Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Thursday June 13th has been designated “Pan Night” for WeBeat13. The annual WeBeat festival in St. James, north Trinidad, was originally inspired by then-Tourism and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (TIDCO) while promoting the concept of a Renaissance District in St. James and visualizing in the initiative, opportunities for the tourism thrust TIDCO was working toward. Reflecting the multi-cultural aspects of Trinidad & Tobago was fundamental to the initiative. This year, WeBeat was initially cancelled essentially due to lack of funding then reinstated a couple days after news of the cancellation broke.
The 2013 edition of Pan Night is aptly called “Pan Explosion,” showcasing the steelpan, the country’s national instrument. Four of the country’s popular steel orchestras - Exodus, Starlift, St. James Tripolians and Harmonites will perform selections from their vast repertoires. Included is a special segment featuring keyboardist Louis Nurse of Louis & the Lynx fame who will join Harmonites in the session dubbed “Ivory & Steel.”
St. James Tripolians
Steelpan is also the key component in the highlight of the festival - the highly anticipated steelband parade along with traditional mas costumed masqueraders on Saturday June 15th, the event’s penultimate night. Sixteen steel orchestras - Exodus, Invaders, Trinidad Pan Connoisseurs, Starlift, Phase II Pan Groove, Rhapsody, Valley Harps, Humming Birds Pan Groove, Old Tech, Scrunters Pan Groove, St. James Tripolians, Woodbrook Playboyz, Musical Gems, Harvard Harps, Brimblers and Longdenville Claytones will all participate in a ‘jump-up’ along the Western Main Road even as the public is entertained by La Creole Pan Groove stationed at the St. James Amphitheatre; this activity commences at 7:00 p.m.
Honorees for WeBeat13 are educator Dr. Michael Alleyne and sportsman Mannie Dookie (posthumous). The St. James-born recipients have been chosen by the St. James Community Improvement Committee (CIC), and join a number of inductees into the WeBeat Hall of Fame. Dr. Alleyne is the widely acclaimed architect of the present national education system which included the creation of the Junior Secondary School and the “double-shift” system. He was the Vice-Principal at St. George’s College, Principal at Tunapuna Government Secondary School and founding Principal of South East Port of Spain Government Secondary School.
The late Mannie Dookie was probably the most famous Trinidad & Tobago athlete of his time and whose name will remain in the history of local athletics as a top class long-distance runner, and because he was a pioneer, the first athlete to represent the country in international athletics. One of the characteristics which became his trademark was that he never liked running in shoes for which he became known as “the bare-footed runner.” A special celebration is planned in the inductees’ honor at the Lion’s Cultural Centre in Port of Spain, on Friday 7th June. The function heralds the official start of WeBeat 2013.
The activities continue over the next couple of days with free events such as WeTreat (Sunday), and Health Day (Monday morning) held in conjunction with the Port of Spain North Lions Club and the NWRHA (North West Regional Health Authority) at the St. James Amphitheatre, Western Main Road, St. James. Later on Monday evening is the Sidewalk Historian Talk Show on the topic “Disaster Preparedness for St. James,” beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Pelham Goddard & Roots take centre stage on Wednesday 12th June under the banner “Caribbean Beat.” Road March Champion and International Soca Monarch Superblue will share the spotlight. Vintage Kaisonians hold court on Friday 14th June. The kaiso trip down memory lane will feature some of the better exponents of the art form. These include Baron, Black Stalin, Scrunter, Ras Kommanda, Bally, Explainer, Johnny King and Poser with Nikki “Hot Mouth Granny” Crosby as master of ceremonies.
Admission to “Caribbean Beat”, “Pan Explosion”, and “Vintage Kaiso” is TT $150.00. Tickets are on sale at Crosby’s and Cleve’s record shops, and at the St. James Amphitheatre on the days of the events. Showtime is 8:00 p.m.
WeFilm Night brings down the curtain on this year’s activities on Sunday 16th June. Film Night is held in collaboration with the trinidad+tobago film festival 13. Show time is 7:00 p.m. and free to the public.
Following is the event schedule for WeBeat 2013:
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