Crop Over music is on the air.
The four Cavalcades are set to kick off at Briar Hall Playing field, Christ Church, tomorrow night immediately after the youth rally, and the tents are slated to open in just under a month.
The majority of the 12 tents, which will be pitched this year, are still getting their act together, but some others are at the stage where they are announcing opening dates and hyping their respective offerings.
De Big Show, home of reigning Calypso Monarch Gabby, is set to open on June 12 at the Plantation Garden Theatre.
That second Saturday in June is also the opening date for the All Stars, which will be pitching tent at the renovated Queen’s Park Steel Shed.
De Big Show manager Merle Niles said it was a good year for De Big Show, and that they will be coming with basically the same cast as last year.
All Stars has pretty much the same cast as last year as well. Manager Eleanor Rice told the WEEKEND NATION Mr Impact, Mark Lorde and Julianna Trotman had been added.
In keeping with the tent’s strategy for the last few years of showcasing a Trinidadian act for two nights, Brigo will be the featured act on June 17 and 19.
The St Philip-based Stray Cats is opening on June 18. Manager Jerry Roberts said he had a cast of about 13, some of whom are from the Crane Hotel, with which he is working closely. It is the 18th consecutive year Stray Cats is pitching tent for Crop Over.
House Of Soca is opening on June 25. According to manager Sharon Carew-White, this year’s cast is young and vibrant and the main focus was social commentary. House Of Soca has taken to moulding the youth and the cast features the likes of Kya, Shaki K, Sir Ruel and Hanif Charles.
