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Moderate turnout on opening night of 2013 BVI Music Fest

- Crowd felt cheated with short performance of main artiste
'Tonight, what I brought to the Virgin Islands was me, Claudette Peters. I came out to put on a good show for the people and as you see they did have a great time, the energy was high and the party was on. I love the way the people came out to party,' commented the main artiste on the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013, Claudette Peters. Photo: VINO
Extreme Band started the night off by keeping patrons on their dancing feet. Photo: VINO
Extreme Band started the night off by keeping patrons on their dancing feet. Photo: VINO
They were kept dancing all night long. Photo: VINO
They were kept dancing all night long. Photo: VINO
Calypsonian 'Short Shirt' did not fail to do what he was paid for, to bring to the stage some really back-in-the-days hot calypso. Photo: VINO
Calypsonian 'Short Shirt' did not fail to do what he was paid for, to bring to the stage some really back-in-the-days hot calypso. Photo: VINO
The man 'Baron' soca daddy who had some good ones from the 70s and 80s. Photo: VINO
The man 'Baron' soca daddy who had some good ones from the 70s and 80s. Photo: VINO
With the cups in hand, drinks in their head and music in their soul, this group had a good time dancing to the old sounds by Baron. Photo: VINO
With the cups in hand, drinks in their head and music in their soul, this group had a good time dancing to the old sounds by Baron. Photo: VINO
The Volume Intl. Band thought they had it all locked with their performance until they met their challenger, this gyrating fan. Photo: VINO
The Volume Intl. Band thought they had it all locked with their performance until they met their challenger, this gyrating fan. Photo: VINO
Claudette Peters and a band member were 'wowed' by a fan who had the words of one of their leading songs to the tip of his tongue. Photo: VINO
Claudette Peters and a band member were 'wowed' by a fan who had the words of one of their leading songs to the tip of his tongue. Photo: VINO
It was this fan's birthday and his gift from Claudette Peters was to dance with her on stage for as long as he could have kept the pace going. Photo: VINO
It was this fan's birthday and his gift from Claudette Peters was to dance with her on stage for as long as he could have kept the pace going. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Scene from the opening night of BVI Music Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
CANE GARDEN BAY, Tortola, VI – The Virgin Islands own Extreme Band, calypsonian with the touch of the old songs that never lose their sting - Short Shirt, Baron who pulls soca from the 70s and 80s, the Volume International Band and Antigua & Barbuda’s soca sensation, Claudette Peters all have one thing in common.

That commonality is that they were all present at the beach last night, May 24, 2013 in Cane Garden Bay where they kicked off the BVI Music Festival 2013 with a tempo that was well deserved by those who ignored the weather forecast and braved intermittent downpours to be present to party the night through.

Many were of the view that the turnout was a far cry from that of previous years, but for those who attended they got what they wanted - a night of non-stop party with great music from the on stage artistes and bands. “I am here every year. I set my vacation to come back home and spend some money for some great entertainment and I got my money’s worth. Look out for me, I come tonight, I coming tomorrow night and I coming the other night, I here for every single night to have a ball,” said Erica Plowell, a VIslander now resident in Australia.  

The night got off to a start with just a handful of persons dancing and enjoying the performance of Extreme Band but as the night got older the crowed grew thicker and the pace of the entertainment increased. Short Shirt touched the heart of those who had an appreciation for some good calypso from the belly of the Caribbean, then Baron came pulling the good old soca songs from the 70s and 80s and then on next was the Volume International Band, which kept the crowd alive with come good contemporary Caribbean music that is constant on the international scene before bringing on Antigua & Barbuda’s soca lady, Miss Claudette Peters.

By the time Claudette Peters was on stage the crowd had swelled reasonably and it was obvious that quite a number of fans were just waiting for that moment as they went jumping and dancing in excitement. “Tonight what I brought to the Virgin Islands was me Claudette Peters, I came out to put on a good show for the people and as you see they did have a great time, the energy was high and the party was on. I love the way the people came out to party,” said Peters in an after performance interview.

Peters said that her fans could expect new music from her as she recently released two new songs that are already making their mark and will be featured throughout the Carnival season in Antigua. “I have more energy to bring out and I am very thankful to my fans because they are the ones who give me the courage I need to do good music. I must say that working with Volume International, these guys are just great they can perform, they have been performing as you saw for yourself here tonight,” said Ms Peters.

She said that while she would have loved to stay for the remaining two nights for BVI Music Fest, she has to be back in her homeland as the country's Carnival season is about to kick off. “Tonight was a hot tempo performance and I was very happy that I gave my fans what they wanted. We connected and it is obvious that they just wanted more of me but you know I was out of time, she added.

On that note she was absolutely correct as many persons were disappointed that her stage presence was that limited. “She done already, no I can’t believe it, already, no maybe she taking a break to be back, she aint done like so with we already,” said a patron. Disappointed as he was, Peters never returned once she was off the stage.

It is anticipated that tonight, May 25, 2013 will see an even larger and a more mixed attendance than that of last night, which was mainly supported by tourists.

18 Responses to “Moderate turnout on opening night of 2013 BVI Music Fest”

  • broke again (25/05/2013, 11:53) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    We broke where we going get money from to attend?
  • open wide (25/05/2013, 12:40) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Waste of money
    • Really (25/05/2013, 18:36) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Another boycott of an event that the ndp pour in a lot of money too….they will soon get the message
  • Hmm (25/05/2013, 13:51) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    I hope the Premier now understand that the economy in this place is at an all time low since he & his NDP government got in & only feeding the haves.
  • stupidness (25/05/2013, 15:07) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    I was at the event they had less then 100 people. This thing has gone to the dogs!!! I done with that bull, not going back. Plus I understand Quito is not even playing and nobody said a word to people who would come out to support him. Pure garbage they should have canceled. This is what we can expect out of the new tourist board. I am ashamed to be from Cane Garden Bay
    • wack (25/05/2013, 17:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is NOT a Tourist Board event. They are simply a sponsor. The Tourist Board makes no decisions for the music Fest committee. In such a small community you will expect persons to get involved in activities outside of their regular jobs and this is the case with some of the committee members who are Tourist Board employees. Not because the Tourist Board sponsors an event means that they are running the event and they definitely had NOtHING to do with the planning and execution of the event. What you should be asking the event"s organizers is how could they expect the Tourist Board to market and promote the event effectively when they only got the information on artistes etc... A month ago? To market an event such as this you need at least 10 months to a year lead time complete with the names of artistes to entice persons from abroad to come to the BVI for the event.Just my two cents.
    • MS WISE (25/05/2013, 18:00) Like (0) Dislike (10) Reply
      oops you are such a liar....there were a lot of people there...oh I forgot you are blinded in one eye.......liar liar your pants on fire
      • Oh No (25/05/2013, 23:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Just look at the pictures and you can see how many people show up. Or you can wait tell the end of time for the premier to show a report of how much money get collect at the gate lol
      • @ MS WISE (26/05/2013, 08:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        you have no credibility
    • Tola Man (25/05/2013, 19:04) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      last night was just like any other night starting the fest stop hating the night look like rain but people still show up an had fun thats marketing for the haters
  • what a mess (25/05/2013, 16:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI music fest
  • Right Name (25/05/2013, 18:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    @stupidness - you chose right name. This is a BVI Music Fest event, so why are you on the Tourist Board?
  • ccc (25/05/2013, 18:37) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    BRING BACK FRANK UNLESS SO WE WILL NOT ATTEND
  • can't believe... (25/05/2013, 19:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The physical motions....of course our youth are having sex early and thinking that is fine...what a role model...and many youth were there....
  • pat (25/05/2013, 22:42) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    gee, could late announcement of line-up have had something to do with it? I didn't see any roster until late. Don't tell me 24 hours or even one week publicity is enough time to plan.
  • FRANK (25/05/2013, 23:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look music mess gone to the dogs!!!
  • PRINT (26/05/2013, 12:06) Like (0) Dislike (45) Reply
    You have to forgive ndp sometimes, after all.. THEY TRYING.


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