Pure vibes, is how I would sum up the three-day festival that the Soaka team put together! As well as the usual water and paint party early on a Sunday morning, the ticket package included an activated wristband that gave you access to two other events.
Day One - Iron Park “Experience history in the making as the finest of Trinidad and Tobago’s steel orchestras, rhythm sections and DJs come together for this pioneering production.” I was so pleased that steelpan was part of this party package. This not only exposed visitors who flew in for this weekend to a big part of our culture but more importantly allowed a wider range of local people, including younger party goers, to have the opportunity to enjoy our national instrument.
This type of inclusion may help to solidify pan as a mainstream staple on the local event scene. My friend Tuere and I arrived at 9:30pm not knowing what to expect from this event. Walking in and seeing the layout, I was immediately pleased. Three stages were at the front, each with one of the top bands set up so that they could play seamlessly. There were food trucks, a bar, seats to lounge on and lots of room to put your cooler down and dance to the mix of steelpan and DJ music throughout the night. “From my first impression, when they gave us flower crowns with lights to wear and seeing everyone walking around enjoying themselves, I was like oh my gosh, this is so cute. The vibe was just great!” Tuere said. Towards the end of the event, the DJ facilitated a pan shoot out where each band played a tune and the winner was chosen by the loudest applause from the audience. Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra won and they played an energetic piece to celebrate, the flag men and supporters joyously partying in front of them. The sound of Tassa followed, with a group from Siparia playing on one end and another from Laventille playing on the other! “I really enjoyed the Iron Park.” Tuere said. “It was a feel-good event. You could see that the people dancing and moving to the instrument, the pan, created a different atmosphere. It was really well organized as well, in terms of the flow of the bands especially when the DJs were actually interacting with them.”
Day Two - Carnival Upmarket “Discover crafts from local artisan vendors, feast on scrumptious local cuisine and unwind with live entertainment. Seize this opportunity to purchase your Carnival essentials” Tuere and I spent a couple hours walking around, shopping, chatting with the vendors and trying samples of everything from skincare to a local rum punch! The artisans in attendance were selling Carnival Monday Wear, accessories, local books, jewelry, clothing, woodwork and even furniture. Tuere, enjoyed some of Pappy’s chicken, a well-known local food spot that boasts the tastiest chicken, while we listened to the entertainment and chatted with friends. Eating boozy Mango lollies, we walked to the car with our bags full of purchases.
“The market was really good.” Tuere said. “I was surprised at the turnout and I love how diverse it was in terms of the range of people there. It seemed that they were actually buying a lot of stuff too as well as enjoying the food area. There was a lot to do!”
Day Three - Soaka Till Sunrise “As the headlining event of the Soaka Arts and Music Festival, Soaka Till Sunrise promises to be an unforgettable experience.” This was the first time Soaka was going to be held at the Queen’s Park Savannah and people were wondering if the vibe would be the same at this venue. As usual we hired a bus to take us and approaching the savannah, we were stunned that there was no traffic. “Did we get the day wrong?” someone joked.
Walking to the entrance we were pleased that there were no long lines to get inside. With my ‘glow in the dark’ bunny ears in place, one of the little knickknacks they gave out at the door, we found a spot in the crowd to put our coolers down. Water and my professional camera don’t mix so I left it at home but safe to say we had a time! “I was very impressed and I have to give them kudos for everything being so well organized,” Tuere reflected. “I saw in each event, attention to detail, a lot of effort and I appreciated all the giveaways. The Soaka stage was just amazing!” From a night of sweet, sweet pan, to shopping at the artisan market to welcoming the sunrise covered in paint, dancing to the latest music of the season – this was a fantastic weekend. A great beginning to my Carnival season!
Discussing the other parties we were going to attend for the season, the conversation turned to fashion when I asked Tuere what she typically wears to Carnival fetes.
T: It depends on the kind of party but I will say if I had to pick a go to, it would be shorts and a top and sometimes short rompers or long jumpsuits.
A: Do you think there is a style for Carnival?
T: Yes definitely. It’s the season where less is more. A lot more people dress more revealing but also there is a casualness to it. I guess because you want to dance, you don’t want to be really constricted or wear something uncomfortable because you want to be out for a long time. There is definitely that mix of looking cute but comfy.
Article and photographs by Ariann Mieka Photography. Follow her on IG @mynorthsea
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