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Crop
Over 2006
The origins of the Barbados Crop Over festival can
be traced back to the 1780's, when Barbados was the one of the world's
foremost producers of sugar. When the Barbados sugar industry declined,
the Crop Over festival suffered and in the 1940's stopped completely.
In 1974 the festival was revived and now draws visitors from all over
the world.
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Congaline
The Congaline
Music Festival, now discontinued, used a three dimensional approach
to the development of Barbados' entertainment industry. Four days
of music and partying were accompanied by a Trade Fair, exposing
the potential of the industry, and the Congaline Symposium which
brought together leading practitioners in the world of entertainment.
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November
Jazz
Nicholas Brancker is to be congratulated for presenting
a musical treat that mesmerized the appreciative audience at the
Plantation Garden Theatre. Solos by each of the musicians left no-one
in doubt that the Caribbean produces world class players!
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Bds
Jazz Festival
The Barbados
Jazz Festival has become a major annual Caribbean event. Venues
include the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, historic Sunbury
Plantation House and the popular open air venue, Farley Hill National
Park. The jazz festival brings together top International talent
with the best of the Caribbean for an exciting week-long musical
treat.
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Chris Harper
Christopher Harper is the Founder and Managing Director
of Notes to Note and producer of the monthly Cool Jazz evening at
Southern Palms hotel. Chris is a very versatile musician who plays
both the saxophone and the trombone professionally. He is dedicated
to creating events where the talent of the region can be showcased
to good advantage.
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SPECIAL
FOR THIS MONTH
The Barbados Music Awards
2006
The inaugural Barbados Music Awards
was a resounding success and those in the music industry, the public
and, importantly, the media have all been showering praise on Ronnie
Morris and his team at Timeless Barbados Entertainment Agency.
Hosts for the evening Cassandra Samuels
& Wayne “Cool” Simmons worked well together providing
a smooth segue between the acts and awards |
Arturo Tappin
Arturo Tappin, ended the Barbados Jazz Festival’s
dinner set with a spouge number and a calypso medley at the Colony
Club. Underlined by the spicy drumming of
Buddy Williams – an incredible American musician who plays
kaiso and spouge as if it’s second nature – ’Turo
rocked the place with Sach Moore’s I Am A Proud Barbadian
and a medley of Mighty Sparrow’s hits. |
Gabby
Gabby's current activities as Cultural Envoy of Barbados
sees him visiting schools in Barbados teaching them about Folk and
Calypso music. In the months ahead a few schools will be selected
where Gabby will take on a permanent role where he will be at the
schools each week. |
Aja
Aja is one of the pioneers of performance poetry
in his country Barbados, and is a leading exponent of the artform
in the Caribbean.
He began writing poetry in 1978, and in 1981 started
experimenting with rhythm poetry |
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Barbados has a long history of producing top class
musicians and this heritage is clearly in good hands with the next
generation.
Patrons who attended the Cool
Jazz June event in 2004 at Southern Palms Hotel saw Miles Robertson
and ‘the boys’ prove conclusively that they have what
it takes.
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The Freddy McGregor Show at The Plantation Garden
Theater thrilled the fans that filled the venue. Melody Man, backed
by Third Stone, was a great start to the evening.
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Ivory One Night Only provided an exciting start to the celebrations
as Barbados recorded 39 years of Independence on the 30th November
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A new event on Barbados’ already exciting
calendar was Culture Shock held at the Boatyard. International recording
star Nick Van Eede topped the bill at the inaugural event.
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Fans flocked to see International star
and sometime resident of Barbados Sir Cliff Richard, who performed
in aid of the Barbados Childrens Trust
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Superstar Bryan Adams gave a fantastic show at Harbour
Lights courtesy Canadian Radio station Chum FM and had no shortage
of volunteers to come up on stage and dance. |
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The Plantation Band typifies the talent and creativity in Barbados
music today. Lead guitar Ian Alleyne can burn up a room when he’s
ready. Click on the picture for photos of the Plantation Boogie Night.
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The Waterfront Cafe offers an ever-changing
menu of music.
Ringbang is a union of various types of Caribbean music, with the
focus on the rhythm rather than the melody. Since its creation in
1994, ringbang has grown in popularity throughout the Caribbean and
especially in Barbados. |
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The island's musical offerings are varied and exciting.
Jazz, folk, steel pan, rock, dub, reggae and of course calypso.
Here, Rosemary Phillips and Andre Woodvine delight fans at the British
High Commissioner’s residence on behalf of the Dialysis Fund |
MEMORY LANE
Seen here at Congaline Biggie
Irie who was a big crowd pleaser, performing his hits from over
the years. |
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Bands form and re-form over the years
eliciting fine performances from the players. Toni
Norville, performing here with 4 de People, left the band for
a solo career.
Li'l Rick achieved the double at Crop
Over carnival 2003 winning the Party Monarch and Road March
titles. He is seen here performing with the immensely popular Alison
Hinds
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During this past
Crop Over carnival season, the Caribzones group of websites
is proud to have been associated with the vibrant Baje International
band 'Animaniaks'
When Ken Webb of Webb Internet Radio comes to Barbados for the Crop
Over season he is always assured of plenty of recording artistes
to interview.He is seen below with one of the members of Krosfyah
promoting their latest CD. |
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Webb Internet Radio hosted by Ken Webb presents
'Caribbean Kiss' every week out of York. Check back for live radio
and video streaming from the recent Barbados 'Crop Over' carnival.
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The Crop Over carnival season is when Barbadian artistes traditionally
release all their material, but with the advent of the global market
this is expected to change.
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Not 'coals to castle' but 'pans from Manchester!'
The pan band
Steel Tempo, many of whose members are British of Barbadian
heritage, proves that steel pan is alive and well in Britain.
Click on photograph to visit their site. |
Another group that thrilled Barbadian audiences recently didn't
have to travel quite so far, X-trak paid a first visit from Carriacou
and guaranteed themselves a return trip.
Click on link (blue) or photograph to discover Carriacou
and this vibrant band. |
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The Royal Barbados Police Band has an amazing repertoire that includes
everything from the classics to calypso! They are an important fixture
at all major Barbadian events.
Read a letter to the Advocate written by a British
visitor |
My husband and myself have been coming to Barbados regularly
since 1994, sometimes twice a year, and our visits are mainly for the
music-based events, whether it is Crop Over, Congaline
or over the Christmas period when a lot of the artists are back on the
island.... Read
more
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Music in Barbados is flourishing and
technology ensures that the voices will be heard. From studio sessions
to the DJ's is only a short distance and those bent on success can
always find means of expression locally. In order to help realise
those dreams of success, the NCF hosted a Music Symposium during the
2003 Congaline Music Festival. |
The island's musical offerings are varied and exciting.
Jazz, folk, steel pan, rock, dub, reggae and of course soca combine
to create a feast for music lovers of all kinds.
During a past Crop Over season Ian Webster asked
the question whether Barbados was becoming “a nation of shows”
based on the high number of shows that took place between 2002 and
2003. Given the packed entertainment calendar (LINK TO OUR EVENTS
PAGE) every year it would seem as though the answer to his question
is a resounding “yes.”Read
more |
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Barbadian-born
Robyn Rhianna Fenty has done it again. The 18-year-old
beauty is among the top awardees at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards,
held on Wednesday in London. 
