to stretch to seven days, rather than five. Together they hope to add an additional day to the lineup in 2024.
Mitchell thanked all musicians for their performances and extended her thanks to the Host Venues of De Reef, Frangipani Hotel and Bequia Plantation, Bequia partner restaurants, partner taxis, the technical Team of Third Element, Ezra Forde, the SVG Police force, Guardsman Security, and her team of six committee members and the seven liaison officers who executed all deliverables to perfection.

Krystian Mark

Title Sponsor of the Bequia Music Fest 2023 was once again the international brand Mount Gay Rum, whose commitment to Bequia’s premier event goes back 18 years! Gold Sponsors included the SVG Tourism Authority, Hairoun Beer, Bequia Plantation Hotel, SVG National Lotteries Authority. New sponsors on board this year included ECGC with the brands Island Sipz and Easy bake Flour, Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Campari and Johnnie Walker. Additional sponsors included Digicel, Frangipani Hotel, De Reef, Bequia Express Company, Admiral Ferries, Vintages Bequia, MasterRoom Studios, BOOM FM, Going Places Travel, and Action Bequia. Sound Engineering was provided by 3rd Element Sounds and Photography was provided by Cloud Island Media.

If you missed this year, don’t fret! Next year’s Bequia Music Fest dates are January 24 to January 28, 2024. Stay tuned @bequiamusicfestival!

Stephen Hart