The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

WITH anticipation building for the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, local companies are getting together to host various party and promotion events in the lead-up to the big event next May.

In the upcoming months, if you find yourself out on the town looking to have a good time, chances are you may find yourself dancing to songs like “Ready For Di Road” , “Skinny Fabulous” or “Show Me Ya Worst Behaviour”.

These songs by Bunji Garlin and others with a similar sound, which are best known to soca lovers, are being blasted to full effect all over town as the newly formed Road Fever group of companies prepares for the 2015 Carnival.

The groups, now in competitive mode, are hosting various events, parties and functions to promote the new experience that is set to be celebrated in the Bahamas.

According to company representatives, Road Fever is “an epic collage of colour and culture, and the most iconic grandstand of any carnival”.

Kick-starting the festivities is the Rhythms Bahamas carnival group, which recently hosted their “Soaka Rhythms” party at the Beach Club, Sandyport.

With members having more than 50 years experience collectively in major carnivals, Rhythms Bahamas is certain that they will be your choice for the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in 2015 and beyond.

Rhythms Bahamas President Dario Tirelli said it was only three months ago that the group was formed by himself and 17 other “carnival junkies”.

However, he said they have all been in many conversations about the movement for several years now.

“We saw the economic benefit of carnival and wanted to do what we can. We saw and met some of the successful carnival companies in this region. We got together, saved some money and formed businesses. After next year you are looking at so many businesses being positively affected because this carnival will be going to the world. We as Bahamians are slow to react and don’t like change, but I see the economic benefit in all of this,” said Mr Tirelli.

The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will be an annual event, spanning five weeks and will kick off on Easter Monday.

The event will feature a series of activities, including concerts, cultural shows, balls and street parades, which will depict all aspects of Bahamian culture and heritage. One week will also be set aside and will be known as ‘Carnival Week’.

The first Bahamas Carnival Week is scheduled for May 3-9, 2015. During Carnival Week, four major events will be staged. A commission, chaired by former banker Paul Major, will oversee the proceedings.

Mr Tirelli said Rhythms Bahamas will play its part to promote this new event on the country’s social calendar and support the government by showing off Bahamian culture, food, music, and most of all, the country’s rhythms.

“I have been travelling to carnivals around the world from 1997, and most of the Rhythms members are carnival junkies, so it was easy for us to get together and do this. We decided that we will not just get involved in the Carnival Road March, for which we applied for with the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, we also aimed to form companies under Rhythms Bahamas that can be here all year round. These services range from transportation, hotel and restaurant bookings, T-shirt printing, hosting events and various functions,” he said.

Mr Tirelli said the “Soaka Rhythms” event showed that Bahamians want “decent and safe” environments so they can party freely all night long.

“Our mandate is to only play Caribbean, soca and Bahamian music at our events. At that event, we didn’t play any reggae, dancehall or American music, and the crowd loved it. I think we are pacesetters with the carnival companies here because we were the first ones to really host a function. The event was not our official launch party, but it was a little introduction to the Bahamas,” said Mr Tirelli.

He said Rhythms Bahamas is looking forward to the Road Fever Costume Expo to be held at the Meli� Resort next Saturday where interested persons will not just see costume displays, they will see an experience.

Mr Tirelli encourages people to look out for more events that are slated to be hosted by Rhythms Bahamas.