Crop Over Lift Off

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THE CROP OVER LIFT OFF WEEKEND

 Band launches, music releases, the party scene is heating up –all signs that the festival season is upon us. With less than 48 hours to go, the NCF is in preparation mode for the Crop Over lift off weekend which is expected to inject some energy and to get people into a festive mood.

The lift off weekend begins this Friday, May 23 with the LIME/HOTT 95.3 Crop Over Preview which, as the name suggest, will give patrons a taste of the events planned for the 2014 Festival calendar. Preparations are already underway to transform the National Cultural Foundation car park dubbed ‘Crop Over Grande Central’ into a hive of activity and entertainment where Blood the reigning Sweet Soca Monarch, nine time Calypso Monarch Red Plastic Bag, the 2013 Calypso Monarch Ian Webster, 2007 International Groovy Soca Monarch Biggie Irie, members of the Soca Army and the oldster Grynner are expected to take the stage. The LIME/HOTT 95.3 Crop Over Preview is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.

Then the action continues on Saturday, May 24 with the CBC Crop Over Crawl in association with Banks and the Transport Board. This 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. event chock filled with activities, plus a 40ft trailer carrying popular entertainers like Porgie & Murda, the award-winning artistes and songwriters Soca Junkie extraordinaire Mr. Dale and Kirk Brown the energy man, former Calypso Monarch Adrian Clarke and many more will ensure that this is no ordinary crawl.

The event is designed to awaken the spirit of the Crop Over season on an excursion to communities across the island. The kick off point is Crop Over Grande Central; then the crawl heads north to Road View, St. Peter for Karaoke at Hindz Bar; next is Bathsheba, St Joseph to hear Bumba and just imagine Tuk & Pan in a Soca Junkie party with Mr. Dale at Dina’s Bar and Cafe; it will be a sweet soca celebration with RPB at Clara’s Hide Away in Four Roads St. Philip; a pit stop at Sam’s Place in the Glebe, St. George for a Crop Over friendly celebrity cricket match and beer fest; and the final 40^th anniversary stop at De Lime Bar Stadium Road, St. Michael for Verseewild, Kirk Brown.

On this crawl the NCF has included a special stop in Weston, St. James to honour the late, great Carew and CEO, Mr. Cranston Browne is expected to lay a wreath on the site of the tragic event.