It seems as though it was just yesterday we were singing “feliz navidad” but there are just 104 days left before Christmas Day. In fact, one radio station, which hosted an all day Christmas in July promotion, commenced its 100 Days of Christmas on Wednesday. Also jumping the gun on the field was Voces Jovenes parang group which held its fourth annual Start De Parang last Saturday at Lions Civic Centre, Port-of-Spain.
Patrons attending the event sang praises for the organisers claiming it was the best instalment of Start De Parang held. Many patrons were especially pleased with the wide variety of culinary delights on sale, especially the suckling pig which was done on site. Of course, it was the music that got the biggest applause, especially the performance of Los Alumnos de San Juan, led by Alicia Jagessar.
The youthful group Voces de Promesa was also complimented. Other parang groups shining on the weekend were La Familia de Rio Claro, The Lara Brothers, La Divina Pastora and host Voces Jovenes.
Voces de Jovenes spokesperson Aelsar Sealy expressed satisfaction with the turnout and the spirit of the audience. Despite patrons hailing Saturday’s show as the best, she fancies the group’s 2013 production. “We have been doing this for four years and this year’s was extremely nice,” said Sealy.
Voces Jovenes performed twice on the night, the second time just after midnight. Sealy said: “Patrons stayed until the end and when we played a second time, they demanded that we play Baron’s Spanish Woman.”
Parang is her group’s major production for the year, Sealy expressed regret that corporate T&T has not been forthcoming in lending financial assistance to the event, citing Global Financial Services from Port-of-Spain being the main sponsor from the show’s inception.
Sealy ended by saying that Voces de Jovenes is booked for many public appearances for Christmas, and will also continue doing its charity performances. More info: Aelsar Sealy (366-3552).
Traditional Pan J’Ouvert in Woodbrook for Republic
The big deal in the steelband world is the 75th anniversary celebration of CAL Invaders Steel Orchestra, commencing today at 10 am with the book launch of Invaders Steel Orchestra: The History of a Legendary Trinidad Steelband.
The book is authored by Dr Jeannine Remy and Ray Funk and will be launched in the President’s Box of the Queen’s Park Oval, Tragarete Road, Woodbrook. Today, the exhibition—The History and Development of the Steelpan through the Eyes of Invaders—will also open at the Oval’s Conference Centre.
The Invaders celebration continues on Monday with a Symposium—T&T Steelbands: The Way Forward—with presenters Michael Dinchong, Joanna Shortt and Remy. On Tuesday, Invaders will host its Diamond Jubilee Dinner Gala Awards & Dinner at 7 pm, at Banquet & Conference Centre of MovieTowne, aptly named Invaders Bay.
The grand finale of the Invaders anniversary is the Republic Day traditional pan J’Ouvert in Woodbrook. Scheduled to begin at 5 am, this “pan-only” event begins at Invaders panyard on Tragarete Road, proceeds up Elizabeth Street to St Clair Avenue, down Broome Street in Tragarete Road and concludes in the Queen’s Park Oval car park on Elizabeth Street at 10.30 am.
Steelbands listed to hit the road for the J’Ouvert are Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, White Oak Starlift, Brimblers and Invaders. St James Tripolians and other steelbands will be stationary in the car park.
On Saturday, September 26 in the other end of the country, Point Fortin Borough Council will host the 2015 edition of Pan by the Sea at Clifton Hill Beach Park at 4 pm. When last held, this event attracted hundreds of people. Steelbands expected to perform include International Panorama champion Massy Trinidad All Stars, runner-up Super Novas, Skiffle, Pan Elders, San City and Brimblers.
Pan is also big on the sister isle next weekend when the Tobago Region of Pan Trinbago Inc, in collaboration with the Division of Community Development and Culture, hosts its Heritage 2015 production Pan Folk O Rama — From Calamity to Genius on Saturday, September 26 at the Parade Square Bacolet, Tobago at 8 pm.
A large turnout is expected as eight steelbands will take the audience on a historical journey from the “bad john and saga boy” days to today when pan players nationwide include university graduates and professionals. The eight steelbands to entertain and educate are NLCB Buccooneers, NGC Steel Xplosion, Petrotrin Katzenjammers, Metro Stars, New Vision, Tobago Pan–Thers, Our Boys and C&B Crown Cordaans.
The programme will also feature the era of the “steelpan genius”, headed by Tobago’s world pan genius Duvone Stewart along with Pan Fusion. The show is free. Drinks and food will be on sale.
Tongs on Fire
Kudos to Nicole Patrick, her hockey mates and friends for hosting an event that raises much needed funds for those in need. This year the group, without much corporate sponsorship, is staging their Tongs On Fire fund-raiser for the third time. A barbecue competition, it is scheduled for Saturday, October 3 from 4 pm to 9 pm at the Goodwill Industries Compound, Fitzblackman Drive, Port-of-Spain.
This competition has been supported by friends, well-wishers and corporate entities as a team-building exercise. In 2013, the group was able to raise a significant contribution for the Malvern Hockey School Outreach Programme and in 2014, it supported the Fire Services Department to provide smoke detectors to families in need. It also donated to Rainbow Rescue.
In 2015, proceeds of this competition will be funneled into supporting the Goodwill Industries to send disabled people or people with autism to the Abilympics in France in 2016. The Abilympics is a professional skills competition for people with special needs and disabilities. The beneficiary is driven by Tongs On Fire’s commitment to make a relevant and meaningful contribution to society, showing social responsibility.
Tongs on Fire is the brainchild of Patrick and Elton Prescott. Its benefits are twofold—bringing enthusiastic barbecue foodies together and supporting causes that may have been overlooked by trendier endeavours.
In 2013 when the event was held at the hockey centre in Tacarigua, a storm almost ruined everything, but organisers and patrons stoically weathered the showers, lightning and high winds to pull off a successful fund-raiser. Lat year, when the event was held at Boy Scouts Headquarters in St Ann’s, patrons were treated not only to good barbecue, but to the performance of Massy Trinidad All Stars and Tunapuna Rhythm Vibrations. Tongs on Fire 2015 promises to be an entertaining Saturday afternoon.