|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
BERMUDA CUP MATCH WEEKEND 2012
Bermuda Cup Match 2012
There are so many Caribbean events during the period August 1st - 5th. "Crop Over" and "Caribana" are two of the better known events but Cup Match is the untold secret. (See Carnival Calendar) I was asked to come see this cup match event weekend in Bermuda last year and I have not looked back since. Cup Match weekend really is an untold story and is the perfect time to be in Bermuda.
Let’s see how this weekend unfolds, where no two events are alike:-
The original headline artist Barrington Levi was replaced by Wayne Wonder at the last minute. I think that this impacted some of the patrons who were tossed the curve ball at the last minute but the show still off the hook. It was great mix of energetic vibes and a perfectly beautiful crowd. What more can you ask for, it was not a show it was a private beachside concert.
Wednesday night also feathured a local raggae super star in the downtown area, Collie Buddz. It looked really exciting as we were passing by the venue and the Buddz entourage were making their way to the event. I wish we could have attended but we have not figured out how to be in two places at the same time, At least not yet.
All good things must come to an end and this brings us to the final day of cup match weekend; the big Sunday raft up called Non-Mariners. See my comments on this event from last year since we had to roll this year and miss out on the best of the weekend. If I had 3 words to really sum up Bermuda cup match weekend, 2012 it would be "Unity, Artistry and Evolution". Oh well Bermuda next year it will be "YOU, TJJ and Beach Fest", if God spares life… Original Lime Flavour |
|
|||||||||||
This
weekend is not just another carnival event nor is it just another list
of parties. This is a weekend of island unity and expression of artists.
What makes Bermuda’s Cup Match outstanding is that no matter what
activities what you are into, there is something for everyone. Bermuda
is the host to one of the most famous beaches in the world, Horseshoe
Bay, which is on par with some of best beaches of Barbados, St.
John, and St. Martin.
So if you are a beach lover, you are all set. If you
are a sea person and love boats, then that is also available
to you. Bermuda does not only lend to
wonderful beaches. What makes this weekend most special is the cricket
match that captures the attention of every since Bermudian on the island
as well as those abroad. This is after all
the reason the weekend was named Cup Match. The icing on the
cake of this event is the friendly Bermudian hospitality. I think
we can easily accept that Bermudians are among the most friendly in the
world.
Imagine
standing with your feet in the sand and the sea breeze in your hair. You
are facing a high stage with a full moon over head, listening to some
of the best of Bermuda’s artists. The local lineup on Wednesday night
include the fancy of Hannah Eggen , Haz Imari, Jelani Chewslam, Trevor
Hall, Joy Barnum and Canjelae Taylor. Wednesday night kicked off the weekend
with an expansion on the original beach fest event which takes place all
day on Thursday. The venue was set on the beautiful Horseshoe Bay where
if you did not know you were at BeachFest, there was a 50 foot
sign saying “BEACH FEST”. It
was such an artist's paradise with local R&B singers, rappers and
poets. Trevor Hall was a different alternative style in the beach fest
hailing from Los Angeles. After a plethora of the great local Bermudian
artist the international rap and reggae artists namely Dead Prez and Wayne
Wonder respectively came to the stage. 
If
you are a beachhead then Thursday is the day you should never miss. This
event again was at Horseshoe Bay but the vibes was ten times that of the
previous night if you can image that.
Imagine about 9000 people basking in the sun, scantily clad and have a
good time. Can it get better than that? Yes it can,
just top this off with some mouthwatering food and delicious drinks.
Campers were on the beach in their tents since the previous night for
the events. There was no space to set up a tent by lunch time on Thursday.
Talk about a mixed crowd, there was someone for everyone. 
Perhaps
you are not the water and sand person? This is NOT a problem. Cricket,
a true West Indian sport is another way to submerge you into feeling the
local vibe. You can attend the two day cricket cup match between St. George's
and Somerset. This Starts on Thursday and culminates on Friday with the
handing over of the silver cup. This cup is decades old and while
not gold is treasured by the local cricket teams and fans. If you ever
want to engage a Bermudian then just make mention “who you backing
St George's or Somerset?” and watch the passion explode. This kind
of banter can go on for hours but all in good spirit. This event not only
has a rich spirit of rivalry but is also embellished with tons of local
food for sale. There is a tent behind the cricket pitch as well
as a pavilion for some crown and anchor. This tent becomes a
popular place to hang out during the lunch to make some extra money or
for hard core gamblers during the cricket match trying to make a full
pay check. The rush of gambling money
mixed with music and alcohol makes an intoxication concoction for the
heart, there were so many people breathing like they just ran an iron
man and all this over a simple dice game. This game was traditionally
played for gambling purposes by sailors in the British Royal Navy, and
also in the British merchant and fishing fleets. The game originated
in the 18th century. It is still popular in the Channel Islands and Bermuda,
but is strictly controlled and may be played legally only on certain occasions
such as Bermuda's annual Cup Match cricket game.
Friday
you can attend the second day of cricket during the day and Soca VS Reggae
that night. Somerset fan rejoiced after ten years of loss and draws to
finally defeat St George's and take the cup. It was the 26th run of the
2nd inning for Somerset and as the bat connected with the ball, you can
see a sea of red as fans in their local colors ran onto the field. The
pitch was swamped with cheering fans before the bats men could complete
the final run to win the game. It was one of the best games for Somerset
in the last decade. We love this rivalry of the Somerset red vs the St.
George's blue teams.
Saturday
is usually a day of cool down and rest if you so desire. But if you have
gotten in good with the locals then you are guaranteed to find a house
party or /pool party. We just happened to find both a "slip &
slide" and "an all inclusive pool" party filled with the
local entertainment celebrities. You
know you are being politely asked to leave when the host begins to do
laps at 2:30am after most guest have gone home. Old fashioned TJJ style.