分类： entertainment

Against the open-air backdrop of Fort Christian Lot on St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Festivals delivered a show-stopping highlight of the annual St. Thomas Carnival, as top Soca performers Hypasounds and Alison Hinds turned a regular concert night into a legendary celebration of Caribbean culture that drew thousands of excited attendees.

The atmosphere crackled with electric energy from the moment gates opened, as merrymakers from across the region and beyond gathered to experience one of the most anticipated nights of the 2026 Carnival season. When Hypasounds stepped onto the stage, he immediately seized control of the crowd, leaning into his well-documented skill for reading audience energy and building momentum that never faded through his set. The versatile performer blended fan favorites with fresh tracks, delivering every note with sharp precision and infectious charisma that cemented his reputation as a crowd favorite, particularly among his many female fans. The audience responded with unbridled, foot-stomping enthusiasm that only peak Carnival season can spark, singing along to every lyric and dancing late into the night.

No iconic Caribbean Carnival night would be complete without a performance from Alison Hinds, the decades-reigning Queen of Soca, and the legend did not disappoint. From her first entrance, Hinds embodied the effortless warmth and unshakable confidence that has made her a staple of Caribbean entertainment for decades, interacting closely with the crowd and commanding the stage like an artist completely at home regardless of venue or hour. Her set reaffirmed exactly why her title as the Queen of Soca has remained unchallenged for so many years, drawing roars of approval from long-time fans and first-time attendees alike.

Far more than just a single concert, the standout night served as a powerful reminder of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ standing as one of the Caribbean’s premier destinations for authentic cultural celebration. The annual St. Thomas Carnival, held every April, has grown steadily to become one of the most anticipated events on the regional cultural calendar, and nights like this are clear proof of its enduring appeal. Hypasounds, who has long spoken publicly about his deep affection for the U.S. Virgin Islands and counts the destination among his favorite places to perform, brought every ounce of that fondness to his high-energy set.

Organizers extended special gratitude to the USVI Division of Festivals, production partner Riddimstream, and Michael Knight and his band, whose live instrumentation laid the dynamic musical foundation that elevated every performance of the night.

The excitement from this iconic Carnival set is far from over for Hypasounds. Up next, the Soca star is set to perform at Patrice Roberts’ highly anticipated *I Am Woman* event in Barbados, scheduled to take place on Mother’s Day. The event, which honors women’s contributions to Caribbean culture and features some of the region’s most talented female and male performers, is already one of the most talked-about events of the spring, and organizers are urging fans to secure their tickets early to avoid missing out. Following the Barbados show, Hypasounds will continue his tour with a stop this upcoming weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, with a full slate of upcoming dates promising as much excitement as the St. Thomas Carnival stop.

Fans can keep up with Hypasounds’ tour updates and new releases by following him on all social media platforms @hypasoundsmuzik. His latest single, *Too Like*, is available for streaming now on all major digital music platforms.

The highly anticipated 2026 edition of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival kicked off its opening night with an electrifying, cross-genre lineup of country, calypso, dancehall, and bouyon, laying an energetic foundation for what organizers promise will be the largest and most expansive iteration of the event to date. The evening got off to a seamless start, with LM Stone taking the stage alongside Shervon Sealy and Amber Digby to warm up the gathered audience with soulful country melodies, gently drawing early attendees into the festive spirit. Building on this initial momentum, the next segment of the night honored the rich cultural legacy of Kaiso and calypso, centering both iconic veteran performers and exciting emerging voices of the genre. Veteran mainstays including Robby, Herb Black, Lady Leen, Educator, Invader, Translator, and Ashanti shared the spotlight with rising talents, such as Dezral, current Saint Lucian calypso and soca monarch Sly, and Jurgen. After the musical opening acts, the official formal inauguration of the 2026 festival got underway, featuring opening remarks from Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism and Deputy Prime Minister, followed by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, who delivered the official declaration opening the festival. In his address to the packed audience, Hilaire emphasized the festival’s extraordinary growth trajectory, noting that the 2026 staging is the most ambitious and far-reaching in the event’s history, with early turnout already outpacing records set by previous years. “This year is our biggest year in terms of the number of activities that we will have. The Arts Festival has grown beyond belief,” Hilaire stated. He highlighted major new expansions to the 2026 program, including three original theatrical productions, an expanded Icon Series that incorporates culinary arts, and programming spread across a broader geographic footprint across the island. Hilaire added that the festival has evolved far beyond its original focus on music to create opportunities for a full spectrum of Caribbean creatives, noting “our dancers in Saint Lucia will get an opportunity to perform with international artists… showing how the festival is expanding beyond music.” Following the formal ceremonies, Jamaican vocalist D’Yani shifted the energy with a soulful set of romantic ballads, performing fan favorites including “Letter” and “Please.” He connected deeply with the audience, surprising female attendees by handing out roses throughout his performance. The crowd’s energy surged when popular dancehall performer Valiant took the stage, delivering a high-octane set packed with chart-topping hits including “Baddiedeh” and “Dunce Cheque.” Valiant leaned into close interaction with fans, leaving the stage to mingle with the crowd and inviting female attendees on stage to join a lively dance competition that sent the audience’s excitement soaring. Reggae icon Capleton followed with a commanding, crowd-pleasing performance that earned one of the biggest reactions of the entire night. Renowned for his electrifying stage presence, Capleton had the entire crowd jumping and waving along to his iconic tracks, including the fan favorite “That Day Will Come.” His set featured standout unaccompanied a cappella segments and a surprise guest appearance from Jamaican performer Ffuriousmusic. The opening night closed on an unforgettable high note with a performance from Dominican “Bouyon Boss” Asa Bantan, who lived up to his reputation as one of the genre’s most high-energy performers with renditions of his popular hits “Stickly Local” and “If I Die Young.” In a signature moment that became a highlight of the night, Bantan distributed water bottles to the crowd, who joined in by splashing water into the air during his performance of the fan favorite “Wet Fete.” Between main stage sets, rotating resident DJs kept the momentum going, ensuring the audience remained engaged and energized from the first performance to the last. By the end of the night, the opening celebration had successfully showcased the festival’s commitment to diverse Caribbean musical talent and expanded creative programming, setting a powerful positive precedent for the remainder of the 2026 Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival.

A powerful new theatrical production from Caribbean playwright Dr. Travis Weekes is placing the unheard experiences of migrant women in Trinidad and Tobago center stage, weaving together raw narratives of displacement, unexpected connection, and unbreakable perseverance. Titled *Don’t Call Me Baby Doll*, the production follows the intersecting lives of two migrant women: one originally from Cuba, the other from Venezuela, building new lives far from their native countries.

In an exclusive interview with St Lucia Times, Weekes broke down the layered narrative structure that sets the play apart. Unlike linear stories that only focus on migrants’ current struggles, the work weaves together dual timelines, juxtaposing the women’s day-to-day realities in Trinidad with intimate memories and stories from their home countries. This dual perspective gives audiences a full, nuanced look at how migration shapes identity, pulling people between the lives they left behind and the futures they are fighting to build.

While the script does not shy away from confronting the systemic and personal hardships migrant communities face—from border barriers to social exclusion to economic instability—Weekes emphasizes that the production’s core message is one of hope and endurance. “They share their struggles… their hurdles but what we also get, and which is most important, is the determination, the perseverance… to continue to strive for freedom and for a better life,” he explained.

A central, uplifting theme running through the play is the power of cross-cultural human connection. When the story opens, the two lead characters are complete strangers, separated by different national backgrounds and life experiences. Over the course of the narrative, they build a deep, supportive bond that becomes their anchor in an unfamiliar new country. “We feel the joy when we see two characters who are totally strangers, but who come together and who understand each other and who learn to appreciate each other… and are very supportive of each other,” Weekes said. This on-screen dynamic reflects the production’s broader exploration of how migrant communities build solidarity and collective strength in new, often unwelcoming environments.

The work is deeply rooted in Weekes’ own lived experiences during his years living and working in Trinidad. The playwright has long connected with migrant communities in the region, drawing inspiration and firsthand insight from their stories to shape the authentic narrative of the play. For Weekes, this production marks a major career milestone, calling it his most fully realized professionally produced work to date. Unlike his earlier projects, which he developed largely independently, *Don’t Call Me Baby Doll* was brought to life through a collaborative effort with a dedicated creative team. He notes that the collective expertise and shared commitment to the project elevated the execution, resulting in a polished, impactful production that stands out in his decades-long body of work.

Weekes’ career in the creative arts stretches back to his youth in the late 1970s, giving him decades of insight into the craft of theater-making. For emerging creators looking to follow in his footsteps, he shared a simple but powerful message: keep honing your skills, learn from the work of other artists, and never stop trying. For new creatives, he stresses, persistence matters far more than chasing perfection, as growth comes through consistent practice and iteration.