分类： entertainment

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) has officially announced that iconic 1990s R&B sensations Brandy and Monica will serve as the headline act for the 2025 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival finale. This confirmation came during a media briefing held at Sandals Regency on Tuesday, generating significant excitement within the music community.

The duo, currently preparing for their highly anticipated “The Boy Is Mine Tour” reunion in 2025, will bring their legendary star power to the festival’s closing night on May 10. Their participation adds substantial prestige to an already impressive roster of international and Caribbean performers that includes Tems, Branford Marsalis, Skip Marley & the Original Wailers, and Esperanza Spalding.

SLTA Chairman Thaddeus M. Antoine emphasized the significance of this booking, stating: “Monica and Brandy’s inclusion elevates anticipation among music lovers, cultural tastemakers and international travelers alike. Their performances promise to blend nostalgia with contemporary flair, aligning seamlessly with the festival’s tradition of showcasing world-class talent across genres while celebrating Caribbean culture, artistry and creativity.”

The festival, which officially launched its lineup announcement on January 22, will run from April 30 through May 10. The event will feature diverse thematic nights including Kingdom Night, Pure Jazz, Caribbean Fusion and World Beats, offering varied musical experiences throughout its duration.

Early bird tickets are currently available for the 11-day cultural extravaganza. The opening night will showcase dancehall artist Capleton, Valiant, Asa Bantan, D’YANI, Shervon Sealy, LM Stone and American country artist Amber Digby. The grand finale, dubbed “The Ultimate Celebration,” will feature additional performances by Mervin Wilkinson & Friends and Billy Ocean preceding the headlining set from Brandy and Monica.

The ninth annual Legacy showcase, a cornerstone of Saint Lucia’s Independence celebrations, once again demonstrated the timeless appeal of vintage calypso and soca music. Held at the purpose-built Pavilion in Rodney Bay, the event featured an extraordinary lineup of both emerging local talents and legendary regional performers, creating an electrifying atmosphere that captivated audiences of all generations.

This year’s edition gained special distinction with the appearance of Destra, widely celebrated as the undisputed queen of bacchanal, who headlined as the special guest. The event attracted enthusiastic fans who arrived early to secure seating, while a vibrant younger contingent infused fresh energy into what has rapidly become the most anticipated cultural event of the year. The audience included prominent national figures such as Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and Education Minister Kenson Casimir.

The evening commenced with newcomer Anwar delivering a contemporary interpretation of TC Brown’s classic ‘Where Are They Now,’ establishing an innovative tone for subsequent performances. Rising artists including De Vine (‘Not Built for Backup’), J’urgen (‘Boom Boom Bye Bye’), and Ti Carro (‘Where Do We Go From Here’) showcased their distinctive interpretations of the traditional art forms.

Legacy maintained its reputation for unexpected moments with a surprise appearance by former Culture Minister Damian Greaves, who once performed under the stage name Short Pants. His rendition of the classic ‘Haiti’ resonated deeply with attendees, creating one of the evening’s most memorable interludes.

The highly anticipated return of Black I and Yati with ‘Rambo Diplomacy’ received overwhelming applause, their prolonged absence from the stage rendering the performance particularly poignant. Educator followed with dynamic uptempo numbers including ‘Manifesto’ and ‘Calypso Tyson,’ demonstrating his remarkable versatility in both Kweyol and English while proving calypso’s capacity for both lyrical depth and dance-driven rhythm.

By the time Ashanti, acclaimed as ‘the people’s calypso king,’ took the stage, the venue had reached standing-room-only capacity. His powerful set culminated with the profoundly moving ‘Sufferers Song’ (better known as ‘Malayway’), widely considered among the finest calypso compositions ever created.

Additional highlights included a rare performance by X-Man delivering ‘De Speaker’ and Mantius, former OECS Soca Monarch, reviving road-march nostalgia with classics like ‘Fire Burn Dem,’ ‘She She,’ and ‘Making Love.’ Following a brief intermission, Ricardo presented a medley of iconic Caribbean soca hits that seamlessly transitioned into performances by Arthur and Teddyson John, who maintained the event’s relentless party momentum.

The energy reached its zenith when MC Ezi Hall introduced Destra. Dressed in sheer black athletic wear, the soca superstar unleashed an explosive set featuring crowd favorites including ‘Lucy,’ ‘Bonnie & Clyde,’ ‘Tremble It,’ and ‘It’s Carnival.’ Her performance evoked nostalgic memories of traditional carnival attire before the era of smartphones and disposable cups. Audiences were additionally treated to her new track ‘Happy People (Sourness),’ which was enthusiastically received.

The celebration concluded with former Soca Monarch Alpha delivering a compact but immensely crowd-pleasing set that included ‘Cyar Wait,’ ‘Freedom,’ and ‘In De Ark,’ leaving audiences on their feet demanding encore performances even as the final curtain descended.

Now firmly established as an integral component of Saint Lucia’s entertainment calendar, Legacy has transcended its Independence celebration origins to become a year-round cultural phenomenon that continues to honor the enduring power and relevance of Caribbean musical heritage.

Independent filmmaker Elijah Anatole, founder of Artlas Studios in Saint Lucia, has initiated a crowdfunding initiative through Greenlit to secure $15,000 in production funding for his upcoming short film ‘Letters From Ava.’ This move comes as his recently acclaimed project ‘Omyra’ continues to receive international recognition through film festival circuits.

Anatole’s decision to pursue community-funded financing stems from what he describes as systemic lack of support for cinematic arts within Saint Lucia. Despite approaching numerous corporate entities and government agencies, the filmmaker reported that 99% of potential sponsors declined to provide assistance for distribution and festival participation costs.

‘There isn’t any substantial support mechanism for filmmakers in Saint Lucia,’ Anatole revealed to St. Lucia Times, highlighting that previous projects including ‘Me’ and the feature-length ‘Heartfall’ were primarily self-funded despite some collaborative partnerships.

The new project, ‘Letters From Ava,’ will explore deeply human themes of familial bonds, mortality, and the grieving process through the intimate story of two sisters. Anatole emphasizes that the film remains intrinsically connected to Saint Lucian cultural context while addressing universal emotional experiences.

Through the Greenlit campaign page, Anatole positions the funding drive as more than financial support: ‘You’re contributing to storytelling that values emotional honesty and reflection over spectacle. You’re supporting independent filmmaking from Saint Lucia and helping ensure Caribbean stories reach global audiences.’

The filmmaker intends to leverage the international film festival circuit to showcase Caribbean narratives worldwide, viewing the project as an opportunity to strengthen the region’s presence in global cinematic discourse.