Entertainment

Fantastic time promised Friday at First Citizens Fusions

Following a four-year hiatus, First Citizens Fusions in association with C&W Business is back just in time for the epic 50th anniversary of Crop Over celebrations sweeping the nation, and music-lovers are in for a magical trip down memory lane when the event returns.

First Citizens Fusions, which returns to the 50th anniversary of Crop Over lineup on Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m., will be staged at the prestigious and spacious grounds of Ilaro Court and feature the Festival Band, led by the Barbados Police Service Band’s Director of Music Andrew Lynch and the Crop Over 50th Anniversary Band, led by Barbadian cultural icon Nicholas Brancker.

Chief Executive Officer of the NCF and Event Producer Carol Roberts, is thrilled to meet the longtime demand of audiences to see the Festival Band perform outside of the competition space and promises a night of music unlike any other.

“You will be seeing not only the current members of the band, but a lot of the former members of the band coming on stage for guest performances”, she stated before sharing more about what the audience can expect.

“It’s that exceptional combination of the songs that we know, reinterpreted, reimagined and transformed into musical experiences that we are sure to love”, Roberts said.

Patrons will also enjoy a plethora of local talent to take them on a sublime journey. The star-studded cast consists of Adrian Clarke, Bumba, TC, Madd, Roger Gittens, Mike Sealy, Red Plastic Bag, The Mighty Gabby, Kid Site, Serenader, James Lovell, John Roett, Jermone Waithe, Nikita and Lil Rick.

Event sponsors First Citizens Bank have been on board with the NCF/Crop Over since their entry into the Barbados market in 2011 and their CEO Claire Jordan describes both the partnership and the decision to reintroduce this event as “a happy reunion”.

“A nation’s culture resides in the heart and souls of its people. At First Citizens, supporting homegrown cultural events, such as Crop Over, is an important thing to us.

“It is the cornerstone of the group’s corporate social responsibility. It is our belief that festivals such as Crop Over enhance the very fabric of our communities and by extension the lives of our Bajan people. By supporting initiatives like Fusions, we are doing our part to uplift the vibrant cultural landscape that benefits everyone,” said the First Citizens CEO.

CEO Roberts emphatically issued a call to all and sundry to be part of the event which will fuse talents, art forms and eras.

“Whether you’re part of the production team, you’re part of the performing cast, you’re a sponsor, or you’re one of the patrons, we outside”, she explained. (PR)

Entertainment

Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony This Friday

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment will host the Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony this Friday, November 1, marking the start of the annual community Independence celebrations.

This year’s ceremony will be held under the theme Celebrating Our Communities: Re-engaging, Re-igniting, Re-imagining, and will take place on Friday, November 1, at 5:30 p.m., at National Heroes Square, The City.

Following the Lighting Ceremony, the celebrations will continue with a Bajan Brew at 7:00 p.m., offering an evening filled with spouge, drama, song, and steel pan performances.

The event is free and open to all, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Barbados as we celebrate Independence.

Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and make any necessary transportation arrangements due to expected road closures in the vicinity of Wharf Road and Trafalgar Street. (PR/GIS)

Entertainment

A SEA OF YELLOW AT RISE & RUM BREAKFAST PARTY

Patrons enjoyed a day filled with food, fun, and sun at Rise and Rum, the penultimate event of this year’s Barbados Food and Rum Festival.

Food lovers had an abundance of delicious dishes to savour on Saturday—from roasted breadfruit and seafood boils to various fish delicacies and scrumptious desserts, offering a wide array of options to enjoy.
Of course, there was no shortage of entertain, and local bands Square One and Krosfyah once again teamed up to keep the crowds grooving as they enjoyed their savour foodie treats in fine style.

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)