The music continues long after the sun sets
BVI
Music Festival
2009
by Traci O'Dea
“I know that the music’s fine like sparkling wine, go and have your fun.” – The Drifters “Save the Last Dance” My dimly lit, carpeted office in Road Reef Plaza is not exactly the best place for grooving, but, to the amusement of my coworkers, I can’t stop chair-dancing with my headphones on as I listen to the lineup for this year’s BVI Music Fest.
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MAY 2009 BVI YACHT GUIDE ALOOKINGGLASS PUBLISHING | www.bviguides.com
Music, Food, Friends and Fun When I asked BVI Tourist Board Marketing Manager Lynette Harrigan and David Archer, Public Relations Officer for BVI Music Fest Cane Garden Bay Limited, which artists they were particularly looking forward to for this year’s event, they said in unison, “All of them.” Mr. Archer followed with, “I just try to maintain my composure when talking about the lineup; I’m so excited.” I complimented the committee on the inclusion of strong female voices such as Queen Ifrica, Tanya Stephens and Zoelah. “We wanted to ensure we had a cross-section of artists, of course,” Mr. Archer said. “And we’ve made a strong effort to reach out to our diverse community. We’re especially excited about Daddy Yankee, who has never performed in this part of the Caribbean,” Ms. Harrigan said. They stressed the fact that each night has something for everyone, instead of being completely separated by genres. For example, reggae sensation Tanya Stephens is closing out the night on Sunday, a night that previously featured mostly R&B acts. “Wouldn’t it be nice if the BVI Music Fest became a destination festival, similar to ones in the States and Europe like Bonnaroo or Glastonbury Festival? A place where people come to BVI specifically for the music?” I asked. “We already have that,” Ms. Harrigan said. “People who come to Cane Garden Bay for the Music Fest rebook their rooms for the next year before they leave. All the rooms in Cane Garden are