Festival heating up

Concerts, parades, remembrance services and cultural events are among the activities slated for the coming days, as the August Emancipation Festival gets into full swing. Tomorrow’s International Reggae Night and Saturday’s International Soca Night are typically among the best-attended Festival events, as is the August Monday Parade. Through Monday, there will be daily activities at the Festival Village in Road Town, including the Coney Island amusement park. Then the festivities will move to East End and later to Carrot Bay.

TONIGHT

Jam Band, a calypso group from the United States Virgin Islands that formed in 1979, is known throughout the region for its energetic performances. Caribbean Ecstasy is also to perform tonight at the Festival Village, as is Chappy.

FRIDAY

Jamaican reggae-dancehall artist Barrington Levy is among the headliners for International Reggae Night. Mr. Levy began his musical career in 1976 at age 13 with the group Mighty Multitude, but he went solo the next year. Since then, he has made more than 30 albums and toured the world, performing songs such as “Be Strong,” “Bad Boyz,” “Murderation” and “All We Need is Love.”
Mr. Levy’s 25-year-old countryman, reggae-dancehall performer Christopher Martin, is the voice behind the recent hits “Cheater’s Anthem” and “Paper Loving.” In 2005 he won Digicel’s regional Rising Star Competition, which boosted his popularity.
Trinidad soca artist Destra has performed in the VI several times in recent years. Among her most popular songs are “Max it Up,” “I Dare You,” “Free it Up” and “Jumpin’.” The mother of one is known for her provocative outfits and energetic dance moves.
Junior Reid, another reggae-dancehall performer from Jamaica, has been singing professionally since 1978. His most popular songs include “I’m Free,” “Bank Clerk,” “One Blood” and “Boom Shack-a-Lack.”

SATURDAY

International Soca Night will feature headliner Shurwayne Winchester, a former Trinidad Soca Monarch who started performing in 1996. Mr. Winchester’s hits include “The Band Coming,” “Can’t Wait,” “Carnival Please Stay” and “Winning Addiction.”
Kassav, a zouk band formed in 1979 in Guadeloupe, has travelled the world. The group is known for songs such as “Kole Sere,” “Mwen Di Ou Awa” and “Zouk La Se Sel Meddikamoan Nou Ni.” Zouk originated in the French Caribbean islands, but its roots stretch to Africa.
Skinny Fabulous, an energetic soca performer from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, rose to regional fame in 2008 shortly after he released “Head Bad” during the St. Vincent Carnival.
Showtime Band, a VI soca and calypso group, is a five-time Road March champion. Last year, the group had crowds dancing to their songs “Pushing Bush” and “Buns of Steel.”

SUNDAY

The Heritage Month Emancipation Service will be held at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town. It will be followed by a Freedom March through the capital.
Five women will compete in the Miss BVI Pageant at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex at 8 p.m. Abigail Hyndman, the current holder of the crown, will take her last walk. This year’s contestants are Lavanta Thompson, Michelle Parsons, Latoya Donovan, Ana John and Sharie de Castro.
After the pageant, there will be entertainment at the Festival Village. Hardcore Band and Sweet-Ta Band, both from Virgin Gorda, will perform. The groups sing mostly soca and calypso songs.

MONDAY
The Rise and Shine Tramp is to start at around 3 a.m. at the Port Purcell Roundabout. Three bands are expected to be on the road for the event, which is scheduled to continue until 7 a.m.
The Heritage Month Committee will hold its Sunrise Service at 5 a.m. at the Central Administration Building.
There will be a display of colourful costumes, dancing and music during the August Monday Parade. The annual climax of the Festival, the parade begins at Prospect Reef and ends at the Festival Village. It is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., but in the past it has typically started a few hours late.
As events wind down in Road Town, the East End/Long Look Festival will kick off with a ceremony in honour of Moviene Fahie, for whom the Festival Village is named.
DJ Commodore will provide entertainment, and there will be performances by Spectrum Band from the USVI.
Veteran Dominica soca group WCK will also perform. Among the band’s most popular songs are “Hold Dem,” “Carnival Culture” and “We Must Go On.”

TUESDAY

In Road Town, another Rise and Shine Tramp is to start at around 3 a.m. at the Port Purcell Roundabout. Again, three bands are expected to be on the road.
Aquatic sports will follow off Waterfront Drive, with activities including the swimming competition and greased pole.
Horse races will be held later in the day at the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay.
In the evening in East End, DJ Turbo will provide entertainment ahead of several regional and local performers.
Mr. Vegas and his dancers will headline the night. The dancehall singer, who began performing in 1997, is famous for hits such as “Bruk it Down,” “Hot Wuk” and “Tek Weh Yuhself.” Among his albums are “Heads High,” “Hot it Up” and “The Hits.”
Several other performers from around the region will also perform during the evening’s soca show.

WEDNESDAY

East End’s Rise and Shine Tramp is to start at around 3 a.m. at the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Beef Island before proceeding to the EE Festival Village. A Fun Day and Parade will follow later in the day along the same route.
In the evening, the entertainment in the village will feature Leon and the Hot Shots, a VG fungi band.
Sea Cows Bay’s Razor Bladez are a group of young fungi musicians who also performed during the recent BVI Music Festival. VG’s soca and calypso group Sweet-Ta Band is also on the lineup.
Pumpa and De Unit, the main headliner for the night, is a USVI soca group whose new music has received frequent airplay on local radio stations in recent months.

AUGUST 9

The events move to Carrot Bay for the last three days of the Festival season.
The Alfredo Delville Fishing Tournament will be held during the day, and the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta kicks off at night.
The opening ceremony starts with a Torch Light Procession. Later, the Razor Bladez will perform, as will USVI soca and calypso groups Volume Band and Spectrum Band.

AUGUST 10

The cultural fiesta continues today in Carrot Bay with traditional games and activities, including donkey races, greased pig, tug of war, three-legged races and others.
Tonight’s headliner in Carrot Bay is Mavado, a 30-year-old Jamaican reggae-dancehall artist who began performing in 2002. His hits include “Wah Dem Ah Do,” “The Rock” and “Delilah.”
Pumpa and De Unit will also perform, as will Wally Kat. VI reggae singer Imo and St. Kitts and Nevis’ Infamous are on the lineup as well.

AUGUST 11

The Carrot Bay festival comes to an end tonight with Trinidad and Tobago’s Kerwin Du Bois headlining. The soca performer is the voice behind the hit “Bacchanalist.”
Other artists scheduled to take the stage are Tripple Kay from Dominica, BV Drastic from Antigua, and VI bands including Third Dimension, Showtime Band, Jalena and Reema.