Bequia 2018 - More Music

January 2018

In the following weeks after the Bequia Music Fest there were many opportunities to enjoy and even join in.

Mustique Music Fest comes to Bequia

The private island of Mustique also has some sort of Music Fest going on during, or before, or after the Bequia Music Fest.  It is unclear exactly when.  We have never been to Mustique.  We planned to go but still couldn't get a clear answer on the when, who, what time, etc....Then we heard the bar where this nightly music fest (sounded more like a nightly jam....which is ok) was not even officially open yet.  Hum?  Then it was announced that all the musicians from the Mustique Music Fest would come over to Bequia and play a show at the Bequia Plantation Hotel.  A free show.  PERFECT!  It was great.  So many talented musicians all jamming together.

Mice in a Matchbox - Sally and Jim

Mice in Matchbox is comprised of an English cruising couple - Jim and Sally.  He plays electric guitar and sings.  She sings as well and plays the stomp box.  You might be saying "What is a stomp box?"  I know I was.  It is a simple wooden box that a musician stands on during the performance and stomps their feet to create percussion.  Sally's stomp box is probably 24"x18" and plugs into their amp.  She said it was an old wooden tea cart (tea platter in Merican).  This is the first time I had ever seen one.  I thought it was a tad odd when we showed up to see them.....Sally was dressed in a rainbow tie-dyed frock with Capri's and.....hiking boots!  Boots of any kind stand out down here in the Caribbean where flip-flops are the standard of footwear.

The Stomp Box

Their set up

Then they started to play and she started to stomp and I understood.  And when I say stomp, she wasn't going to town like some crazy Irish dancer or a hill-billy throw down, but she did step purposely and constantly on her stomp box.  Yeah....that is it......purposely.  I had hoped to try it after one of their shows because I wanted to see what it would take to make the sound.  I also wondered if you had to have something like hiking boots or if Keens would work.  Doesn't matter.  I want one.  I want a stomp box!!  So simple and yet, brilliant.

Mice in a Matchbox fan club at Laura's

Speaking of which, Mice in a Matchbox are brilliant in the songs and approach.  They play sea shanties, English/Irish,Wales songs old and new.  They are simple and yet put together in their performances.  We saw them perform several times in a couple of different settings and they were able to adjust and modify to the surroundings, mood and crowd.  Oh, and the name.....They are two shorter people in stature and they live and sail on a Contessa 32 - a 32ft sailboat.  So they think of themselves as two little mice in a matchbox.  Interesting people.

See her Stomp Box?

Local music - Bequia has local music nearly every night of the week.  Papa's, Coco's, Fig Tree, Laura's, Mac Pizza, Bequia Plantation Hotel, Keegan's, the weekly Rendezvous street party.  There are tons of chances to catch live music in Bequia.
NOTE - Most of the places in Bequia are pretty small.  When a "gang" of cruisers (6 or more) show up to enjoy and support, it really makes a difference.  Mice in a Matchbox experienced this first hand.  We all showed up to see them playing for the first time at Laura's.  There were approximately 10 of us cruisers plus the normal crowd.  We clapped, sang and danced along.  And we drank at the bar.  Very important point.  A few ate dinner there as well.  After, we asked the Mice "When do you play again?"  They said in a week and a half at Mac's.  However, the next morning they announced on the morning VHF net that they would be playing again next Monday at Laura's and each Monday after that.  I think our crowd showing up made a big difference.  So.....go out and support live music!!!

Local playing the a Sailor's Bar jam

Jams - The Fig Tree has an open mic night.  This can be music or poetry.  We went one night.  Tom played with Captain Chris off sv Troubadour.  Janet off sv Tegan came and sang.  George and Jan got up and did his song "Send Money By Morning." set to the tune of Amarillo By Morning.  We had a big crowd of cruisers show up and play along to it all with our percussion instruments.  Coco's has a weekly jam, Green Boley had a very successful jam right after we left Bequia.  The Sailor Bar had a really fun jam that we attended. 

Locals at the Sailor's Bar jam

Drumming - Besides jams, Tom had a chance to do some straight up drumming.  Jeff off sv UJamn plays drums.  He has a djembe on their boat.  We went there once for a drumming session and then they came to our boat.  They also had a chance to jam with others at the Sailor Bar jam.  It was Jeff's first cruisers jam in the Caribbean.  He was so excited.

Sailor's bar jam

Bequia 2018 - Music Fest

Local Bequia band

January 2018

We have been to the Bequia Music Fest twice before.  We find it to be one of the best here in the Caribbean and we enjoy it.  "Hey, do you want to go to the Bequia Music Fest again?"  "Sure.  Let's go."  And just like that we had a plan and a direction to sail.  *We went despite getting jacked two years ago on the dinghy dock coming back late at night after the music.  We still wanted to come back.  Crime of opportunity happens everywhere.

Barracuda - famous Caribbean musician - actually Italian

Jan and Barracuda - His biggest fan

The venue changed slightly.  This time Bequia Plantation Hotel was the site of the Music Fest for Friday and Saturday afternoon.  This was great as it is right along the Belmont Walkway which borders the anchorage, meaning close and easy for us to get to.  Even easier than the other location - DeReef in Lower Bay.

Cruisers dancing the night away

We didn't know any of the acts this year.  But that doesn't matter.  The Caribbean has some talented musicians.

Toby Armstrong and Band - so good

Friday night was a little mellow getting started and then picked up.  Then a power outage killed the vibe.  Many went home early.  Not us. We hung in there until they got things up and running again.  Our reward was an all out by Toby Armstrong and Band - Music Fest regulars.  They gave it their all and it was fantastic.

The Gang on Saturday afternoon

Saturday afternoon had the normal Caribbean afternoon lime feel like years before.  We were not allowed to bring in coolers like in the past but we found a good spot on the lawn for our base camp, taking turns getting food, drink, wandering around closer to stage, chatting, laughing and dancing.  A lovely afternoon.  And the talent of the musicians really shined through that afternoon.

Talented guy from Trinidad

Talented guy from USA

Saturday night we took a taxi from the main town dock to Lower Bay and DeReef.  We had our tickets but still had to go through the ticket booth to get our wristbands - a bit of confusion but nothing too bad.  The place was packed as usual.  However, we were able to snake our way up towards the stage fairly close.   Local reggae band ???? got everyone going and it didn't stop.

Mikie and Nicola

When we finally left Saturday night, it was sometime after 00:30.  The taxi driver asked if we could wait a few more minutes while he got his daughter and friends.  "Sure."  Three very nicely dressed teens got in.  They looked like they were dressed more for church than a Music Fest.  Despite just coming from a high energy, dancing, music gig, they chatted very quietly among themselves.  After dropping off two of her friends, the taxi driver's daughter asked if we enjoyed the Music Fest and we chatted a bit more.  It turns out she is playing in the youth steel pan band the next day.  She also plays with the adult steel pan, having earned her way into it.  She practices mainly on weekends as she goes to high school which is over on the main island of St Vincent.  This means she is on the 6:30AM ferry and does not return to Bequia until the 7pm ferry.  Now think about that for a minute.  WOW!
Lovely, yet focused young woman.

Young woman we shared a taxi with (on the right)

Youth Steel Pan

Sunday was back down in Lower Bay at DeReef.  We went to the Sunday afternoon Music Fest early because of the above young woman.  I wanted to be sure to catch the Youth Steel Pan Band.  They did well.  Later I saw that young woman.  She had changed out of the band uniform and was enjoying the music fest as she should.  Cruisers we were with found a table in the back to use as a base.  We spent most of our time up front to enjoy the show.  Sunday is sort of a wrap up day.  The musicians from the previous two days often come back and play.  They are more chill and really seem to enjoy themselves.  There wasn't an all out musicians jam like in the past but a few did play together.  Later the music moved more towards current day, youth DJ music.  We stayed for a bit but not really our favorite.

Electric violin player - modern, kewl stuff and slick, whoa

Feeling full of music, we wandered out and along the street looking for food.  Street food.  There were several tents to choose from.  We ended up with take away chicken and all the sides which we shoveled into our mouths back on sv Honey Ryder and then promptly fell asleep trying to catch up on sleep from the previous late nights.

Talented, Sean Harkness from USA

But lack of sleep was a small price to pay for another good time at the Bequia Music Fest.  I you are ever around Bequia the third week of January, I would highly encourage you to go to the Music Fest.  The anchorage is huge so no worry there.  If you don't have a boat, perhaps schedule your holiday for the Music Fest.

Elvis showed up to dance - he lives in Mystique by the way

*To those running the 2018 Music Fest - Never, ever hire the sound people you had this year.  Feedback screeches at a professional music event are not acceptable.  Having them throughout the entire weekend, unforgivable.   Besides killing the crowds ears, the sound issues frustrated the talented musicians worst of all.  NOT kewl!!  Fix it!

Local ex-pat and Swedish cruiser we see every year at this Music Fest

One of the fun things of the Bequia Music Fest is seeing the same ex-pats attending each year.  This year we finally had a chance to meet and visit a bit with Cheeky, an English chick that comes each year.  I only wish we had more time to get to know her better.  Oh well.  Next year?