Crowds mingle at the inaugural Pineapple Jam in 2011. Hundreds turned out for the all-day event
(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – Hatched four years ago by professional singer-songwriter and American expatriate Nick Holmes, the Pineapple Jam Music Festival will return to the shorefront of Gregory Town, April 13.
The previous two Pineapple Jams, held in 2011 and 2012, featured a non-stop line up of live musical acts from all over Eleuthera. The number and quality of bands was unprecedented for a free Eleuthera musical festival.
“I wanted to see it for myself,” said Holmes, about what inspired him to start the event. “At that time we were having a really good turnout at Elvina’s. Musicians were coming all the way up from deep south, and all the way across from Briland, to join us for the open jam night there. It was more fun than anything. It wasn’t really the bands themselves, but various members and musicians playing all the classics that we all know. Whether it be ‘Cat Island’ or ‘Stand By Me’, we all know those songs and were doing them. So the idea came naturally out of that. I went to Elvina to ask if we could have it at her bar, she said yes. And her husband, Chicken Ed Watkins built the stage and helped me get some arch lights up, and Pineapple Jam began.”
The following year it moved to its present location – the Gregory Town waterfront pavilion.
On the lineup this year is a block of gospel music – to mark the fact the day is also Palm Sunday – an early afternoon farmer’s market, and a heavyweight lineup of local bands including Island Flava, Briland Team, Spider and the Boyz, and the High Rock Band.
“[There will also be] a couple white boy bands,” Holmes added. “Don Bouchet from Governor’s Harbour, and Seaweed from Gregory Town. Plus, I am so excited about this, The Island Boys from Spanish Wells. They are these two very cool young men who wear flowered shirts and play steel drums and smile a lot. I am entirely excited they are coming.”
The festival will run 2 p.m. to midnight with a Bingo scheduled for 3 p.m. and the lighting of a giant, burning pineapple, scheduled for 10 p.m. Admission is free and event t-shirts, tank tops and hoodies will be on sale. Interested musicians and persons are asked to contact Holmes at nholmes999@aol.com.
Source: Press Release
