Music

Where jazz lovers meet

The Saint Lucia Jazz Festival was founded in 1991 by jazz pioneer Luther Francois.

François was born into a musical family in 1952 and by the time he was a teenager, he could play a range of instruments, from violin to piano.

In its early days there were just four locations but it has now expanded island-wide with the main venues at Gros Islet Park – where you will find the event headliners - Rodney Bay, Soufrière and the Balenbouche Estate. If you are on the hunt for the freshest new sounds in jazz head for Derek Walcott Square where you can find up-and-coming acts.

The 2019 event was the first to be held in collaboration with New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center and featured artists such as Grammy Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter and The Baylor Project who took part in a first Gospel-inspired inspirational Jazz Brunch.

The 2020 event runs from 1 to 10th May 2020. More details from www.eventssaintlucia.com

The battle of the flowers Which flower is more beautiful – the rose or the marguerite?

Most of us would make a quick objective evaluation and move on. In Saint Lucia, things are taken a lot more seriously. La Rose and La Marguerite are two groups who exist to praise the beauty of their chosen flower.

The societies were around as early as the 1760s and have their roots as support networks for the slaves who worked on Saint Lucia’s sugar plantations. These days, the societies are more social groups with a love of singing and festivals. Families often remain in one society or the other for generations.

Each society has an associated patron saint and the society holds a festival each year on its feast day. For La Rose (or La Woz as it is often known), it is St Rose of Lima’s day on 30th August. For La Marguerite (La Magawit), it is

Photo: Saint Lucia Tourism

St Margaret Mary Alacoque on 17th October.

In the months running up to their festival, members of the societies meet for singing rehearsals or séances, presided over by a King and Queen, who dress extravagantly.

A shatwèl - usually a woman - leads the members of the group in calls and responses with music provided by violins, banjos and more locally known instruments such as cuatros and the chak-chak. Songs begin and end with Vive La Rose or Vive La Marguerite as appropriate.

The festival starts off with church services across the island and then with processions through the streets with members dressed as princes, princesses, soldiers, police officers and judges. As the day turns to evening, leading members of the societies take part in a banquet and with traditional folk dances, such as the kwadril.

A year packed with fun

Jan uar y Nobel laureate Week Series of workshops and exhibitions to celebrate the lives of Sir Derek Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis 22 Febr uar y Independence Day Annual celebration of independence from Britain in 1979 May Saint Lucia Jazz festival International and local jazz musicians descend on Saint Lucia for a week of concerts. Herbie Hancock and George Benson have appeared in the past Last Sunda y in June Fête Pêche Annual thanksgiving celebration by Saint Lucia’s fishermen June -Jul y Saint Lucia Carnival Parades, concerts, parties fill the streets of Saint Lucia with sound and colour Jul y Mercury Fest Boats arrive from Martinique, Guadelope and beyond for the ultimate beach party Aug ust Saint Lucia Roots & Soul Music festival featuring reggae, hip hop, RnB and Afro-punk 30 Aug ust La Rose Festival Annual celebration by La Rose society September Divefest Annual diving festival with dives, clean-ups, treasure hunts and more in partnership with Saint Lucia Divers Association September Food and Rum Festival An annual celebration of food and drink which attracts chefs, food critics and drinks connoisseurs from the Caribbean and internationally October Creole Day Annual celebration of the island’s French creole heritage 17 October La Marguerite Festival Annual celebration by La Marguerite floral society November -December ARC Saint Lucia welcomes boats from the Atlantic Race for Cruisers with parties and cultural events December Festival of Light Celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, good overcoming evil and the renewal of life

For more information on events, visit www.eventssaintlucia.com or www. stlucia.org

Marigot Bay, one third of the way down Saint Lucia’s western coast, is one of the most popular destinations for yachts arriving in the country’s sparkling waters.

Marigot Bay Marina has 42 berths and 20 mooring buoys with berthing for yachts up to 280 ft in length. It is naturally deep – in the Second World War, German submarines came into the bay – and can handle up to 20ft drafts.