Queen's Highway Band lights it up at a previous Pineapple Jam.

As if a free afternoon and evening of the best of Eleuthera’s local bands wasn’t enough, the Pineapple Jam has landed hot New Providence-based musical act Willis and the Illest. The group’s Facebook page proclaims “Reggae Music To The World”. For the afternoon of April 13 at least, Willis and the Illest will bring its Bahamian brand of reggae to Gregory Town, Eleuthera.

“Since 2008, Willis and the Illest have been turning Nassau’s music scene on its head with their own brand of reggae from the Bahamas,” an article on caribjournal.com stated. “The group, which is led by vocalist and guitarist Willis Knowles, has seen strong growth in a country that, while it listens regularly to reggae, is largely devoid of home-grown reggae performers.”

The band’s 5 p.m. time slot will be one not to miss.

The Pineapple Jam, a one-day music festival hatched four years ago by professional singer-songwriter and American expatriate Nick Holmes, is back; event t-shirts now on sale.

The previous two Pineapple Jams, held in 2011 and 2012, featured a non-stop line up of live musical acts from all over Eleuthera. The number and quality of bands was unprecedented for a free Eleuthera musical festival. Holmes, 65, took inspiration from the now-legendary jam night at Gregory Town’s Elvina’s Bar.

“I wanted to see it for myself,” said the native New Yorker, who has written songs for Carly Simon among others, and will himself perform at the festival with his band, Seaweed. “At that time we were having a really good turnout at Elvina’s.  Musicians were coming all the way up from deep south, and all the way across from Briland, to join us for the open jam night there.  It was more fun than anything.  It wasn't really the bands themselves, but various musicians playing all the classics that we all know… So the idea came naturally out of that.  I went to Elvina to ask if we could have it at her bar, she said ‘yes’.  And her husband, Chicken Ed Watkins, built the stage and helped me get some arch lights up, and Pineapple Jam began.”

The following year it moved to its present location – the Gregory Town waterfront pavilion.

On the lineup this year is a block of gospel music - Gregory Town Brass Band, The Pinder Sisters, Hillside Rackers and Soldiers for Christ - marking the fact the event falls on Palm Sunday. An early afternoon farmer’s market and a heavyweight lineup of local bands including Island Flavor, Briland 1234, Spider and the Boyz, and the High Rock Band also feature.

“There will also be a couple white boy bands,” Holmes added. “Don Bouchet from Governor’s Harbour, Seaweed from Gregory Town, and Queen’s Highway Band; plus, I am so excited about this, The Island Boys from Spanish Wells.  They are these two very cool young men who wear flowered shirts and play steel drums and smile a lot.  I am entirely excited they are coming.”  

The festival will run 2 p.m. to midnight with a Bingo scheduled for 3 p.m. and the lighting of a giant, burning pineapple, scheduled for 10 p.m. Admission is free. Event t-shirts, tank tops and hoodies will be on sale and are now available at Island Made Gift Shop in Gregory Town. Interested musicians and persons are asked to contact Holmes at nholmes999@aol.com and join the Pineapple Jam – Eleuthera Facebook group.