Massive’s roving tent opens Feb 11
Monday, January 24 2011

TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - SEETA PERSAD - Due to open on February 11 at Club Victory, 128 Caratal Road, Gasparillo, the Massive Gosine chutney/calypso tent promises to give the “perfect flavour” of music this year. Run and operated by former chutney soca monarch Nirmal “Massive” Gosine, the tent has entered its ninth year.
“Brantec Rhythms will be doing all the latest chutney songs while the seasoned calypsonians and soca artistes will be entertaining the crowds with their latest release in time for Carnival 2011,” he said.

Massive has asked the former prime minister, Basdeo Panday to officially open the tent. “I have always been a fan of Mr Panday, this is why I wanted him to open this year’s event,” he said, adding that Panday remains a political giant in TT.

The big names in the entertainment business who will be performing at the tent this year include, former national calypso monarch Black Stalin, Clint Davis, General Grant, Impulse, Lady Adana, Soca Elvis, and Tommy Joseph. DJ Sheriff is contracted to provide music while chutney dances would be performed by Sheer Platinum Dancers, Xtreme Breakers, Vikash Dancers and Nirvana Dance Company. Massive has also added international acts, an English Calypsonian reggae/dancehall stars Mafia kid and Omar from Barbados and calypsonian Connector ( Joel Davis).

“The main aim of the roving tent is to unite the diverse people of Trinidad and Tobago through the integration of Afro and Indo-based cultural expressions on one stage,” Massive said. He said he believes Carnival is really about calypso, mas and chutney. “I want to bring all this to the people and more,” he said.

The tent will be going to 15 venues throughout the country and entry to the shows would be free. “I believe people out there want to take in live shows and you will agree that people are afraid to go out due to the rise in crime and the reckless driving on the nation’s roads. This is why the response to my shows has been tremendous, especially in areas such as Cedros, Rio Claro and Williamsville,” he said.

Massive praised Rawytee, of the orchestra Brantec Rhythms saying that she is now wooing her audience with soca, pop, rock and Indian film songs. Known for her powerful voice, Rawytee is now performing the hottest soca tunes made in TT, and the popular pop songs coming out of the USA.

She is good at interpreting the voice of Destra Garcia and Patrice Roberts. She has been imitating US-based pop stars Shakira and Beyonce. Another good performer in the band is Oneil Bhajman, who has a voice similar to Adesh Samaroo. He has style and flair just like Samaroo and does his songs with equal finesse. Oneil thrilled the audience with “Rum Like That” (by Adesh) and “Jho Jho” (by Anand Yankaran). Oneil also performed Crazy’s “Cold Sweat” and Shurwayne Winchester’s “Open the Gate.”

Brantec Rhythms came on stream in 2001, and band leader is Robert Ramroop (Rawytee’s husband), a well known drummer. Band members are Steve Boobhan on keyboard, and John Ramdeen on bass guitar. Lighting for the band is done by Rajesh Ramdial.

Roberts expressed happiness with Brantec’s decision to sponsor the band. “Brantec has helped in providing us with the most modern musical instruments. And we are in a better position to play music than we have ever been,” he said.