By Liliana Ramirez
The Caribbean is a treasure for those seeking surf, beaches, marine life, sunshine, relaxation, unforgettable landscapes, and numerous other attractions. Without a doubt, the sunsets in the Caribbean are priceless and incomparable to those found in other parts of the world.
As if that weren't enough, the Caribbean is one of the most intriguing regions globally, rich in history, culture, arts, and, of course, music. Caribbean music has spread worldwide, giving rise to some of the most iconic artists and genres, including son, reggae, mambo, dancehall, merengue, bachata, soca, calypso, and, more recently, reggaeton—the global phenomenon that has captivated audiences around the globe.
As we prepare for next year's Anguilla Music Tourism Convention, we are taking a tour of local islands such as Panama, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Curaçao, Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Kitts and Nevis to uncover some of the region's most exciting music attractions. This overview offers just a glimpse, as the richness and diversity of this region are immense. Discover how music plays a vital role in attracting visitors to these islands and fostering cultural dialogue through the universal language of rhythm.
Read on to explore some sights you can't miss on your journey to or from the Music Tourism Convention.
‘Casa de la Musica’ in Santo Domingo
Located in the heart of the colonial zone of Santo Domingo, capital of Dominican Republic, an area rich in museums, workshops, and various cultural spaces, Casa de la Música was inaugurated in 2021. In just three years, it has become one of the epicenters for the promotion, diffusion, and preservation of Dominican music, as well as a must stop on the city’s cultural route. This venue features an outdoor space for concerts and artistic activities, exhibition halls for temporary and permanent displays, a shop for musical instruments, literature on Dominican music, and collectible items.
What makes this site particularly interesting is that it is defined as an ‘Ecomuseum’, distinguishing it from traditional museums by conceptualising its museography as heritage rather than a collection. This approach allows it to serve the community rather than just individual visitors. In this way, the Ministry of Culture, which oversees Casa de la Música, adds a new destination to the cultural route of the Colonial City in the Dominican capital, aligning with the international trend of ‘edutainment’, which offers an educational and entertaining cultural experience framed within the musical history of the Dominican Republic.
Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FSC) in Havana
It's no secret that music can be felt in every corner of Cuba, making it one of the countries with the richest musical heritage on the planet. Therefore, despite the news that reaches us daily from the island, one can still find that charm that is impossible to hide. One of the gems where this can be witnessed is the Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) in the El Vedado neighborhood of Havana.
This impressive cultural center, directed by Alfonso X, one of the most relevant artists in Cuba’s current music scene and also well-known outside of Cuba for his work on the soundtrack of the iconic movie Habana Blues, serves as a meeting point for island residents and tourists alike. The Fábrica de Arte Cubano features five stages where one can experience the best of the emerging Cuban music scene. It is also a large interdisciplinary creation laboratory with a program that includes visual arts, dance, theater, cinema, photography, architecture, graphic design, essentially showcasing the best of contemporary Cuban art.
La Escuelita del Ritmo, in Portobelo
La Escuelita del Ritmo is a music education center located in Portobelo, Panamá, born from the initiative of Alejandra Fierro Eleta, the founder of the iconic Latin American music radio online, Radio Gladys Palmera. This place aims to encourage and promote culture and art through music education. It is a free center backed by the Fundación Bahía de Portobelo, an entity committed to improving the quality of life in Portobelo through culture.
Without a doubt, this place serves as a tool for social transformation through music for the young people of the Portobelo community, a magical corner of the Panamanian Caribbean that unfortunately faces high levels of inequality, limited access to education, and a lack of job opportunities. La Escuelita del Ritmo consists of five music classrooms, a dance room, a language lab, and a large hall. The activities are free and are especially geared toward children and young people in the Portobelo district who are at risk of social exclusion and lack educational and professional development opportunities.
PapJazz Festival in Port-au-Prince
Despite the imminent risk situation in Haiti, with extremely high levels of violence and crime, its population and artistic community persist and have managed to keep alive an emblem of Caribbean music: The PapJazz International Festival, held in the capital, Port-au-Prince. This event is organized by the Haiti Jazz Foundation and the Ministry of Culture.
In its most recent edition, held in January 2024, the festival brought together over 20 musical groups and more than 6,000 attendees. It offered an oasis of sounds from a dozen countries around the world: Cameroon, Mexico, Cuba, Spain, United States, and others. Jazz rhythms filled the four main stages, along with late-night jam sessions, enriching one of the poorest countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with Afro and Latin jazz. Haiti, despite its challenges, boasts a significant musical heritage that deserves to be preserved.
The PapJazz festival was founded in 2007, and over its 17 editions, it has hosted notable musicians such as Branford Marsalis, Norman Brown, Kenny Garrett, Sandra N'kake, Tony Chasseur & Ronald Tulle, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Beethova Obas, Emeline Michel, among others.
Bob Marley Museum, in Kingston
Bob Marley was a legendary artist who put Jamaica on the map. His reggae songs are timeless classics that people all over the world know and love. The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica, attracts tourists and reggae lovers from around the globe, comparable to iconic sites like Elvis's Graceland or the Beatles' Abbey Road. It is undoubtedly an iconic tourist attraction and a must-visit for reggae fans. At the same time, Kingston has become the mecca of Dancehall music, known for its vibrant street parties.
The tour of this Jamaican Heritage Site includes the main house, exhibition hall, theatre, and the One Love Café. Additionally, all the original rooms have been preserved exactly as they were when Bob Marley lived there to ensure authenticity. The exhibits feature a life-size 3D hologram of Bob from the 1978 One Love Peace Concert, his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, his personal recording studio, bedroom, favorite clothing, and a vast collection of gold and platinum records received from all over the world.
Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival in Willemstad
The Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival in Willemstad, Curaçao, is a music event that showcases an impressive lineup of artists across genres, including jazz, soul, Latin, hip-hop, R&B, and funk. Hosted on the island of Curaçao, the festival offers a cultural experience that blends world-class performances with the island's rich musical heritage. In the previous edition, the festival featured legendary artists such as Nile Rodgers, Kamasi Washington, Seal, Gladys Knight, Joss Stone, Juan Luis Guerra, and more.
This music event is recognized as one of the most important jazz festivals in the world. Its first edition was held in the Netherlands in 1976. Years later, in September 2010, the first edition took place in Curaçao, bringing artists like John Legend, Simply Red, and Sergio Mendes to the island for the first time. This event attracts nearly 10,000 tourists every year, many of whom come to explore Willemstad, the capital of the island, which was declared a World Heritage Place 20 years ago. With its postcard-perfect architecture, Willemstad is like a tropical version of Amsterdam, and offers a distinctive experience unlike any other Caribbean capital.
St. Kitts Music Festival in St. Kitts and Nevis
The St. Kitts Music Festival is one of the most anticipated musical events on the island of St. Kitts and Nevis, held annually in June. This festival has gained recognition for its ability to blend various musical genres, from reggae and calypso to jazz and hip-hop, attracting a diverse audience, both local and international.
In addition to the musical performances, the St. Kitts Music Festival has been a key economic driver for tourism on the island, drawing hundreds of visitors eager to enjoy both the music and the island’s beautiful beaches and local culture. Over the years, the St. Kitts Music Festival has attracted an impressive lineup of international and regional artists. Some of the standout performers include Sean Paul, Shaggy, Patti LaBelle, Wyclef Jean, Burna Boy and among others. The festival has also served as an important showcase for local and regional talent, featuring genres like calypso, soca, and zouk, highlighting the musical diversity of the Caribbean.
Moonsplash Festival in Anguilla
The Moonsplash Festival in Anguilla is an essential musical event, deeply rooted in the rich musical culture of the island, providing the perfect setting to enjoy live outdoor music. With a variety of reggae artists and related genres, the event has gained a reputation for its laid-back and vibrant atmosphere, where the Caribbean spirit is present both in the music and the island's hospitality.
The festival was founded by reggae artist Bankie Banx in 1991. This annual event is held at Banx’s beachfront venue, The Dune Preserve, and takes place during a full moon every spring. Moonsplash blends reggae with other genres like folk, rock, and soul, making it one of the most unique music experiences in the region. Over the years, the festival has hosted notable acts such as Buju Banton, Steel Pulse, John Mayer, and Toots and the Maytals. This festival not only celebrates reggae but also promotes unity and the enjoyment of Caribbean life, cementing itself as one of the most prominent cultural events in the area.
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Did you enjoy exploring this journey through some of the main musical events and spaces in the Caribbean islands? Are you fascinated by how the best of music blends with the invaluable culture of the Caribbean, along with its spectacular beaches, seas, and the warmth of its people? Are you interested in discovering new possibilities at the intersection of music and tourism?
Then keep exploring our Music Tourism Hub and join us at the upcoming Anguilla Music Tourism Convention in 2025 where we’ll be exploring the most exciting music tourism initiatives across Caribbean and open a gateway to the tourism industry of Anguilla and the nearby islands.
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