Caribbean Music Fests Face Economic Uncertainly During Pandemic
For many Caribbean islands where tourism is the primary revenue earner, the coronavirus-sparked ban on large gatherings as well as airline and cruise travel has brought widespread postponements and cancellations to the region's spring/summer music festival season. From the Bahamas chain just below Florida's southern tip to Trinidad and Tobago, many Caribbean islands utilize music festivals to attract visitors to their shores, especially during the slower spring and summer months. The far-reaching scope of Caribbean music festivals extends beyond homegrown reggae and soca, salsa and reggaeton, to showcasing blues, rock, country, jazz, hip-hop and electronic acts, attracting anywhere from 1,000 to upwards of 40,000 patrons.