Why Did It Take 30 Years for Montserratians in the UK to Do This?

You can take me out of Montserrat, but you can’t take Montserrat out of me.

This phrase echoes in the hearts of thousands who were born on the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean—Montserrat. For many of us, it’s more than a saying. It’s a truth that’s been lived for the past 30 years. A truth forged through displacement, survival, and unshakeable pride.

In 1995, everything changed. The Soufrière Hills volcano—once quiet, majestic—roared to life and disrupted the rhythm of our island. Homes were lost. Families were uprooted. Our hearts broke, and our lives scattered. From that moment, Montserrat was never the same. But neither were we.

We adapted. We moved. We rebuilt our lives in places we never expected—Birmingham, Manchester, London, and even as far as Scotland. Yet, through it all, we carried Montserrat in our hearts: the warmth, the culture, the strength, the music… the memories.

We are the children of resilience.

We are the ones who danced to Arrow’s “Feeling Hot Hot Hot” like it was our national anthem. We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day not as a borrowed holiday but as a vibrant fusion of Irish and African heritage. We are the neighbours who shared food, stories, and laughter like family. Because in Montserrat, we were family.

So why now? Why Montserrat Festival UK?

Because this moment is long overdue.

For 30 years, we’ve carried the pain of separation, the burden of being displaced—and the dream of coming together again. And now, on July 19, 2025, at Chestnuts Park, N15 3AQ, that dream becomes reality. Montserrat Festival UK is not just a festival. It’s a homecoming. It’s a chance to honour 30 years of survival, celebrate our unique culture, and share our story with the world.

The theme—30 Years of Resilience—is not just a slogan. It’s who we are. From the market vendors who rebuilt their businesses in London to the elders who kept our traditions alive in foreign lands, we are a people who rise no matter the challenge.

People who visit Montserrat always say the same thing: “The food, the vibe, the people—there’s nothing like it.” This is our moment to showcase that spirit, that soul, and that sound to the UK in a way that has never been done before.

From music to food, from art to storytelling, Montserrat Festival UK will be a celebration of who we are, where we've been, and where we're going. It’s for those who never forgot, and for the new generations who deserve to know.

Join us. Be part of history.

Let’s dance, let’s laugh, let’s cry, let’s remember—and let’s show the world what it means to be Montserratian.

Because this isn’t just a festival. It’s a flame reignited.

A culture reborn. A people reunited.

Montserrat Festival UK

July 19, 2025 – Chestnuts Park, N15 3AQ

30 Years of Resilience. A Lifetime of Pride.

Purchase Tickets – www.montserratfestivaluk.com

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