Tobago Jazz Festival 2008

The fourth annual Tobago Jazz festival will take place on the weekend of April 25th to the 27th this year on the beautiful island of Tobago. Visitors can look forward to a rocking lineup, with headlines like Shakira, Diana Ross and Rod Stewart. Forbes Traveler has included this as one of the World’s Coolest Music Festivals, but Forbes and I aren’t really on the same page. I’d be happier to head out to middle Tennessee for Bonnaroo, but I’ll pass on the information anyway.

This is a huge event and hotel rooms on the island are scarce. If you plan to attend, you better get to planning – fast! The festival will take place at the Plymouth Recreation Ground in the town of Plymouth in northwest Tobago. Plymouth Recreation Ground is a short drive from any of the island’s hotels, and parking will be available.

Friday: Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Peabo Bryson, James Ingram and others TBA.

Saturday: Shakira, En Vogue, Steel Pulse and others TBA.

Sunday: Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart and others TBA.

Critics are wondering where exactly to find the Jazz in this particular Jazz festival. Hard core jazz lovers may not enjoy the festival, but if you’d love to hear And I Will Always Love You or Wake Up Maggie you might be in luck.

Tickets, unfortunately, are WAY overpriced in my humble opinion. Daily tickets are between $120 and $170 for general admission, with VIP tickets running from $200 to $280. Weekend packages are $420 for general admission and $700 for VIPs.

VIPs get free booze, which is great. They also get a separate food court (where they have to purchase food) and a closer, separated area near the stage. There are no seats, but VIPs may rent a chair from a vendor.

If you make your way to the festival, enjoy!