Calypso tents at Under the Trees

Carnival is coming to Under The Trees at The Normandie in St Ann’s from January 31.

On that date the intimate, backyard entertainment space opens its 2014 season with Bacchanal, the launch of popular Rapso group 3canal’s annual production, this year themed Carnival Coming, at which patrons can expect to be invited to Take A Wine, title of one of the trio’s musical contributions to this year’s festivities.

Under The Trees has increased its exposure of the calypso tent at the venue this year with a Calypso Tent Week. In addition to the Kaiso Karavan, Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation’s (TUCO) East Zone tent, that has a slot on the playbill every year, also appearing will be Kaiso House, TUCO’s flagship tent, and Klassic Ruso, operated by the organisation’s North Zone.

Instead of the traditional lengthy duration of a calypso tent, the shows are of two hours’ duration, and feature selected cast members, among which will be up-and-coming young calypso talent. Their scheduled dates are: February 17—Kaiso House; February 18—Klassic Ruso and February 19—Kaiso Karavan.

Once asked why calypso tents were a feature of Under The Trees programming, owner/manager of The Normandie Fred Chin Lee said he always wanted to highlight the significance of the calypso tent and its relevance to T&T Carnival.

“What really is a calypso tent?” he questioned. “Are they the reflections of societal behaviour now, as in the beginning? Do they create the space to free up of the burdens, challenges and toils of the year just gone by? Do they represent the helix of T&T’s cultural DNA? The answers to these questions will vary with each individual. Our purpose Under The Trees, therefore, is to provide the opportunity for patrons to satisfy whatever is their desire.”

Other highlights on this year’s programme schedule include: Dancing Under The Trees on Valentine’s Day, February 14, featuring Baron (Timothy Watkins); The Ministry of The Arts and Multiculturalism’s Trinidad Interactive Music Expo (TIME) Concert on Thursday, February 27, featuring Calypso Rose (McCartha Lewis), Mungal Patasar, Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez), and Faye Ann Lyons-Alvarez; Mini Veni all-inclusive party on Sunday, February 9; and Hearts on Fire all-inclusive fete on Sunday, February 23.

Patrons will also experience other performances in calypso and steelband music by some of the top practitioners of the arts, including David Rudder, Black Stalin, SuperBlue, Karene Asche, and David Bereaux. The house band is Pelham Goddard and Roots, and show time is 8.30 pm.

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