Fringe events will feature prominently in Saint Jazz 2017, under the Soleil Saint Lucia Summer Festival banner. As in previous years, fringe events have traditionally been an integral part of Saint Lucia Jazz, and this year is no exception.

West Coast Jazz will kick off the fringe events for Jazz 2017. It will be held at Quantum Gardens in Massacre, Anse La Raye, on May 7 from 2 p.m. The line-up includes DYP, Extent, Rob ‘Zii’ Taylor and Phyness, the Charles Cadet Orchestra, Carl Gustave, and Antonius Henry. Admission to this event is $20 with children under 12 admitted free.

From May 10 - 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, the Blue Coral Mall in downtown Castries will stage Blue Coral Jazz. The line-up includes Dynamics Band, the Saint Lucia School of Music, Stacy Charles and Friends, Yannick James, Aimran Simmons, 6 Miles, and Epic Band. Patrons will be offered special discounts and packages from select stores at Blue Coral Mall.

On May 11 at 1 p.m. will be the staging of the traditional Tea Time Jazz at La Place Carenage. Performing live will be Rob Zi Taylor, Skip Monday, Dynamics Band, and Claudia Edward with her band Naked Cords.

The major events for Saint Lucia Jazz 2017 also sound-off on May 11 at 7 p.m. with The Jazz Showcase at the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa with Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson and the Young Stars featuring Kyvon Edwin, Shanne James, Shannon Pinel, Rashaad Joseph, Irvin ‘Ace’ Loctar and Vladimir Lucien. On show will be the best of Saint Lucia’s musical and literary talent, under the guidance of local music icon Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson.

Rodney Bay will come alive with Jazz on the Strip. The popular Keebes Bar, and Q-Lounge, will stage live performances featuring local musicians.

Public Relations Officer for the Events Company of St. Lucia Inc., Mineva Ross, is encouraged by the fringe events.

“The fringe events foster community participation in the festival. At Events St. Lucia, we want to continue to infuse that level of ownership, community involvement and buy-in to Saint Lucia Jazz and all the other events which we will be staging as part of the Soleil Saint Lucia Summer Festival.”

Full details about Soleil - the Summer of Festivals can be found at www.soleilasaintlucia.com

For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1-800-456-3984, or 1-888 4STLUCIA or visit http://www.stlucia.org/.