Biggest calypso hits for Crop Over Opening Gala

Calypso and soca lovers are in for an epic display of the most iconic hits produced by local artistes over the past 50 years, when the Digicel Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes & 50th Anniversary Calypso Tent is staged in The City on Saturday.

Independence Square will be the location for the 50th Anniversary Calypso Tent, a grand finale to a massive showpiece to mark the official start of the 2024 Crop Over Festival.

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) team brought together some of the island’s most respected DJs and connoisseurs of the genre to recommend the hits to be performed. The team choosing the 50 hits included Alvin Toppin, Ronnie Clarke and Kid Site.

The Digicel Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes & 50th Anniversary Calypso Tent is arguably the only place Barbadians and visitors are likely to witness such a celebrated lineup of artistes on a single stage and to do so absolutely free of cost.

NCF Event Planner Karen Pestaina explained the concept: “This is our 50th year of Crop Over, and while people have recognised the winners of the competitions, there were also other songs that were major hits during the festival and remain so up to this day.

“East Coast Road, Bushy Park, National Stadium, Farley Hill National Park and all the different venues where we have had great memories will be brought together for a dynamic show.”

Some of the 50 hits that will be performed on Saturday night include: Sir Don’s The Pele Case, Liar’s Born Sweet, Reclaimer’s In De Sauce, Commander’s Slavery Done, Classic’s Tell Dem Calypsonians, Ras Iley’s Encore, Spice & Co.’s Congaline, Splashband’s Get Busy, Madd’s Revival Song, RPB’s Ragga, DJ Grandmaster’s Hand On De Bumper, Krosfyah’s Pump Me Up, Troubadours’ Nice Time, Lil Rick’s Hard Wine, Square One’s Faluma, Captain Sawyer’s Bashment Ship, Mikey’s Feting Family, Fadda Fox’s Ducking, and Porgie & Murda’s Condense. (PR)