(Oranjestad) – This past weekend, in which Memorial Day is observed; Aruba had the pleasure to host once again Soul Beach Music Festival. A weekend full of laughter, joy, good music and long lasting connections made.
The Soul Beach Music Festival is more than just a music festival, for the past 22 editions of the festival it has been an experience curated in such a fantastic way that both visitors and locals alike look forward to it year in and year out. It is a place where you build new connections, new friendships, make new lifelong memories and gain a new home away from home, with the added bonus of great music and a wonderful experience.
This year’s edition featured one of the biggest names in music and comedy, with iconic headliners like Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Earthquake and DJ’s like DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Frank Si, DJ Trauma, DJ Envy, DJ Aktive and DJ Outkast.
The main concert continued on saturday with unforgettable performances
On saturday, the audience was delighted with a combination of local flavor and international sensations.
The opening act for the night was NFuzion Music, a local group that wowed the crowd with their amazing rhythms, great stage presence and interactions with the crowd. They played a range of loved songs as well as introduced the audience to new music with a local touch. It was fun music that got everyone dancing.
The next act of the night was none other Skip Marley, the maternal grandson of the legendary Bob Marley. Skip Marley, who is a part of the legendary reggae family that includes his mother Cedella along with unlces Ziggy, Stehpen and Damian Marley, has his own sound that adds touches of contemporary pop, rap and rock. He first rose to prominence after being featured of Katy Perry’s 2017 hit “Chained to the Rhythm,” which he followed over the next years with several singles of his own, namely the mega hit “Slow down,” the chart-topping collaboration with H.E.R., that was included in his debut EP Higher Place the following year.
He gave an electrifying performance that was more than just watching an artist perform, it was an experience that took you on a journey of sublime enjoyment and discovery of new music and for those who may not have heard him before, he delighted the crowd with Bob Marley songs combined with a Skip Marley twist. He gave a performance that will go down in the books as one of the best seen, and left everyone in the audience wanting more.
The headlining act of the night was the one and only, the iconic Mariah Carey, one of the most looked forward to acts of the festival.
Mariah Carey is an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, producer and multiple award-winning artist and songwriter. She is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to-date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (18 of which are self-penned) – more than any solo artist in history. With her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent.
Carey is truly the template of the modern pop performance. Mariah is also an inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, numerous American Music Awards, three Guinness World Record titles, both Billboard’s “Artist of the Decade” and “Icon” awards and much more.
She gave a captivating performance that left everyone in the audience in awe at her stage presence and her exquisite vocals. She opened the night singing one of her many hits, taking everyone back in time along the duration of her performance. Carey was the cherry on top that made the saturday night concert an iconic night that no one present will ever be able to forget.
