More variety, community events for Saint Lucia Jazz 2025

The wait was finally over as the much-anticipated lineup for the 2025 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival was announced on Thursday, January 16 at the Pavilion at Rodney Bay.

The red carpet invite-only event featured artistic expressions in song, dance, spoken word and instruments as a preview of what’s to come.

In the evening, the various speakers emphasized the festival’s value to Saint Lucia, its reach and the intention to embrace even more communities and local creatives this year.

“I am proud of our continued efforts to nurture and promote this invaluable cultural treasure. For thirty years, this festival has been an anchor for cultural expression, community development and a celebration of our global connections,” said Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Minister of Tourism, Investment, Culture, Creative Industries and Broadcasting.

Dr. Hilaire went on to emphasize the festival’s importance to the economy and its impact, which he says is far-reaching, beyond our cultural landscape and boosts the tourism sector.

He revealed that by 2024, ticket sales came from forty-six countries and the intention was to surpass this milestone this year.

“We will continue to ensure that our festival thrives, not only in terms of attendance, but lasting economic opportunities for our local communities. This year, we are expanding the festival’s reach even further to more communities than ever before,” explained Hilaire.

The Minister of Tourism thanked all those before him who have contributed to the success of the festival and stated that for those to come, a foundation was laid that they would be proud of.

Speaking at the launch, the Chairman of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) explained that the festival was designed to allow visitors to experience Saint Lucia’s culture, heritage, sites, culinary delights and abundance of nature and adventure.

According to Thaddeus Antoine, this year’s festival will include new genres such as Country and more directly Jazz on the main stage.

The event will also see the continuation of Arts & the City spearheaded by the Cultural Development Fund (CDF).

The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival runs from April 30 to May 11, 2025.

Country artist Gretchen Wilson and reggae singer Sizzla will headline the opening night. The Mindoo Phillip Park event will also feature Lady Lava, Trilogy, Nice & Pudaz and DYP.

Jazz events will then spread through the various communities from May 1 to May 6 ahead of the first mainstage event, straight Jazz at the Pavilion in Rodney Bay. The double dose of Jazz (May 6 and 8) will feature the likes of Mateo Mancuso, Etienne Charles and Jazzmeia Horn.

A night of praise and worship called “Kingdom Night” returns on Wednesday, May 7, headlined by Gospel superstar Tasha Cobbs. It will also feature Maverick City and local gospel acts Cleopatra Jules and Shreffler Maxwell.

The Caribbean Fusion night follows on Friday, May 9 with Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Yung Bredda, Patrice Roberts and Ricky T.

Pigeon Island National Landmark, the “home” of Saint Lucia Jazz, will host the final two days of the festival on Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th. The climax of the weekend will feature a mix of Afrobeat, R&B, Compas, Blues and Jazz.

Taboo Combo, Joé Dwèt Filé, Ruger, Summer Walker, Ronald “Boo” Hinkson and Friends, Sly, Elliot Yamin and Blu Mango are all set to perform, while Earth, Wind and Fire and John Legend will bring the curtains down on the final day.

Tickets for the 2025 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival are already on sale online.