Anguilla’s Moonsplash Music Festival celebrated its 29th year from March 21 to March 24, 2019. More than a testament to the festival’s longevity, Moonsplash 2019 was a testament to Anguilla’s continued recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Moonsplash is the brainchild of Anguilla’s cultural icon, and music pioneer, Bankie Banx. Bankie’s co-founder of Moonsplash, Sheriff Bob Saidenberg of New York City, also celebrated his 80th birthday during the festival’s March activities.
According to the organizers, Moonsplash 2019’s attendance exceeded expectations, and the ratio of tourists to local attendees was significantly higher than in prior years for the culturally unique festival. Moonsplash 2019 was ably emceed by the ageless Oluwakemi Linda Banks.
According to Moonsplash organizer, Bankie Banx, “Moonsplash 2019 was a return to beach. A return to basics.” Moonsplash started out as a roving music festival staged on beaches in St. Barths, Pinel Cay in St. Martin, and Prickly Pear, before settling in the backyard at the Dune Preserve on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla. Moonsplash 2019 was the first year that the festival returned to the beachfront in over a decade – and the result was magical.
Banx expressed his gratitude to Moonsplash 2019’s major sponsors, the Anguilla Tourist Board and Cuisinart Resort and Spa, and a team of volunteers for helping to make the festival possible.
Moonsplash 2019 kicked off on Thursday March 21 with a relaxed evening at the Dune Preserve where guests attended free of charge, and had a chance to mix and mingle with some of Moonplash’s featured artists including Third World Band, The Mighty Diamonds, Bankie Banx and Omari Banks. The night culminated with a beach bonfire and acoustic music on the beach front.
Moosplash Friday was headlined by The Mighty Diamonds, a legacy reggae act, which has been active for more than fifty years on the international scene. Bankie’s son, Omari Banks, Anguilla’s current flagbearer in the reggae and rock field, made a major impression on Friday night – his performance leaving concert goers begging for more. Omari’s performance perfectly blended Anguilla’s unique culture and talent with progressive reggae and rock sounds to comprise a sound uniquely his own. The Funky Horny Horns Band, out of St. Maarten, played a wonderful set featuring current R& B and Motown sounds that set the stage for Omari Banks later in the evening. The evening opened up with Anguilla’s own Mystic Vybes band which entertained the audience with a mix of soca, reggae and R&B.
Moonsplash Saturday opened up with Reggae Rock band, Orange Grove, out of St. Maarten, by way of Amsterdam Holland. Orange Grove played an upbeat set that featured their unique style of reggae rock. Sheriff and The Deputy quickly followed Orange Grove and their Country and Blue Grass sounds captured the audience which comprised a balanced mix of tourists and Anguillian locals.
Bankie Banx followed Sheriff and the Deputy – and played a 75 minutes performance that was described by attendees as his best in over a decade. Banx moved effortlessly through his repertoire including songs from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s covering his legendary career of more than 40 years. Banx’s band included two lead guitarists including his son Omari, along with guitar virtuoso Corey Stoot from Houston, Texas.
Moonsplash Saturday ended with Third World and Friends. For almost two hours, The Reggae Ambassadors worked effortlessly through their catalog covering almost 50 years, and brought on special guest, Julian Marley, son of Bob Marley, to play some of his original music and evoking his legendary father with some iconic Bob Marley selections. Third World Band members, Stephen “Cat” Coore and Tony “Ruption” Williams, effortlessly interacted with the audience for some special moments – including Cat playing the cello and recounting his long history on Anguilla and his long friendship with Bankie Banx. Ruption wowed the crowd with his talking drum and interaction with the audience. Moonsplash Saturday was an evening that attendees won’t soon forget.
Attendees remarked that this year’s Moonsplash was tighter than years gone by – with performances flowing seamlessly into the evening, live music starting at 7 p.m. and the main acts completing their performances before 2 a.m.
Moonsplash Sunday featured jam sessions beginning in the early afternoon and continuing into the early morning hours. The jam sessions featured dream line ups, with members of bands featured during the weekend coming together to play for fun and, best of all, it was all free to attendees. Of the many Sunday evening highlights, Olaide Banks, son of Bankie a pastor and Christian recording artiste in his own right, literally took the Moonsplash audience to church, performing his captivating inspirational single “Story of My Life” – and upbeat reggae offering “I’m Blessed” earning multiple encore requests.
Banx expects to announce dates for Moonsplash 2020 before Summer 2019. He also expressed particular gratitude to Bullett, Frankie J, Dave Douglas, Lateef Banx, Michel Gibbs, Ada Lo and the many volunteers who helped to make Moonsplash 2019 special.
