By La-Shaundé Hall
After a two-year break due to the Coronavirus pandemic, calypso tents will be playing again this year as Vincy Mas 2022 takes shape.
On Tuesday, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Calypso Association held a press conference to inform the public on the plans for tent season for Vincy Mas 2022.
President of the SVG Calypso Association Earl “Cabba” Bennett chaired the press conference which included representatives from the three calypso tents who will be participating in this year’s festival namely OnTour, Graduates, and the Upstage Experience tents.
Members of the three tents gave details about their tents’ plans for Vincy Mas 2022.
The Graduates tent was represented by its secretary Norleen Cambridge who noted that the tent has a cast of eighteen (18) members competing this year. Cambridge said Graduates’ first show for the season will take place on June 7, 2022, from 8:00 pm at the Russells Auditorium. Some members of the Graduate CalypsoTent are Sule, Hero and Hance John.
The OnTour Calypso Tent was represented by Grantley ‘Ipa’ Constance who said the tent is an experienced one having been around for some thirty five (35) years. He said the tent has a fifteen member cast for Vincy Mas 2022. Constance said the Covid-19 protocols makes it a bit difficult to host their shows this year but noted that the tent would adhere to the necessary protocols that are in place when hosting these shows. The OnTour Calypso Tent will be doing two shows at the Russells Cinema: one on the 9th of June 2022 and another on the 16th of June 2022. Some of OnTour tent calypsonians are Patches, Zion-I and Abijah.
Meanwhile, tent leader of the Upstage Experience and reigning calypso monarch Shaunelle McKenzie said upstage has a cast of eighteen (18) artistes who would be performing including three new artistes, Lady Lola, Young Caesar and Dynamite. Upstage would also be doing two shows at the Russells Auditorium.
The first show is scheduled for June 8th 2022 while the second show is scheduled for June 15th, 2022. Upstage would also be hosting an event in Sandy Bay on June 11th, 2022. McKenzie stated that it would be a form of entertainment for the residents north of the Rabacca Dry River who were adversely affected by La Soufrière eruptions. Some members of the Upstage Experience Tent include Brother Ebony, Bomani and Ice man.