Battle of the tents set to ignite Pic-O-De-Crop competition

The 2024 Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Competition is set to begin next Tuesday, with 94 calypsonians from six tents ready to battle for a place at the National Botanical Gardens on finals night .

Tent managers recently met to draw dates for their performers’ judging sessions. The week-long event will take place at two venues: the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey, St Michael and the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre in The City.

De Big Show will open the competition on July 16 at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. Throughout the week, each tent will perform, concluding with All Stars on 23 July. Following the final performance, judges will select 17 finalists to compete against the reigning Calypso Monarch, iWeb.

The competition has drawn a strong field of participants, with All Stars leading the pack with 21 performers, followed closely by House of Soca with 18, Super Gladiators with 16, and Big Show and Shining Stars with 15 each. Even the smallest tent, Stray Cats, brings nine talented calypsonians to the stage.

The Pic-O-De-Crop Finals are scheduled for  August 2 at the National Botanical Gardens, where Barbados will crown its new calypso monarch. This event is a highlight of the island’s cultural calendar, celebrating the rich tradition of calypso music.

(BT/PR)

The judging schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday, July 16, 7 p.m.: De Big Show at Garfield Sobers Complex
• Wednesday, July 17, 7 p.m.: House of Soca at Garfield Sobers Complex
• Thursday, July 18, 8 p.m.: Shining Stars at Garfield Sobers Complex
• Friday, July 19, 8 p.m.: Super Gladiators at Daphne Joseph Hackett-Theatre
• Sunday, July 21, 8 p.m.: Stray Cats at Daphne Joseph Hackett-Theatre
• Tuesday, July 23, 7 p.m.: All Stars at Garfield Sobers Complex