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Caldwell Taylor
and Martin Felix
New York's House of Fire (HOF) Calypso
Tent opens on Friday, June 24 for its second
season of sizzlin' soca and calypso. With that
in mind, BIGDRUMNATION's Martin Felix visited
with Wayne "Gus" Augustine to get a preview of
what is cookin at the HOF. Here is how that
conversation went--
BIGDRUMNATION (BDN): What can we expect in
this second year of HOF?
GUS: Well, one thing we can say for sure...we
are more organized than last year. Last year we
had some kinks, like changing venues-that we
have worked and both shows [Friday, June 24th
and Friday, July 1st] are going to be at
Afrika House. We have been working the airways a
lot more than we have done last year to ensure
that the support is better, so that a lot more
people know about it. So the word is out. I
think we have done a lot more marketing than we
have done last year.
BDN: Tell us what your cast looks like this
year?
GUS: Is it basically the same as last this
year’s - Val Adams, Derrick LaTouche, Hercules,
Blackman, Super Terrie [Lady McQuilkin, Joe–Joe,
Quako, Gia] and pretty much everyone from last
year except we have added a couple of exciting
performers - Flying Turkey is going to be
guesting with the tent and the return of
[Preying] Mantis- much anticipated with some
really serious materials. We have a very bright
young lady, she is very smart and she has good
lyrics, she is a good singer. Her name is Lady
Latifa... We also have a new singer name
Whistler, who is an accomplished performer and
former bass player.
BDN: Speaking about stabilizing your venue
from the onset: Where exactly is Africa House?
GUS: Afrika House is located at 2265 Bedford
Avenue (SNYDER AND BEDFORD) in Brooklyn.
BDN: And who is your backing band this year?
GUS: Lambert and the Matadors; the most reliable
backing band in Brooklyn today.
BDN: Are you satisfied with the kind of help
you are receiving from the Grenada CDC thus far?
GUS: Quite frankly we were expecting more, but
we do understand the conditions they are working
under given the fact that we just experienced
[hurricane] Ivan and things are not back 100%.
They are providing us with the judges. However
we had to foot the expenses in totality. So
basically they are providing us with the judges
and they we are happy that they are able to do
that for us.
BDN: Aren't you working on redeeming some of
this?
GUS: We’ve gotten some good assistance from some
Grenadian and other business that would at least
cover so of the expenses that we have incurred
upfront.
BDN: What about some of the businesses in the
community: shouldn’t they be helping more in
promoting our culture here?
GUS: Absolutely. This is not just a promotion.
It is a cultural awareness; it is an education.
We realize that St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)
is also doing it. We expect the community will
come out and support what we are doing. It is
not just about show. Yes there is going to be
lots of fun... Lots of revelry but it is a
cultural process that we are trying to
establish.
BDN: I noticed that there is much cooperation
between House of Fire and the Dynamite Tent of
St Vincent and the Grenadines: Now this makes a
lot of sense, doesn’t it?
GUS: The two tents met last year and discussed
cooperation. As you know Val Adams guested on
their judging night show which was packed. So we
are working together and we do expect some of
their cast on our shows as well.
BDN: What about guest performers this year?
GUS: Beckett has scheduling conflict. Ajamu is
going to be in town with us as usual. Sparrow
has pledged his support and promise to do
something for us. Flying Cloud will be one of
the guests. So we do have some interesting,
well-established guests passing through.
BDN: Is there anything further you would like
to say to our reading audience?
GUS: I just want to encourage Caribbean people
to support the culture in the way we are trying
to set it up. Like I said it is more than just a
show. It is an education. We have to maintain
our culture. Keep lifting it up. So I urge my
fellow Grenadians and people of Caribbean
descent to come out and support what we are
trying to do.
I want to thank BIGDRUMNATION first and foremost
from the very onset last year for their support
in getting the word out and we really do
appreciate that. I want to say thank you to the
BDN family. Thank you for supporting our
cultural efforts. We will always be a part of
you.
BDN: Well, we'll keep beating the drums here
so that we are not drowned out - as Dr Martin
Luther King says "drum majors for truth" and, to
us, nothing is truer than culture itself....
WHAT: HOUSE OF FIRE CALYPSO TENT
WHERE: AFRIKA HOUSE, 2265 Bedford Avenue
(SNYDER AND BEDFORD), BROOKLYN.
WHEN: Friday, JUNE 24 AND Friday, July 1st
TICKET INFO:
Mr. Val Adams
(212) 621-1771 or (347) 262-2893
Mr. Wayne Augustine
(212) 830-2029 or (347) 224-0521
Mr. Michael Vincent
(212) 618-8764 or (347) 534-5293
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