Carib and Supernovas Steel Orchestra embellished the last instalment of Pan in De Countryside staged by Pan Trinbago Inc in Surrey Village, Lopinot, home of Supernovas Steel Orchestra, under the musical direction of Amrit Samaroo.
The popular beer company sponsored a Pannists Can Cook Too competition when the event was held last Saturday, at Lopinot Settlement and Recreation Grounds, which was held prior to the start of Pan in De Countryside. Chefs from Friends of Pan Trinbago, Pan Trinbago Northern Region, Southern Marines Steel Orchestra and Surrey Village satisfied the appetites of the large audience, all of them using secret ingredients of local spices and seasonings.
The judges panel, comprising Helga Lee, Bert Baptiste and Peter Ray Blood, was stretched to the limit to decide on an eventual winner of the $5,000 first prize. Keeping their recipe close to their chest, the chefs of Friends of Pan Trinbago offered a delicious wild meat-flavoured stew as well as a mango-based salad dressing.
Ken Kerr of Pan Trinbago’s Northern Region offered saltfish ochro rice, plus buns and black pudding. Not to be left out, the women of Surrey Village rolled out the red carpet to the judges, welcoming the panel with glasses of sparkling wine, followed by a fish broth appetiser. For their main course they cooked provision, cassava dumpling, boiled and fried saltfish, grilled chicken and curried carite. For dessert they did homemade Guinness icecream which was nothing short of “more-ish.”
A late arrival, yet cooking on the spot, Southern Marines leader Michael “Scobie” Joseph cooked an amazing “cassavalau,” the one pot copiously infused with saltfish and fresh seasoning. Throughout the live steelband performances, Joseph was unable to turn off his stove as long lines formed outside the band’s tent with patrons seeking to get pholourie and saheena.
Friends of Pan Trinbago won marks for adhering to every rule of the competition, inclusive of arriving early and cooking on site. The outfit copped the $5,000 first prize and earned bragging rights until the next edition of the competition is held. Seen enjoying the food and the pan music were Arts & Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas, director of Community Development Suzanne Corbett and Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz. Douglas seemed to enjoy Kerr’s saltfish ochro rice.
Aside from several residents of rustic Lopinot valley attending Pan in De Countryside, some looking snazzy in their “Sunday best,” a large turnout of pan enthusiasts from every corner of the island braved the tricky and winding road to the venue. They were treated to some beautiful pan music from Bon Air Rhythm Rockers, Arima Golden Symphony, Supernovas and Republic Bank Exodus.
Pan Trinbago and its member bands intend keeping pan lovers busy for the next two months with activities planned for every weekend until September. As a prelude to the International Conference & Panorama in August, the organisation is holding its Pan Fusion fund-raiser on July 11, at the Courtyard, Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Headlining this production are Roy Cape All Stars, Ravi B & Karma, David Rudder, Farmer Nappy, Iwer George, CAL Invaders, Skiffle, Fusion Steel and Point Fortin’s Jah Roots. Showtime is 6 pm. The chefs of Friends of Pan Trinbago serve their delectable meal to patrons at Saturday’s Pannists Can Cook Too competition, held in Lopinot.
Also on the pan agenda is the annual Laventille Emancipation street parade, staged by the Laventille Steelband Foundation along the Eastern Main Road in Success Village. This is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, August 2. Word reaching Pulse suggests that steelband manager Brian Kuei Tung has acquired the former yard of Carib Woodbrook Playboyz on Tragarete Road, Newtown, and his band will host its annual after Independence Day parade brunch at this location. Remember, Pan on De Avenue is also carded for Saturday, August 22.
Carnival 2016 begins tomorrow ...
Mac Farlane returns?
One indication that the Carnival season has begun is the launching of mas band and the slew of these events begin tomorrow in the carpark of the Queen’s Park Oval. As early as Tuesday night workmen were seen feverishly erecting a mammoth stage and infrastructure for Harts Carnival launch of Vogue for Carnival 2016. The party begins at 5 pm and models will be displaying the titillating costumes of the production.
Also ready with designs and costumes for next year’s Carnival is multiple Band of the Year winner Ronnie & Caro. The outfit will launch its production—Tears Of... on the night of Saturday, July 25, at the poolside of Ambassador Hotel, Long Circular Road, Maraval. Expected to also be in the avalanche of band launchings are Yuma, Tribe, Bliss, Fantasy, Trini Revellers, D Krewe and Mas Passion.
Tribe and Bliss leader Dean Ackin said his bands will be launched in “the Home of Carnival,” Queen’s Park Savannah on July 18. He revealed that Tribe presentation is Forbidden and Bliss will hit the streets with The Secret Garden.
On the streets, apart from the announcement of these band launchings, is the persistent whisper that Brian Mac Farlane is returning to producing a Carnival band. A source told Pulse that while the band’s theme and designs will be unique as is expected of Mac Farlane, if he does produce a band it will not comprise the large number of masqueraders as his previous presentations. Pulse understands that Mac Farlane’s troops are on standby to commence costume construction.
The Fire This Time...
Woodbrook will come ablaze on the night of Thursday, July 16 when 3Canal does a command performance at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp). Billed as New Fire—The Fire This Time..., 3Canal, will be joined by Cut+Clear Crew, Curious Ringo, Osei Jackson and others from 8 pm for this one-off production.
New Fire is a refreshing and revolutionary concert series which features the best of T&T’s diverse progressive music movement. On one Thursday of every month, the stage at the old Mas Camp Pub is set ablaze with live local music. New Fire is a series started by musician Gerry Anthony when he realised that some of the best music talents in the country actually couldn’t find forums to perform and thus the country was being deprived and denied the opportunity to experience these amazing artists.
The live interaction between audience and performer is a profound exchange and goes beyond simply experiencing the variety of depth of musical talent we have in T&T. It is definitely action to make our society better.
New Fire has been growing in popularity since it began in January 2014. The concert series has been forming many alliances with other major events such as the T&T Film Festival in an effort to effect positive societal transformation through the arts. As Williams, who is the leader and voice of the band West Indian Ehyrthm Konnection (Wirk) puts it, “New Fire is a flame that is illuminating the way to a West Indian cultural renaissance.”
From its inception in 1986 The Mas Camp Pub, now known as De Nu Pub, has held fast to its commitment to promote local music and art. Mas, song and dance have found a home at “de Camp” as patrons fondly call the popular showplace. Many of the nation’s best calypsonians, singers and comedians regularly performed on its stage at show often times attended by politicians, professionals and dignitaries.
The Mas Camp Pub has consistently staged a live calypso show every Wednesday night for more than 25 years and the Thursday night New Fire shows are but a welcome embellishment to the venue’s exciting and lively live entertainment portfolio.