On a sunlit Tuesday, the highly anticipated annual Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival kicked off its official launch with a convivial Jazz and Brunch gathering held at the picturesque Savannah Beach Club Hotel and Spa. The kickoff event, hosted by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, gave invited guests an early preview of the Caribbean island’s vibrant cultural and musical programming ahead of the full festival’s run at the end of April into early May. In addition to dropping the full 2025 performance lineup, the launch treated attendees to a spread of buffet-style brunch options alongside immersive live musical performances that set the tone for the main event.
Tourism leaders outlined that this year’s iteration of the festival will feature seven distinct, thoughtfully curated events running from the Opening Night gala on April 30 through a grand Ultimate Celebration on Mother’s Day, May 10. The roster of performers already drawing widespread excitement includes reggae icon Capleton, R&B stars Ella Mai and Brandy, chart-topping Afrobeats musician Tems, and legendary British-Caribbean singer Billy Ocean. Speaking to reporters from Barbados TODAY during the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. launch, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority Marketing Manager Christopher Gustave explained that the festival’s themed slate of events was intentionally designed to cater to every possible musical preference, cementing the gathering’s reputation as one of the premier cultural festivals in the Caribbean.
“We try to cater for every musical taste… from reggae to soca to dancehall to gospel to jazz to R&B, [and] pop,” Gustave said. “No matter what you’re into, you could find at least either a night or an artiste that you’re interested in.”
Headlining the launch’s own live entertainment was Ronald “Boo” Hinkson, the legendary homegrown Saint Lucian jazz musician. Hinkson opened the event with a soulful solo rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine”, before bringing Barbadian trumpeter Dr. Ricky Brathwaite and Saint Lucian vocalist Christa Bailey to the stage for collaborative numbers that earned thunderous, standing applause from the assembled crowd. In attendance at the launch was a cross-section of guests including working entertainers, social media influencers, and global arts industry professionals, many of whom traveled from neighboring Caribbean nations to attend the preview.
Barbadian singer-songwriter Adrianna Mayers shared that she left the launch deeply impressed by the festival’s commitment to inclusivity and its expansive range of programming. Sharkia Pereira, a Barbadian influencer who attended her second consecutive festival launch, echoed Mayers’ positive assessment. Pereira highlighted World Beats and the closing Ultimate Celebration as her most anticipated events on this year’s calendar. First established in 1992, the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival has grown from a small niche jazz gathering into one of the Caribbean’s most recognizable cultural events, drawing thousands of international tourists and arts lovers to the island each year to celebrate a diverse spectrum of global and regional artistic talent.