The community of Bexon is set to come alive on April 19 as the Hills & Valleys Inspirational Jazz 2026 season kicks off with a family-friendly gospel concert, marking what organizers say will be the final year of free general admission.
The event, which forms part of the wider Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival calendar, continues to grow in scale and popularity, blending inspirational music with community engagement.
Member of the planning committee, Roger Joseph, revealed that this year’s concert will feature a strong lineup of regional and local talent.
“We have three headliners, Shirley-Anne Cyril-Myers from Castries South East and from Bexon, and Marvia Providence herself from Jamaica,” Joseph said. “Inspirational music, we are not just featuring strictly gospel. While it is a kind of mini-Kingdom Night, we are trying to create an atmosphere for our artists and the people from the constituency and community.”
Joseph noted that the event holds a special place on the national festival calendar.
“We are the very first community event and the very first event on the jazz calendar, taking place on April 19,” he explained. “There has been a significant push with regards to community-based events in the jazz season, and we are quite happy.”
He also credited the origins of the initiative to former parliamentary representative Joachim Henry, whose vision helped launch the event three years ago.
“When the former parliamentary representative came up with the idea, we jumped on it and tried to ensure we put on a show,” Joseph said. “The event has grown significantly, and we are very happy to have our own community event.”
However, organizers say rising costs will bring changes in the coming year.
“Putting on a show of this magnitude is costly, and over the past three years we have seen how much it takes to host this event,” Joseph noted. “As we try to elevate the standard, we realize that we may have to charge a little something next year.”
He confirmed that 2026 will be the final year of free general entry, with premium experiences already carrying a cost.
“This year will be our last free show, and the VIP is priced at $150,” he added.
The Hills & Valleys Inspirational Jazz concert continues to position itself as a cornerstone of community-based entertainment, offering a platform for uplifting music while strengthening local participation in the island’s premier festival season.