Entertainment

NCF looks to surpass 30 000-strong at last year’s Pandemonium

The National Cultural Foundation expects an even larger audience for the 2024 edition the Republic Bank Pandemonium. To date, the event has become one the largest and most widely-anticipated event on the Crop Over calendar, with over 30,000 patrons attending last year.

While the Republic Bank Pandemonium event will see the event being staged for the third time when audiences head to the National Botanical Gardens on Sunday, July 14 from 2 p.m., steel pan is not new to the Crop Over experience.

Pan has always been key to Barbadian culture and heritage with its sweet sounds adding to the sweetness of Crop Over since its inception. It has been part of Bridgetown Market, the Calypso tents, national parades, and on stage in competition – to say the least.

In the late 80’s and 90’s, up to 10 pan groups competed in a popular competition called Pang-a-lang and was part of a trend of steel pan and tuk bands being paired in a joint expression of Barbadian culture.

NCF Event Producer Karen Pestaina said the inclusion of pan is significant especially during the golden anniversary of Crop Over.

“As we celebrate this 50^th year of Crop Over it is important that a taste of the past and the solid foundation of the future of pan be merged at one event”, Pestaina said.

Pan lovers descending on the National Botanical Gardens will experience exactly that among other things. Along with a Children’s Pay Area, there will be a number of food vendors on location.

Island Smiles with their Crop Over branded 360 photo booth will be on site to capture the memories of the day.

The line-up which includes: Calvary YPS Steelband, St. Leonard’s Band & Choir, the all-female group Dejavu, Phoenix Steel, ZigE Walcott and Black Peppa, Euphony Steel, the Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra, the Crop Over 50th Anniversary Iron Massive Steel, the Republic Bank Steel Band and live performances by Brucelee Almighty, Walkes, Lorenzo, Mikey, Nikita, Fadda Fox, Saddis, Biggie Irie, Lil Rick and Caribbean Soca Queen Alison Hinds. Special guests, Trinidadians Liam Teague, and Boogsie with the XLR Band, will also be there.

The night culminates with the feature act: the NCF’s 100-member strong National Youth Steel Orchestra – the largest steel pan ensemble in Barbados.

Speaking on the inclusion of Liam “Hands Like Lightning” Teague being part of the event, Pestaina said: “He has long been part of the festival whether solo or with his group from Trinidad and, to also have his son Jaden Nunez-Teague perform this year with the National Youth Steel Orchestra, shows continuity of relations between the islands and region.”

“It also shows that pan is on the road of success. Jaden has grown up in the artform with his father tutoring and similarly our juniors have had the opportunity to attend workshops from various artists and local tutors to reach the successes they have achieved”, the event planner explained.

Locals and visitors headed to the event are in for a musical treat with a lineup of performances which keep pan at the forefront while adding choir, voice, percussion and more. (PR)

Entertainment

Let us celebrate Jackie Opel

Tuesday 27^th August was a significant day in the history of local music. It marked the birthday of Dalton Bishop better known as Jackie Opel. The musical icon would have turned 84. Jackie Opel was an outstanding singer, composer, and creator of the Spouge music genre who was born on August 27, 1938, in the inner-city area of Chapman Lane.

*Shantal Munroe Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office*

In 1962 Jackie migrated to Jamaica where he lived for six years. He was influential in the formative careers of some of Jamaica’s iconic entertainers. From Bob Marley to Jimmy Cliff, Ken Hopeton, Alton Ellis, and the early days of the band The Wailers.

On his return to Barbados Jackie Opel was gearing up to take his career and his newly created spouge music to a higher level. Plans were afoot to produce a concert, but fate was not kind, and he died in a car accident on Bay Street on March 9, 1970.

Special Free Concert Yesterday

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) hosted a special concert, last night, in Freedom Park to honour Jackie Opel.

A cast of some of the island’s top singers graced the stage to perform a wide range of spouge songs. The modest audience can count themselves lucky to have attended an event that will be a benchmark in local music history.

Artists thrilled those in attendance

Performers included the following, Wendy Alleyne, Shadia Marshall, Keisha Christian, Mickey Dee, Mike Grosvenor, Colin Spencer, Desmond Weekes, Jamal Slocombe, Simon Pipe, D J Simmons, Bit Bit, Ishiaka, Romario Greaves, Alix Cage, Adrian Clarke and Edwin Yearwood.

Senator the Hon. Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office delivered the opening remarks, and Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong delivered the feature address. It was generally felt by those in attendance that a Jackie Opel Birthday Concert should be held annually. (Article and photos by Christopher Williams)

Entertainment

VYBZ KARTEL LOOKING TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN JAMAICA

Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, acquitted of murder, seeks to transition into politics by running for Parliament in Jamaica.

Kartel has pinpointed South St. Catherine, currently represented by Fitz Jackson, as his desired constituency, expressing his intention during a TikTok live alongside attorney Isat Buchanan.

This move is motivated by Kartel’s desire to combat social injustices in Jamaica.

Entertainment

Musicians benefit from expert luthiers’ training

The National Cultural Foundation recently concluded the island’s first Luthier Training Workshop.

Over the two-week period, nine local musicians received hands-on training in beginner restoration and repair of violins and bows. Each participant underwent intense instruction in the areas of instrument and bow assessment, proper usage of tools and materials, varied technical approaches, measurement, instrument care specific to our climate and understanding client requests, among others.

The workshop, an initiative of the National Cultural Foundation and The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training was produced in conjunction with Luthiers San Frontieres of the United States.

It is strategically linked to the ongoing Strings Project, where students from each of Barbados’ 68 primary schools will benefit from music education with practical application through violin.

*Completed repairs at the end of workshop.*

Experienced luthiers, Sarah Peck of the United States of America, and Natasha Sealey-Worrell of Trinidad and Tobago conducted the sessions at the Queens Park Steel Shed, Queen’s Park, The City. Trained in violin restoration and repair were: John Matthews, Andria Rouse, Roger Jordan, Sergio Smith, Romel Richards and Anthony Hood. While Shalon Parris, Graham Hutchinson and Dwain Gill were taught bow restoration and repair.

Coordinator of the workshop and NCF’s Cultural Officer for Music Organisation, Aisha Butcher, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the workshop.

“The desired objectives were met and for that I am extremely happy. For some participants, it was a new learning experience and for others it was an unlearning and relearning exercise as some were self-taught in a similar area. Whatever the level, they all were open minded to the very intricate process and made the most of the two weeks”.

At the end of the workshop, the instructors were impressed with the work completed, lauding the participants’ achievements given the relatively short timeframe.

Joy Knight, Strings Project Coordinator and Director of the Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra shared her view on the value of this training.

“Barbados doesn’t have any trained personnel who can repair the body of the violin nor the instrument’s bow. This workshop would ensure that we can care and maintain our string instruments. In addition, as we restart the string program in the schools, we will be increasing the number of violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Therefore, we will need repair persons who can handle the volume. We have always had repair persons here for winds and brass but never trained string luthiers. It will also create jobs for these newly trained luthiers”.

On the final day, certificates of completion were awarded to the participants along with a donation of startup tools. Each participant will also have access to other tools and materials at no cost to them, through a rental/donation agreement at the National Cultural Foundation thus equipping them with the necessities to continue honing the skill on their own. (PR)