Global gatherings
Party around the world at the cream of the coming year’s carnival action Words : Joanna Hunter BARBADIAN BLOWOUT WHO SAYS OLD can’t be fantastic fun? One of the world’s most vibrant festivals is Barbados’ Crop Over, and the origins of this party season are more than 200 years old. In the late 18th century, Barbados was the world’s largest producer of sugar cane, and Crop Over [...]
Party around the world at the cream
of the coming year’s carnival action
Words : Joanna Hunter
alt="Flamboyancy and colour at the Crop Over carnival in Barbados"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_079.jpg">
BARBADIAN BLOWOUT
WHO SAYS OLD can’t be
fantastic fun? One of the
world’s most vibrant festivals
is Barbados’ Crop Over, and
the origins of this party season
are more than 200 years
old. In the late 18th century,
Barbados was the world’s largest producer of sugar cane, and
Crop Over became the name of a celebration to mark the
end of the harvest. The carnival’s fortunes were directly linked
with sugar cane production, and when the industry ran out
of steam, so did the carnival, coming to a complete halt in
1940. It wasn’t until 1974 that Crop Over was revived, and
since then it has evolved into today’s vibrant event – or series
of events.
Depending on who you ask, Crop Over starts in June or
July. Officially, at least, it begins with the ceremonial delivery
of the last canes and the crowning of the festival king and
queen – the pair who have been judged the most productive
cane cutters of the season. It goes on until August and ends
with a final, spectacular parade, the Grand Kadooment.
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_080.jpg">
Sandwiched in between is a non-stop line-up of events,
from comedy, dancing and children’s parades, to the arts
and crafts of Bridgetown Market. The celebrated calypso
competition involves a number of calypsonian ‘tents’ (clubs)
competing for the title of Party Monarch, Road March
Monarch and Pic-o-de-Crop Monarch, among others. To view
a detailed calendar of Crop Over events this June, July and
August, visit www.barbados.org
CARNIVAL COUNTDOWN
While you’re at it, these other destinations have their own
take on the carnival spirit:
alt="Traditional ‘Gilles’ perform at the Carnival of Binche."
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_081.jpg">
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL, LONDON
www.nottinghillcarnival.biz
What started out as a local event in 1965 for Notting Hill’s
Caribbean community has grown to become the second
largest festival in the world. Held over the bank holiday
weekend, 23-25 August, the 5km route sees flamboyantly
dressed participants dance to West Indian and Latin beats.
COLOGNE CARNIVAL
www.koelnerkarneval.de
This carnival has Christian roots and traditionally begins at 11
minutes past 11 o’clock on 11 November, carrying on until
Ash Wednesday. Street Carnival gets going on the Thursday
before Ash Wednesday with Women’s Carnival Day and
reaches fever pitch the Monday before Ash Wednesday with
a grand parade. Last year, over 10,000 people took part.
alt="Caribbean beats at Notting Hill Carnival"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_082.jpg">
CARNIVAL OF BINCHE
www.carnavaldebinche.be
For three days (the final day is the highlight and always falls
on Shrove Tuesday), the small Belgian town of Binche (about
34 miles from Brussels) goes back in time to the 16th century.
Now on the Unesco world heritage list, this Christian celebration
features costumed performers, including harlequins and
clowns, music parades and fireworks, and mass orange tossing.
ANTIGUA CARNIVAL
www.antiguacarnival.com
The Antigua Carnival started 50 years ago as a celebration of
the emancipation of slavery. This year’s carnival, held between
24 July and 5 August, will be a non-stop mix of parades,
beauty contests, dancing and music.
alt="A masked reveller at the Carnival of Venice"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_083.jpg">
THE CARNIVAL OF VENICE
www.carnivalofvenice.com
The Venice Carnival dates back to 1162 and recalls the
golden age of the libertine Venetian. It has become famed
for the wearing of masks; often feathered, sequinned and
multicoloured and traditionally matched with a cloak,
preferably long and velvet, by revellers attending evening balls
and dinners. Next year’s event falls on 13 to 24 February.
PLAY AT HOME
This summer sees a variety of festivals to suit all musical
tastes. Notting Hill aside, the British idea of a good time often
involves an open field and a tent. Here are some favourites:
alt="Duffy,on the festival circuit in Britain"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_084.jpg">
GLASTONBURY
27-29 June; www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
The ultimate rock festival sees The Verve keeping British guitar
band fans happy. But this year it courts controversy with the
slightly more unusual headline act, American rapper Jay-Z.
DOWNLOAD
13-15 June;www.downloadfestival.co.uk
Download’s old name, Monsters of Rock, says it all. This year
at Donington Park, Motörhead, The Offspring and KISS play.
alt="Jay-Z,on the festival circuit in Britain"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_085.jpg">
ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL
13-15 June; www.isleofwightfestival.com
The hippies may have moved on, but this summer you’ll find
Kaiser Chiefs, Sex Pistols, and Sugababes.
T IN THE PARK
11-13 July; www.tinthepark.com
Scotland’s premier rock festival features an all-star cast
including Kate Nash, R.E.M., Kings of Leon and Feeder.
alt="Amy Winehouse,on the festival circuit in Britain"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_086.jpg">
THE BIG CHILL
1-3 August; www.bigchill.net
This multimedia festival is a mixture of comedy, music, dance
and art performances. Bill Bailey, The Mighty Boosh and
Norman Jay are just some acts that make up the line-up.
V FESTIVAL
16-17 August; www.vfestival.com
Two locations (Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park,
Staffordshire), one music festival. This year’s line-up includes
Amy Winehouse, Muse, Duffy and The Chemical Brothers.
alt="Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage,"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_087.jpg">
END OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL
12-14 September; www.endoftheroadfestival.com
You won’t get the hyped names, but you will get quality
and quantity in a Dorset setting.
BESTIVAL
5-7 September; www.bestival.net
The ‘boutique’ festival on the Isle of Wight is now in its fourth
year. The line-up for 2008 includes My Bloody Valentine, Amy
Winehouse, Gary Numan, Baaba Maal and Will Young.
alt="Getting into the mood at the V Festival"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_088.jpg">
READING AND LEEDS FESTIVALS
22-24 August;www.readingfestival.com (for both)
Last year’s festivals were voted Best Live Event at the
Shockwaves NME Awards. This year, Rage Against The
Machine, The Killers and Metallica are headlining.
alt="A light show at The Big Chill"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_089.jpg">
THE BATH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
21 May-7 June; www.bathmusicfest.org.uk
Classical and contemporary music, films, exhibitions – and
all that jazz. The line-up includes performances from Sir Colin
Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, and Natalie Clein.
GLYNDEBOURNE
18 May-31 August; www.glyndebourne.com
The opera-lovers’ Glastonbury. This year, head to theinspiring East Sussex countryside setting for Monteverdi’s
L’incoronazione di Poppea, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin or
Bizet’s Carmen.
alt="Glyndebourne, a summer paradise for the opera crowd"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_090.jpg">
BBC PROMS
18 July-13 September; www.bbc.co.uk/proms
The world’s greatest classical music festival continues at
London’s Albert Hall over nine glorious weeks.
WOMAD
25-27 July; www.womad.org
The World of Music, Arts and Dance festival in Wiltshire
was inspired by Peter Gabriel’s appreciation of world music.
2008’s line up mixes Finley Quaye with Eddy Grant and
Tibetan Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
alt="London’s Royal Albert Halll"
src="http://www.bmivoyager.com/images/2008/june/voyager_june_091.jpg">
CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL
31 July-3 August; www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk
A small town but a big folk event. This year, women dominate,
with living legends Joan Armatrading and k.d. lang among those
performing. Seth Lakeman and Peatbog Faeries appear too.
