Turks and Caicos Musicians, Artists & Performers
Great bands, musicians, and DJs in the Turks and Caicos Islands aren’t hard to find, and their music provides an especially nice ambiance while you’re enjoying dinner or drinks on the beach.
There is a diverse group of talented musical artists on Providenciales who play a variety of genres, from reggae and classic rock to jazz, blues, and local ripsaw music. Live music can be found on other islands in the country, such as North Caicos and Grand Turk, but on a smaller scale.
Most live music events in the Turks and Caicos are hosted by restaurants and bars, where a band or sole musician plays on a specific night of the week. Many of these performers are available for hire for weddings, corporate events, and other private functions.
Whether you want to hear the repertoire of a one-man reggae act or a six-piece rock band, there’s something for everyone at live shows on the islands.
To see when and where local artists are performing, see our Events Calendar.
Local Music
Throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands’ history, a few types of music have evolved. The most well-known genre that’s indigenous to the islands is ripsaw. This quick-tempo music is named for the instrument that helps carry the band’s rhythm—a rusty cross-cut saw against which a screwdriver or other tool is scraped to create a gravelly sound—and the local expression for playing the instrument: ‘ripping the saw’.
Ripsaw bands also incorporate drums, guitars, the concertina (a type of hand accordion), and shakers. While the origins of this genre aren’t well-documented, ripsaw is thought to have originated in Turks and Caicos. Migration eventually brought the music style to the Bahamas, where today it’s known as Rake n’ Scrape. The best place to look for ripsaw music is at local festivals and Caribbean restaurants. There are also a few good ripsaw bands that play at the Salt Raker Inn on Grand Turk.
Combina music, which is a fusion of Turks and Caicos ripsaw and popular songs, was invented by North Caicos musician Lovey Forbes, but it is practiced by very few.
Bahamian Junkanoo music, a type of percussive music whose dominant sounds come from animal skin drums, cowbells, horns, and whistles, is another popular genre in Turks and Caicos. Junkanoo bands parade in elaborate and colorful costumes. They perform regularly at island cuisine restaurants and events on Providenciales, as well as at the annual Maskanoo festival.
Reggae music is very common throughout the islands. Live calypso and steel drum music, while popular throughout much of the Caribbean, are not.
Local Music Bands
Several artists and performers play Caribbean music genres, from ripsaw, reggae, and junkanoo to the elusive combina music. Many local acts are heavily influenced by Bahamian and Jamaican music.
North Caicos native Lovey Forbes is one of the best-known musicians and composers in the Turks and Caicos. Often playing at hotels or at Miss B's Island Restaurant on North Caicos, he is the author of combina music. If you really want to hear combina music, consider planning an overnight trip to North Caicos from Providenciales.
Reggae music is perhaps the easiest local music style to find in Turks and Caicos. Popular acts include Stanley Roots, ProVision, and Qband Lynks.
The most well-known Junkanoo band is We Funk, whose core group of 15–20 members has weekly performances at Da Conch Shack and the Providenciales Fish Fry.
Rock and Pop Bands
The local rock and pop bands in the Turks and Caicos are a talented bunch that cover songs from the golden age of rock as well as modern hits from Top 40 artists. You can hear rock and pop music on Providenciales several nights per week. One of the best venues to catch live music in the Grace Bay area is Castaways Conch Bar & Island Grill. With plenty of seating and a central stage, it’s a great place to watch acts like The Bar Band and Weaponized Conch.
Solo Acts and Guitarists
The soloists and guitarists in the Turks and Caicos cover a range of genres, from reggae and jazz to contemporary hits. Gordon Lightbourne, ZGacoustics, Tess Charles, and Jervon LaPorte—a solo saxophonist—are popular acts.
DJs
Several DJs play the lounge and nightclub circuit on Providenciales. These acts spin tracks from their large collection of music spanning decades and many genres. Cielo, Aziza, and BluBar routinely have DJs play for their crowds. Many restaurants, such as Cave Bar at Rock House and Danny Buoy's, host weekly DJ nights.
Most of the island’s DJs are available for hire for weddings, private events, or personal shows at Turks and Caicos villas.
Some participate annually in Caribbean House Evolution, a three-day electronic music festival held on Providenciales and uninhabited Water Cay.
