Star-Studded Lineup Lights Up St. Kitts with Caribbean Rhythms and International Hits.
American Oscar winner and TV host Jennifer Hudson joined Nigeria’s Grammy nominated Afrobeats songstress Ayra Starr on the twenty seventh Annual St Kitts Music Competition this weekend. Soca royalty Patrice Roberts (Trinidad) joined, Jamaican Dancehall stars Spice and Shenseea as among the largest names within the Caribbean gathered at what’s quick changing into one of many areas premier musical festivals.
Initially launched because the “Shak Shak” Competition in 1996, the St. Kitts Music Competition was created to spice up tourism throughout the island’s off-season and showcase each native expertise and worldwide stars.
The primary version attracted 8,000 folks with now legendary acts like Arrow, Roy Cape Band, and Krosfyah on the lineup. Over the following three a long time, the competition has advanced into one of the musically various Caribbean occasions, with artist genres starting from reggae and Soca to R&B, jazz, and pop performing throughout a number of phases .
At the moment, held in late June at Warner Park Stadium in Basseterre, the competition attracts guests worldwide and spotlights a seamless mix of regional and international headliners. Along with attaining their authentic purpose of boosting tourism and elevating the island’s worldwide profile, the occasion additionally offers a global platform for native Kittitian and Nevisian artists to shine.
Native expertise on the principle stage
Former 200m Olympic Sprinter Virgil Hodge who traded in her spikes for music a number of years in the past was one of many eleven homegrown musical acts to grace the Competition’s important stage. Additionally making her competition debut was Nevis-born singer-songwriter Abena Amory, the daughter of the late Hon. Vance Amory, former Premier of Nevis.
Reigning Energy Soca Monarch champs Akaiiusweet and Tobap, The Honey Bees String Band, Kollision Band, DJ Tero, Collin Wyat, Ideli Napi, Dejour and the St Kitts Metal Orchestra (SKSO) represented one of the best that the St Kitts & Nevis music scene has to supply.
The competition kicked off on Thursday with star studded performances by Jamaica’s dancehall princess Shenseea, Dominica’s Bouyon generals Sign Band and Trilla G and a trio of Trini Soca excellence, Yung Bredda, Patrice Roberts and Kes The Band.
On Friday, the group was entertained by a mix of Jamaican artists on Dancehall and reggae night time with excessive vitality dancehall Queen, Spice performing alongside Barrington Levy, Jah Vinci, Continual Legislation and a digital set by Vybz Kartel.
The ultimate star-studded night time of the competition was an exquisite style mix of worldwide Black music, that includes the Nicolas Branker Band from Barbados, Romain Virgo and Christopher Martin from Jamaica, Ayra Starr from Nigeria and Jennifer Hudson from The USA.
The St Kitts Competition has turn into one of many important occasions within the Caribbean competition calendar and a cornerstone for musical variety and diaspora cultural tourism.