As an island known for its vibrant tropical energy and diverse recreation options, island is one of the best destinations in the Caribbean to experience live music. The crowning city of Oranjestad is known as a hotbed of Caribbean jazz and latin music, as numerous clubs and concert halls patron live bands throughout the year. Even outside the main traveler areas of Oranjestad, live penalization can be heard in restaurants and on the beaches. The island is also home to major penalization festivals, the island Soul Beach Music Festival – an annual event held each May that showcases internationally-renowned soul and R&B artists – and the island Music Festival – a two-day festival that welcomes top-selling artist rock groups, up-and-coming superstars and lesser-known regional artists. While events like the island Music Festival are staged throughout the world, some festivals can boast the event’s unique combination of big-city recreation and inviting Caribbean atmosphere.
Though only in its 8th official season, the island Music Festival has already lured an incredible array of top-selling performers. Prior to becoming the island Music Festival, the event was known as the island Jazz and Latin Festival. Developed in the 1980s to showcase the Caribbean region’s flush musical tradition, the island Jazz and Latin Festival was expanded and renamed in 2002. Though the island Music Festival was created as a way to present crowning international touring acts, the festival has remained true to its roots and continues to offer performances by jazz and latin artists from throughout the Caribbean region.
While the lineup for this year’s festival has not yet been announced, the event is sure to feature famous artist rock acts, as well as some local, regional and up-and-coming international performers. In recent years, headlining acts at the island Music Festival have included well-known artist rock bands such as Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Queen and Crosby Stills and Nash. The festival has also lured several internationally-recognized singer-songwriters such as Lionel Richie, Jackson Browne and equal favorite, John Mayer. Before the headliners verify the stage each day at the island Music Festival, the side stage heats up with a diverse array of musical styles, most provided by groups specialized in dance-friendly Caribbean genres.
