Jamaica’s Blue Mountains Come Alive

It’s reggae month – what better way to celebrate the music that has become an intrinsic part of our lives, than with a two day music festival?  The hills above Kingston will come alive over the weekend of 22-23rd February as the inaugural Blue Mountain Music Festival kicks off in the Blue & John Crow Mountains National Park, Jamaica.

No ordinary ‘Caribbean music festival’, this epic two-day event has an enviable backdrop – surrounded by the stunning landscape of the Blue Mountains, with panoramic views of Kingston and the ocean.  The Festival encompasses the original Misty Bliss annual cultural event with a Reggae Party, combining music, culture and outdoor activities to create an event that, according to Executive Producer Roshaun ‘Bay-C’ Clarke, is “music meets art meets nature” and promises an experience synonymous with the legendary Woodstock.

Blue Mountain Music Festival – Holywell, Jamaica

This is no one-off event, however, and with a vision to evolve the festival to include different genres of music as well as expand the range of attractions on offer, the Blue Mountain Music Festival will no doubt become one of the must-attend festivals in the Caribbean.

The roster of performances spread over the weekend features some of Jamaica’s most well-known musical acts such as reggae icons Third World (who will be paying tribute to founding member Bunny Rugs, who recently passed away), international dancehall superstars T.O.K, Tanya Stephens, Chronixx along with a seemingly endless list of Jamaican artists and musicians.

Holywell – home of the Blue Mountain Music Festival, Jamaica

With hiking, yoga, massage, poetry, story-telling and more on the schedule for this year, it’s already gearing up to be a weekend jam-packed with things to do and experiences to be had.  And we haven’t even got to the performers or the food!  Just remember that up in the Blue Mountains it can get a bit chilly – but never fear, there will be brightly coloured blankets on sale at the event with proceeds going to charity.

Stunning views from the Blue Mountains – what a location to hold a music festival!

Stunning scenery surrounds the location for the Blue Mountain Music Festival

Jamaica has so much more to offer than the cliche of ‘sun, sand and sea’ – the interior of the island is simply breathtaking, and in true festival style, there are camping facilities available on site, with bonfires and stargazing.  What an adventure!

There will be shuttles to and from the events on both days – have a gander at the Blue Mountain Music Festival Facebook page to find out more information about the event along with videos of the acts on the roster or visit the Blue Mountain Festival website.  You can also stream or download an audio track on soundcloud featuring the musical acts.

The organisers will stream the festival live via ustream for those who cannot attend – so bookmark this link!

Follow the Blue Mountain Music Festival on Twitter: @bluemountainmf

*Photos courtesy Blue Mountain Music Festival

Show me the way to Dominica

Seeking a break from the ‘traditional’ stereotype of the Caribbean, Dominica has successfully positioned itself as a eco-isle perfect for a five-day rejuvenation expedition, and the great part about it is that to experience it at it’s best, you’ve got to switch off from the rat race.  Connect with the earth, nature – do as much as you want, or as little.

Treehouse luxury.
Imagine the views at full moon!

Secretly we’re dreaming about staying at Jungle Bay – in one of their treehouse cottages We heard about Jungle Bay, a highly recommended resort & Spa  has garnered serious media coverage and just looking at the video makes us want to book a flight right now!  The treehouse-style cottages are supported by stilts, disappearing into the vegetation, surrounded by greenery .

Hiking, exploring, relaxing

They call it ‘barefoot luxury’ – large suites positioned in amongst the trees so you wake up to the mosts amazing views of the mountains and glorious nature as far as the eye can see.  Beyond the beautiful surroundings, there is a unique swimming pool made with volcanic stone and a restaurant serving local Caribbean cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients from local farmers.  Jungle Bay was designed to host yoga retreats and group wellness vacations – their spa facilities and yoga studio are designed with views of the Atlantic Ocean, creating an incredible backdrop; guests are invited to participate in the morning yoga sessions to start the day off right!  They also have put together packages for the more adventurous, with hiking trips to explore hidden waterfalls, ocean pools and natural hot springs; throw in some ocean kayaking, snorkeling and a daily spa treatment to ease sore muscles and be ready to go the next day!

Once you’ve experienced Dominica, there’s always a part of you that yearns to go back – we fell in love with this incredibly beautiful island from our first trip many years ago!

Find out more:

Jungle Bay Dominica

Visit Dominica