New calypso tent for Spicemas 2013

By Linda Straker

Some veteran soca and calypso artistes will be among the cast of a new calypso tent, which will be providing entertainment during the Carnival season.

Called “Calypso Cave”, the tent will be managed by a team that includes Alister Barriteau and Lindon “FatMan” George. Former Junior Culture Minister, Arley Gill, will be the consultant to the team. The opening night will be today at Fort Matthew and Mr. Gill said that the tent will be featuring a cross-section of indigenous entertainment.

Consultant to the ‘Calypso Cave’
tent team, Arley Gill.

“We will not only showcase calypso and soca, but also extempore and comedy; we will be giving a full entertainment package,” he said. “We expect the extempore section to be a hit as it will be a show of talent and creative thought between the contenders,” Gill said.

Some of the names associated with Calypso Cave, which is sponsored by Clarkes Court, are Steffie, Mr West, Four Brass, Powder and Bernstein. “We have a total of 12 entertainers who will perform at our shows,” said Gill.

Music for the artistes will be provided by Caress. “Everyone knows of Caress and with them providing music for artistes, it will be a good entertainment package from us during this Carnival season,” said the former Junior Culture Minister.

Spicemas 2013 was officially launched last Saturday on the Carenage in the form of cultural exposition, which provided a taste of pan, calypso and mas bands that will be featured during the final activities for the annual event, which will conclude on August 13, 2013. Addressing the hundreds who had turned up for the event, Arthur Hosten, chairman of the Spicemas Corporation, encouraged patrons to get involved in activities and avoid playing “spectator mas” for 2013.

Calypso Cave is the first tent to be launched for the season. It is not clear how many tents will be featured for the 2013 season. However, the Grenada Calypso Association has given the assurance that there will be a tent in each parish this year.

“It will be done in collaboration with the Parish Carnival Committee and is aimed at exposing the music to calypso lovers who may not have the opportunity to hear all the calypsos on radio,” said Isha Antoine.

The intention is to have a tent each in the parishes of St. David and St. Andrew; St. John and St. George’s will merge as one tent and the same rule will apply for the parishes of St. Mark and St. Patrick.