The life and work of the late musician and cultural activist Lancelot Layne will be celebrated with two days of performances, discussion and film on Sunday, July 30 and Monday, July 31 at the Big Black Box, 33 Murray Street, Woodbrook.
Widely remembered as the Godfather of Rapso, his ground-breaking song Blow ‘Way, released in 1970, was the first to feature music and poetry in the form that later became known as rapso in T&T.
Blow ‘Way : The Legacy of Lancelot Layne will take place as part of this year’s Emancipation celebrations, in remembrance of his commitment to having the August 1 abolition of chattel slavery in the anglophone Caribbean declared as a national holiday in T&T.
The event will also feature the local launch of Blow ‘Way, a new double CD compilation of Layne’s work released by German record label Cree Records.
“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to celebrate Lance’s work with his friends, family and collaborators in the land of his birth. His work is attracting keen interest from record collectors and DJs from New York to Berlin,” says Merten Kaatz of the German re-issue label Cree Records.
The gathering will serve as a place to share stories of his life and also discuss the influence he continues to have, following his death on July 28, 1990. Sunday night’s event starts at 6 pm with a traditional Òrìshà ritual for ancestors, followed by a discussion including Layne’s daughters Niasha Layne and Anuska Layne, Merten Kaatz of Cree Records, Eintou Springer and Wendell Manwarren. Clive Zanda, who played on many of the Layne’s early recordings, will play a selection of his works.
Christopher Laird will introduce the screening of Crossing Over, a Banyan film documenting Lancelot Layne’s visit to Ghana.
The painting for the album, an original work created by Scottish artist Peter Doig, will also be on display.
Monday night’s Freedom.com Blow ‘Way celebrates its tenth edition by paying tribute to the “Master” Lancelot ‘Kebu’ Layne, taking inspiration from his tireless efforts in his relentless pursuit of the Truth and the Power and Beauty and Possibility of Us.
The event starts at 9 pm and features 3Canal and the cut + clear crew LIVE and the Black Box Crew aka the BBC performing a New Generation Emancipation Proclamation and New Voices in the Spotlight — open mic session.
Monday night builds on Layne’s interest in using the arts to bring about social change and cultural confidence.