Rachel Price for St. Kitts Music Festival

MUSIC FESTIVAL LAUNCHES ST. KITTS FRESH TOURISM APPROACH

By William Doyle-Marshall

Three months after his government took over the political responsibilities of the country, Lindsay Grant Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts and Nevis disclosed plans to increase tourism’s contribution to the economy from seven to 12% of the gross domestic product.

   His government is now engaging new airlines in discussions about servicing St. Kitts and Nevis. Some very serious consideration is being given to the importance of hotel rooms versus visitors to the country. “We see the tremendous growth that we are going to have. Right now tourism by itself takes up about seven percent of GDP so over the next five years I want to grow that to about ten or 12 percent,” he promised.

  In an exclusive interview with Minister Grant at the Ocean Terrace Inn Wednesday night to talk about this week’s 19^th annual music festival at the Warner Park Stadium. It opens Thursday night (June 25) with a powerful front line of impressive Soca artists who including the reigning Soca Monarch Kerwin DuBois, Roy Cape and the Kaiso All Stars, Patrice Roberts, the Small Axe Band and many other top stars in the Soca Kingdom.

 The minister confessed it is a challenging effort for him as the host of his first music festival. Grant took office three months prior to the festival so it was basically on the way. Despite being thrust into this mammoth happening, the minister admitted “I think we have done wonderfully well in the three months. I think we have a fantastic line up over the next three days and I expect a fantastic turn out. I am especially excited because I believe Friday night and Saturday night will deliver for this festival the largest crowds based on what we are feeling. Thursday night is traditionally a bit smaller and I am hoping that it will just hold its own. But overall I think we are going to have a great festival.”

   Some of the headliners for Thursday and Friday that organizers were able to attract, were secured when they didn’t have all the accolades that they now have. Minister Grant understands some of those performer have now gained some additional recognition and as a consequence of that they are really on the market now in terms of being fresh and new and they are bringing something fresh and new to St. Kitts. As far as the minister is concerned music fans are looking forward to their performers. He also disclosed some of his friends who live overseas are flying down to see Trey Songz and those weekend artistes. Ordinarily they would not be able to see them in the U.S. so they are just coming down for a couple of days for the experience.

   Performers on Thursday and Friday nights include Rachel Price, a witty ‘in yuh face’ comedian from Trinidad and Tobago. She has been described by many people in many different ways but most will agree on “Raunchy”, “Sexy!”, and “Unapologetic!” In your face humor! All phrases which accurately describe Rachel Price. “Pricey” as she is affectionately called by the masses who claim her, began her professional career as the “MC” of a weekly cabaret in 1994. She quickly became known for her rapid retorts and “down to earth” appeal. From then on she joined a band of Trinidadian actors who wanted to “try” stand-up comedy. Rachel Price’s performances at the comedy club then known as ‘Just Friends’ are regarded as legendary.

   Also in the festival cast are Aswad, Bounty Killer, Christopher Martin, Arturo Tappin, Ciara, Footsy, Jah Fire, Jason and Derule, Tourism plays an important part in the country. This music festival was introduced as a means to attract tourists during what was considered the country’s off season. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Damaris Lewis whose parents are from St. Kitts, will host the closing night’s show.

   The minister promises there will be a more focused approached to land-based tourism under his watch. He notes that his country has been lagging a bit in that arena and his strategy over the next five years is to focus on that area. Cruise tourism is at a million passengers and St. Kitts stands at number two in the Caribbean’s industry. “Land-based tourism now needs to be nurtured and that is what I will do over the next five years,” Grant explained.

   Over the next 24 months he disclosed the Park Hyatt is coming on stream to open its doors in 2016 and that says a lot for St. Kitts. The Embassy Suites by Hilton will open in 2017. Kittitian Hill, a standalone Boutique Hotel that already had a soft opening. The Koi Hotel is opening in 2017 which bears the signature from the Koi Restaurant. The owner of the Koi Restaurant decided that he loves St. Kitts so much that he was not only going to put his restaurant in St. Kitts but he was going to try, for the first time, a branded hotel. So we have almost 700 rooms coming on board over the next 24 months. While that is an excited situation, the minister admitted it presents special challenges for his ministry because he has the responsibility for filling those rooms. “I have to ensure that the traffic is such that we have to fill those rooms.

Stars Aligning for St. Kitts Music

The Stars Aligning for 19^th edition of Kitts Music Festival

By William Doyle-Marshall
International bestselling musical artist Jason Derulo best known for his hits Want to Want Me, released earlier this year, will be among performers at the 19th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, which takes place from June 25 through June 27.
  Miami born Derulo is a popular singer, songwriter and dancer who has sold over 45 million records worldwide. Since launching his career as a solo artist in 2009, he has ascended from writing songs for Lil Wayne, Pitbull, Diddy, Sean Kingston and others to having ten career-defining platinum singles and a radio audience of over 17 billion. Talk Dirty, his 2014 album spawned five platinum singles, propelling him into an elite cadre of artists to achieve five platinum hits from just one album. He is a five-time winner of the BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) Pop Awards, including "Songwriter of the Year" in 2011, and winner of three Teen Choice Awards complementing his nominations for an array of international awards.
  Minister of Tourism Lindsay F.P. Grant, considers  Derulo a very exciting artist to watch on stage. He is confident his performance at the Saint Kitts Music Festival will enhance the diversity and variety of talent that the St. Kitts Music Festival has become renowned for in the Caribbean.

Another award-winning R&B artist and Hollywood film actor featured in the festival cast is Trey Songz who joins Bounty Killer, Christopher Martin, Aswad, Roy Cape, T-Vice, Tono Rosario, Ricardo Drue, Kerwin DuBois, Patrice Roberts, Blaxx and Benjai, during the exciting cultural event. In announcing Songz’s appearance at the festival Minister  Grant, who noted that he was thrilled to welcome the performer to St. Kitts for the first time. "Trey Songz is a renowned R&B artist, with international appeal.  Having him perform at the St. Kitts Music Festival will certainly reinforce the event's reputation as a dynamic Caribbean music festival with exhilarating performances and an experience like no other," the minister added. Trey Songz is best known for his hits Bottoms Up featuring Nicki Minaj, Say Aah featuring Fabolous, I Need a Girl, Gotta Go, I Invented Sex featuring Drake, Girl Tonite, Can't Help but Wait, Gotta Make It and Heart Attack. His seventh studio album, Slow Motion, debuted earlier this year.

• Ciara 

    Quite excited about the 2015 edition of the Festival, which has become one of the most anticipated events in the Caribbean’s calendar of events, Minister Grant, said it has grown over the years into a unique event that showcases international music stars alongside rising local and Caribbean acts.”
   Promotion of the Festival started in the country’s various markets to encourage visitors to follow their hearts to St. Kitts, to enjoy one of the most diversified musical weekends in the Caribbean, the minister insisted.
   Ciara a global superstar whose infectious tunes have resulted in multi-platinum albums, smash singles and a truckload of awards, according to her bio is also down on the list of performers. Her dazzling dance moves have mesmerized audiences worldwide. Her striking good looks have led to modeling opportunities and her magnetic screen presence has jumpstarted a promising acting career. But with Basic Instinct, her fourth album, Ciara wanted to push things further than she ever has before. “With this album I wanted to take it back to the basics and bring back the bass,” says Ciara. “At the same time, I’m still showing my growth and trusting my first instinct, my basic instinct on everything – my music choices and creative choices.”
   Ciara’s instincts ring true time and time again throughout the dynamic collection, which features her as an assertive, visionary woman whose life experiences have taught her to trust herself and her decision-making process. The up-tempo “Girls Get Your Money,” for instance, stands as the next girls’ anthem, as CiCi salutes women who go hard for their success, something she continues doing. She then shifts gears on the sultry yet charming “You Can Get It,” where the chanteuse takes a phrase typically associated with men and makes it her own.
   Now in its 19th year, the St. Kitts Music Festival attracts both locals and visitors alike. It features a wide range of musical styles on the popular market, including R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Soca, Calypso, Gospel and Contemporary music. Past artists have included such prominent acts as John Legend, Lionel Richie, T-Pain, Michael Bolton, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, UB40's Ali Campbell, Wyclef Jean, Ne-Yo, Air Supply, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Shaggy, Kelly Rowland, Tessanne Chin, Toni Braxton, Beenie Man, The Commodores, Dionne Warwick, Billy Ocean, Sean Paul, Boyz II Men, King Konris, Stephen Marley, Regina Belle, Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond, Roberta Flack, Biggie Irie, Bunny Wailer and Lord Nelson.
   In the meantime, Minister of Tourism Lindsay  Grant, said, "Caribbean Week in New York was quite a success “for us, as we kept the spotlight on St. Kitts as a destination on the rise both in the Caribbean region and in the world. Throughout the meetings and events of the week, we continued to reinforce St. Kitts' position as a leader and influencer in the tourism industry."
 After an exciting Caribbean Week start to in the Big Apple where the island hosted an elite consumer media dinner at the Park Hyatt and conducted meetings with top editors, St. Kitts only continued to gain momentum as the week progressed, maintaining high visibility at key functions throughout the remainder of the week. With that the stage is set for this month’s music festival as a very powerful cast of performers will take center stage for fans travelling from far and near to get a true taste of real island hospitality.