WeBeat tribute to Crosby

The festival runs from June 3 to 10 at the St James Amphitheatre, Western Main Road, St James, under the patronage of Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez.

As usual a person or organisation is honoured for their contribution to the community. This year, Woo Ling’s Supermarket, a family-owned business of three generations spanning over 60 years, has been chosen to be honoured.

On the playlist are some ten events, seven of which are free during the seven days of activity.

WeBeat starts with an added feature: The Road Show on June 3, produced by Crosby’s brother Victor Crosby. This event is patterned to bring back memories of the days when Crosby (Earl) used to host record launches in front of the store. DJs, steelbands, calypsonians, performers etc are listed to appear. One of the two events that had been shelved for some years but now back on the calendar is the Pan Explosion on June 4 with several steelband. The other is Jazz Beat on June 7 featuring top local jazz acts. Youth Fest will showcase the Errol Ince Youth Makers, a group of young and talented musicians from UTT with guest performers on June 8. A revamped “WeKaiso” will see soca meeting calypso in a showdown affair being produced by Carl Beaver Henderson.A formal J’Ouvert will take place pre-dawn on June 10, pending sponsorship. Several popular J’Ouvert bands have already expressed interest but organisers are awaiting more sponsorship to make a final decision.

The grand finale on June 10 will see the Steelband and Traditional Mas street parade which usually attracts thousands of locals and some visitors who throng the “strip” to take in some of their favourite steelbands. Also adding the carnivalesque atmosphere will be the NCBA-sponsored traditional mas characters. The St James Community Improvement Committee won the bpTT Leader Award in 2002 for its innovation of WeBeat St James Live. The award was designed “to encourage development in the fields of education and social services.” The committee’s goal is to make WeBeat one of the Caribbean’s pre-eminent festivals outside of Carnival. Other events include We Connect on June 8 –a motivational discussion for standard five students from invited primary schools on topics such as anti-bullying and mentoring. The children will also be entertained by theirs peers, members of the St James Police Youth Club. There’s a Film Night in collaboration with the Trinidad Tobago Film Festival, and a health day in association with the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago.