Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest coming soon

It’s just two weeks to go before the Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest kicks off its 8th annual four-day music-filled weekend in Bequia. Opening honours go to the Frangipani Hotel, where the fabulous 13-piece Elite Steel Orchestra from St. Vincent will perform on Thursday, 27th January, from 9pm.{{more}}

On Friday 28th, the Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest once again welcomes Dana Gillespie and the London Blues Band and her guest artistes to Bequia for another thrilling night’s entertainment dedicated to the Blues at their very best, in a perfect setting by the beach at De Reef Bar & Restaurant in Lower Bay.

A big “Thank You” to Basil Charles for bringing the Mustique Blues Festival to Bequia for the eighth year running!

On Saturday, 29th from 1pm, the Bequia Beach Hotel in Friendship will be the venue for a free afternoon of hot and cool Jazz ‘n’ Blues by the beach with the Vincentian Blues Band and “Patches” Knights on keyboards, award-winning US Blues pianist David Maxwell, Stan & Cora from Europe (piano & sax), New York trumpeter Jim Coleman, American guitarist “Wry Worry” and Bequia guitarist Bob Berlinghof, with other musicians joining in the jam session.

Saturday night is the second big night of the Music Fest at De Reef. The Caribbean’s “saxiest” man, virtuoso saxophonist Arturo Tappin will be one of the show-stopping highlights of the evening, together with legendary Bajan blues guitarist Toby Armstrong with pan artiste supreme David Walcott, and band.

Also back in Bequia this year by popular demand is one of the hottest bands from Barbados – the MTV award-winning NEXCYX, which brought the house down last year in Bequia with their signature blend of Rock, Hip Hop and Pop. Following their US tour, they have just released their new single CD “On the Floor” – miss them on Saturday night and blame yourself! The evening will open with Bequia’s ever popular Country Relatives and Bequia-based band “Adrehnalin”, with guest solo artiste Amanda Gooding.

Sunday, 30th January, will be a day to chill out at De Reef in Lower Bay to the sounds of string music from Bequia’s “De Real Ting”, Jazz, Blues and Rock by the Denzil Bacchus Blues Band, the “Honky Tonics”, with Jan and Louis, the Bequia Blues Band, and much, MUCH more at the Mount Gay Finale Party with Barbados’ hugely popular “Look Hooz Left” with Scott Zimmerman and Garvie Griffith on guitar, rocking the crowd till the sun goes down…

De Reef in Lower Bay will once again be transformed into a unique entertainment complex, complete with live outdoor big screen video projection, covered al fresco dining and seating, and a newly rebuilt and extended stage area.

Tickets for the Friday and Saturday events at De Reef are on sale at Quik Print and The Bounty in St. Vincent, and on Bequia at the Bequia Tourism Office, Lina’s Delicatessen, De Reef, Bequia Beach Hotel, Bequia Technology Center and the Frangipani Hotel. Tickets prices are EC$60 for advance single night tickets (EC$75 on the door) and EC$99 for a two-night package. Tickets for Sunday afternoon are EC$20 (EC$25 on the door).

(No charge for admission to the Frangipani on Thursday and Jazz ‘n’ Blues by the Beach on Saturday afternoon at the Bequia Beach Hotel beachfront bar and gardens.)

The Bequia Music Fest is only possible because of the enthusiastic support it receives from local businesses. Apart from headline sponsor Mount Gay Rum (Barbados), and major sponsors SVG Ministry of Tourism/SVG Tourism Authority, Karib Cable, Hairoun Beer, LIME St. Vincent, Bequia Beach Hotel, Frangipani Hotel, De Reef, CRS Music & Media, (Barbados), Admiralty Transport, ik-TV, Quik-Print (St. Vincent), Air Adelphi, SVG Air and LIAT, the Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest is also generously supported by Basil’s Bar Mustique, Cross Country Radio, Nice Radio, Keegan’s Beach Resort, Kingsville Apartments, Gingerbread Hotel, Julie’s Guest House, Mac’s Pizzeria, Bryden’s (St. Vincent), Maria’s French Terrace, Doris’ Fresh Food, L’Auberge des Grenadines, Bequia Technology Center, Bequia Express, WAG Service Station, Sandpiper Company Bequia, Compass Publishing and Outhouse Graphics.

For more information, see ad in this paper or visit www.begos.com/bequiamusicfest