When entering the grounds of the Bahamas National Trust’s Retreat Gardens on Village Road on October 5th it was impossible not to feel the energy surrounding the SoundWaves Festival for Hurricane Dorian Relief. The event successfully captured the full fledged festival atmosphere like nothing The Bahamas has experienced before, whilst raising more than $22,000 for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.
At the festival music and poetry from local artisans took center stage. “It’s amazing to see the amount of eclectic local talent that our island has to offer,” said Tim Daniels, organizer and founder of the SoundWaves series. “It really is like a dream come true to see everyone come together to pull of a festival of this magnitude”.
When entering the grounds of the Bahamas National Trust’s Retreat Gardens on Village Road on October 5th it was impossible not to feel the energy surrounding the SoundWaves Festival for Hurricane Dorian Relief. The event successfully captured the full fledged festival atmosphere like nothing The Bahamas has experienced before, whilst raising more than $22,000 for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.
At the festival music and poetry from local artisans took center stage. “It’s amazing to see the amount of eclectic local talent that our island has to offer,” said Tim Daniels, organizer and founder of the SoundWaves series. “It really is like a dream come true to see everyone come together to pull of a festival of this magnitude”. The festival included over 25 acts that shared their original music and poetry to a receptive audience of over 900 festival goers. Some of the highlights of the show included Abi-Yah, who wowed the audience with her brand of smooth R&B, headliner Judah Tha Lion with his captivating reggae set, and Pineapple Down’s energetic beach rock.
Although it is primarily a music festival, SoundWaves also highlights the work of local artists and creations of local vendors. This year there were over 25 vendors including Bristol Cellars, John Watlings, Pirate Republic, The New Duff, Marooned Chicken, Black Pearl bubble tea and more. “There were so many food items and drinks to choose from that I couldn’t figure out what to try next,” remarked one festival goer. The Retreat Pavillion housed beautiful work created by local artists including Katrina Toothe, The Nameless Dylan and Thomas Harriston, amongst others.
The poetry lounge was a hidden gem that could be found while wandering towards the beautiful gardens. Nestled in this peaceful alcove were some of Nassau’s best poets hosted by Princess Pratt and SJ Collins. Some of the acts included Pee Jae Fuego and Jay Johnson’s moving and powerful spoken word.
The more than $22,000 that the Festival raised has been allocated for local charities, including The Bahamas National Trust and the Rotary Club of East Nassau’s Hurricane Relief Fund.
In addition to this annual festival, returning in 2020, Daniels and the organizers also host a bimonthly SoundWaves Cafe Series, showcasing new and upcoming acts. More information can be found online at www.soundwavesoriginal.com. Information on The Bahamas National Trust can be found at www.bnt.bs, and on the Rotary Club of East Nassau at www.rcen.org.
