Barbados Crop Over - Events

Feature written by William Farrington.  Photography by William Farrington. 

 
   
Music Events  
   
Music lovers who like to travel ought to follow their ears to Barbados.  Exchange the muggy summer city for an island where the hot rhythms are cooled by sea breezes. Crop Over  (July 2nd through August 10th) is when the Bajan spirit is expressing itself most freely, time to dig beneath the shimmering surfaces of sand and crystal clear waters and feel the passion. The sounds of soca, steel pan and calypso and Tuk bands are what awaits.
     
Soca Artists    

Krosfyah vocalists performing at the National Stadium Cohobblopot festivities

Krosfyah vocalist Edwin Yearwood
     
Africasounds  arrived too late in the season to see the Cavalcades, the Party Monarch finals on the east coast and many of the nightly limes.
Excitement was reaching a fever pitch, attention turned to the National Stadium for the Pic-O -De -Crop Calypso finals after which revelers swayed all night in streets of Bridgetown during the Foreday Jump-Up. Cohobblopot was the last event before music trucks rolled and the colours flowed on Kadooment Day.
     

   

Krosfyah vocalists: Edwin Yearwood, Anthony Bailey, Donella Ekes, Kimberley Inness
   

Omar McQuilkin and Mikey of the band Electrik performing at 2005 Cohobblopot festivities.

Nathalee party monarch performing "Colours"
   
Cohobblopot, a stew of a variety of ingredients, offered an array of highly energetic, impeccably choreographed productions - dance, soca and calypso rhythms, and the competition to be named King and Queen of the bands. Keisha Christian kicked off the party, arriving on a motorcycle to perform with Electrik. Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah followed the Parade of the Kings and Queens. A choreographed musical battle spotlighted such artists as Donella Weekes, Contone, Furry Red Pal, Grynner and Ram. The impressive Kimberley Inness and singing "Free" and Party Monarch Nathalee and Shontelle singing their winning song Colours capped the evening.
   

Splash Band vocalist Jeffrey "Big Irie" Cordle

Cohoeblopot singers
   

Kimberley Inness performing "Free"

Kimberley Inness performing "Free"
   

Kimberley Inness performing "Free"

 

Soca lovers dancing in front of stage at the National Stadium Cohobblopot festivities, Bridgetown Barbados, Sunday, July 31th
   

   

Keisha Christian of the band Electrik performing at Cohobblopot festivities

Keisha Christian
   
Calypso  
   
14 "tents" are now open showcasing local artists with tunes composed for this year's competitions. A good place to start may be the Bacchanal Time calypso tent at the George Street Auditorium opened on the first of July.  Bacchanal Time swept the major awards in 2005. This year, the tent's lineup includes all of last year s title winners, as well as , Kimberley Inniss, Donella Weekes, Khiomal, Edwin Yearwood, Peter Ram, Barry Chandler, Classic, Timmy, Keann, Rameses Browne, Spin Pooch Ink, The Undesirables, Alison Hinds and the MADD Comedians. MCs are KB Kleen and Mac Fingall.
   

Calypso Monarch 2005 "Kid Site" Calypso Monarch performing "Hurricane Hit We" at the Pic-O-De-Crop finals, National Stadium, Bridgetown, Barbados.

"Kid Site"
   
Another  hot lineup at the Headliners tent, featuring Red Plastic Bag, L'il Rick, TC, Nathalee, Bumba, Mr. Dale,Colin Spencer, Ian Webster, and Blood may give the reigning champs a run for their money this year.
    

Terencia TC Coward performing "Know what ya Got"

in the 2005 Pic-O-De-Crop finals

   
After seeing Malik perform in the Hennessey Hit Parade Tent, John Sealey of the Nation newspaper wondered if 2006 could be his year. "Malik's two calypsos De Black Cock and Fuh Cup encapsulate the lyrics, delivery and relevance of a true calypso genius. His use of double entendre was cunning and impeccable." wrote Sealy in a recent article.
   

       

   
Judges will be visiting the various tents to decide who will be included in the semi finals and the finals, Party Music Finals on the  on East Coast
Road alongside a hillside in the parish of St. Andrew and the last two major events before Kadooment Day the Pic-O-De-Crop, and Cohobblopot  held during the final weekend, August 4th-6th this year.

Other events are the Cavalcades tents erected in the various parishes, Pan in the City, steel pan bands parading in the streets of Bridgetown, Pan in the Sand at Brandon's beach, and nightly limes and fetes. Tims on de Highway on Spring Garden Highway is a popular destination.
   

Bumba

 

   

Kimberly Inness singing with Krosfyah at the Cohobblopot festivites at the National Stadium.

Crowd at festivities
   

Prime Minister Owen Arthur presents 2005 Calypso Monarch with his trophy onstage after the Pic-O-De-Crop finals, National Stadium, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Bacchanal Time tent celebrating with "Kid Site"
   
Kings and Queens
   

  

2005 Queen of the Bands Gwyneth Squires of the band

Paradise Lost portraying "Waters of Paradise"
 
   
2005 King Trevor Chase of the band Outrage captured the essence of the African spirit portraying "King Shango". Corinne Maynard from the  band Paradise Lost won 2005 Queen of the Band honors for her portrayal of "Waters of Paradise". Joanna Loreille, a Trinidadian, became the first non-Bajan to compete in the Cohobblopot Queen of the Bands final. Lorielle, Queen of Cable & Wireless band's presentation Evolution, portrayed "Freedom".
   

   
Those who want to explore the island have a new tool, the Barbados Tourism Authority's new website, www.visitbarbados.org. The site provides
information and special offers for travelers as well as information about local festivals, events, sports and leisure activities.

The National Cultural Foundation Crop Over Website, complete schedule of events.   www.cropoverfestival.bb/    www.visitbarbados.org/

The National Cultural Foundation Crop Over Website, year round festival and cultural information   www.ncf.bb/
Helpful and Informative tool for travelers to Barbados  www.visitbarbados.org/
   

Marilyn Rice Bowen, Queen of the Band Ooutrage preparing for finals competition backstage at the National Stadium

Marilyn Rice Bowen, Queen of the Band Ooutrage portraying Queen Isabella in the finals competition at the National Stadium
   

Joanna Lorrielle Queen of Band Evolution portraying "Freedom"
 
Disclamer:  Please note that information and details can change at any time.  AfricaSounds is not responsible for errors or omissions in the above text.