Now in its 27th year, Moon Splash 2017 promises an unforgettable weekend of sun, fun, and music at Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve in Anguilla, BWI, from March 10 – 12.
The Moon Splash tradition spans more than a quarter century, and was the brainchild of Bankie Banx one New York City winter when he jetted to Anguilla to escape the deep-freeze without his bandmates. Returning from his homeland to find them working on other gigs, it became challenging for him to continue his musical journey, so he made the decision to travel with his northern companions, including the illustrious Sheriff Bob, who went on to produce three of Bankie’s albums, and to turn his annual winter vacation into the Caribbean’s coolest music festival.
“The first Moon Splash was at Scilly Cay, and the second one was at Sandy Island,” Bankie reminisced. “Then we moved it to the Dune, because it became impossible in terms of financing and logistics, so we built a stage on the beach right here and turned a boat upside down to use as a bar. There were no roads back then and the people walked on up over the sand. The beach was lit up with candles all the way down Rendezvous Bay. It was filled with boats, and people were knee-deep in the water.”
“A couple of years later, Miller Genuine Draft came in as a sponsor and we spent the next two events on barges roaming between St. Barth’s, St. Martin, and Anguilla for three days. After that, we moved Moon Splash permanently to the Dune, and set up an infrastructure that we keep adding to”, he explained. Over the years, the Moon Splash stage has been graced by names including Freddy McGregor, Richie Havens, Third World, Jah Cure, John Mayer, Toots, and Jimmy Buffet, to name a few.
This year’s Moon Splash has a slightly different tone. “It’s quite a challenge. The world is moving like a slow mudslide. Transactions that should take 15 minutes now require 50 pages of personal information. As usual, the fact that there have been no tangible commitments from the Tourist Board has made things difficult – we’re still waiting. We expect no feathers from the local communications networks, which normally arrive within three months after the previous year’s event. Obviously, their jaws, fingers, and toes are filled with other commitments. Very stressful. Can do without it.”
“Nonetheless,” he continued, “We are tremendously excited for Moon Splash this year, especially since the event’s original co-founder, Sheriff Bob, will be back. On average, he has singlehandedly committed more to Moon Splash over its 27 years than any local organization. He’s back on board, and ready to rock! We’re also excited to be working with Blue Water Rum from St. Martin for the third year in a row, and we’re all looking forward to Chef Sunshine of Sunshine’s Bar Beach Bar and Grill in Nevis, home of the killer bee.”
Bankie’s most memorable Moon Splash? “It’s all one big party for me now in my memory. We’re going on 27 years now!”
This year’s line-up features, among others:
Friday, March 10:
Romain Virgo
Omari Banks
Darius James & True Intentions
Johnny Springer & The Overdrive String Band
JR DaLion
Saturday, March 11:
Christopher Martin
Bankie Banx
Sheriff Bob
Omalie 360
Sunday, March 12, 11:30 a.m. until midnight:
Beach Party and Lunch featuring Chef Sunshine:
Johnny Springer & The Overdrive String Band
Spontaneous intimate beach bar jam sessions feat. Bankie Banx, the Moon Splash cast, and special guests
Sensitive to the local community, the cost of General Admission has dropped to $35 per day. Limited VIP admission remains $100. Sunday admission is free.
Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve is located on Rendezvous Bay, in Anguilla, in the British West Indies. GPS coordinates: 18.1759° N, 63.1179° W.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
