The 2025 Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival launched in spectacular style on April 27th with Jazz En Vierge in Micoud, headlined by none other than Jamaican reggae and dancehall legend, Sanchez.
Known for his smooth vocals and signature blend of reggae classics with R&B and pop covers, Sanchez delivered a stellar performance that energized a packed crowd at the newly transformed venue.
The evening marked a historic moment: Jazz En Vierge was not only the first official event of this year’s festival but also the first time the new site hosted a mass crowd event.
Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire praised both the venue and the community’s role in making the event a success.
“Today really shows how communities have embraced the Jazz and Arts Festival and how proud they are of it,” Minister Hilaire said. “This is the first official activity of the 2025 Jazz and Arts Festival, and the first time this venue has been used for a mass crowd event such as this, and it’s a fantastic venue.”
Hilaire was effusive about the location’s potential, declaring:
“Anyone who comes here and experiences it will tell you it must rank among the best venues in Saint Lucia, and maybe even the region. From now on, this place will no longer go unnoticed or unused.”
The new site drew widespread praise from patrons:
“I love this venue,” one remarked.
“I love the transformation; it reminds me of Pigeon Island,” another added.
Beyond the music, the night showcased a deep sense of community pride. Chairperson of the Micoud Jazz Committee, Louise Victor, emphasized that every decision during planning was driven by a desire to ensure the community truly benefited.
“While Micoud is known for its culture, we are now known for events,” said one resident.
Another added, “Jazz En Vierge contributes to the economic development of our community, and that’s what I love about it.”
“I’m definitely going to host an event here for Carnival,” remarked one event promoter.
Victor explained that the committee was deliberate in making the festival community-focused. One significant move was foregoing a traditional festival committee-run bar in favor of giving all concession opportunities directly to local residents.
“You can imagine, we’ve had exponential costs preparing this site, but we decided not to have a committee-run bar, because this is for the community,” Victor said. “We wanted all the concession stands to be manned and owned by people in the community — and that’s what we’ve done.”
With such a vibrant start, the 2025 Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival is shaping up to be a season to remember.
The event also featured performances by Saint Lucia’s own Invasion Band, Shayne Ross, and Teddyson John, who thrilled the crowd ahead of the headliner.
