A vision more than 40 years in the making took shape on St. Croix over the Independence Day weekend as the inaugural Deep End Music Festival brought together nationally recognized musicians and local performers for three days of live music on the Frederiksted waterfront.
For longtime music promoter Greg Ray Dunnett, the festival represented the first step toward a goal he has long envisioned: establishing St. Croix as home to a recurring destination music festival. Dunnett partnered with Paul Blair, the new owner of Deep End Bar & Grill, to launch the event, which the pair hopes will become an annual tradition.
A haze of Saharan dust may have softened the Caribbean sky throughout the weekend, but it did little to dampen the energy surrounding the festival. Headliners Jeff Pevar & Friends delivered a steady stream of rock, blues and funk that kept crowds dancing from the opening performances through the closing set, with the enthusiasm of the audience feeding the musicians and creating an atmosphere that endured throughout the three-day celebration.
Renowned guitarist and composer Jeff Pevar, whose career has included collaborations with artists including Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Bette Midler, Crosby, Stills & Nash, CPR, Jazz Is Dead and Phil Lesh, led a lineup that also featured vocalist Inger Nova, drummer Adrian Tramontano, bassist David Livolsi and keyboardist Matt Zeiner. The musicians performed in various combinations throughout the weekend, showcasing material ranging from classic rock favorites to original collaborations.
Central to the festival’s concept, however, was the collaboration between visiting musicians and St. Croix artists. Local performers including Kurt Schindler and the Schindigglers, Mercy Child, Kim Wentzel, Jahnee Redlocks and Chris Laggini all took the stage during the weekend, reflecting organizers’ goal of blending stateside talent with the island’s own music community.
Beyond the music, the festival embraced a broader celebration of Caribbean culture. Poolside performances by Willard John’s Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies and PuraFire Fire Dancers entertained festivalgoers between musical sets, while a Fourth of July fireworks display capped Friday evening.
As darkness settled over the beach, the music briefly gave way to the fireworks overhead before Pevar picked up his guitar and launched into a soulful, Hendrix-inspired rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, providing a musical accompaniment to the colorful bursts lighting the night sky.
Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers danced barefoot in the sand, sang along to songs by Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Band and Paul Simon, and responded enthusiastically to an upbeat rendition of Rick James’ Super Freak. The appreciation appeared to be mutual, with the visiting musicians repeatedly expressing their affection for St. Croix and its people.
Returning to the island after performing here earlier this year, Nova summed up the sentiment from the stage.
“We adore you, St. Croix,” she told the crowd. “So much gratitude for these people and this island of magic.”
For Dunnett and Blair, the successful debut represented more than a weekend of music. It marked the beginning of what they hope will become a lasting festival tradition—one that continues bringing together visiting artists, local musicians and the St. Croix community for years to come.
