Later date for Soca on de Hill

One of the major events for the Crop Over season has been rescheduled to avoid having to compete with two other popular events, but the organiser has maintained that the show is on.

Soca on de Hill is now billed to take place on August 2, the day after Grand Kadooment.

Director of 4D Entertainment Rudy Maloney told Barbados TODAY it was a “sensible business decision”.

Previously billed for Sunday, July 17, the event which features top local and regional soca artistes would have been on the same day as equally popular events, Tipsy and We Ting.

“The rationale is that we are still in a COVID environment, there is no data or anything that suggests there can be three major events held in Barbados on the same day,” Maloney explained.

“The other part that is critical is that a number of persons who normally party are not partying. I go to events every single week and you see the same people over and over again. Some people are not convinced that they can be out and enjoy and have a good party so we have to take all of those things into consideration when it comes to the economic part of the business.”

Partygoers have had mixed reactions to the news on social media.

Some suggested the shift to August 2 was a good idea, while others were skeptical.

“This is the best thing wanna do,” wrote one person who supported the move.

Another who did not agree wrote: “So after people jump whole day Monday, they have to rush home to get little rest of SOTH [Soca on De Hill].”

Maloney expects the change will be uncomfortable for some, but he maintained that there is a bigger picture.

“This is not about the Crop Over season only, this is about a summer festival. This is about continuous economic growth, economic activity, etc. That is how we see it in 4D. People might see it as the end of Crop Over, but we don’t see it as the end of Crop Over,we see it as entertainment starting back. We see it as the summer festival going on and on until maybe the end of December,” he said.

Maloney maintained that 4D Entertainment would deliver a high-quality show featuring regional performers Patrice Roberts, Lyrikal, Nadia Batson, and Skinny Fabulous, along with locals Lil Rick, Edwin Yearwood, Leadpipe, Saddis, and some of the island’s top DJs.

The promoter said the major logistical challenge since the date change has been finding a day that all the artistes booked to perform were available.

“It is still a challenge but we are working through it,” he said. (TD)