There’s a major shift happening in entertainment in T&T. The energy is rising. On the heels of Tobago Carnival – a spectacle that has left mas lovers craving more, there’s a band launch on the horizon that promises entertainment lovers a true taste of what Trinidad’s South West peninsula has to offer. URAVE is a brand that’s building community and dedicatedly setting things in motion for the best Borough Festival Point Fortin has ever experienced, in 2027.

Speaking exclusively with Ebuzztt.com, Directors, Kariym Balthazar and Roland Hamilton shared details on ‘Life Beyond The Creek’ – the concept for URAVE’S 2027 Borough Festival presentation. The event takes place at the Clifton Hill Beach Resort on Saturday, November 7th from 9pm.

Two of seven directors who make up a broad team of professionals, their planning for this upcoming event, has been extensive. “We officially kicked off the project in May this year. We’ve put in a lot of work and with a strong team, we are guaranteeing an enhanced Borough Festival,” said Hamilton. He has been a part of the entertainment and promotional landscape in Trinidad and Tobago for the past 15 years. Hamilton said the URAVE brand was conceptualized back in 2015, but opportunity to present it to the people of Point Fortin and those coming into the Borough the way it was conceptualized, has only truly shown itself at this time. “This is not just a band. We’ll also be doing events in the space as well. URAVE will host something like a ‘First Jam’ in the Borough celebrations in 2027 and even our road experience will start off with a brunch event for two hours, with food stations before we hit the streets to play mas. When our masqueraders get off the road, they will enjoy a las’ lap experience too,” he said.

Four mas sections ready for presentation on Saturday, Balthazar told Ebuzztt that this is just the beginning. “We plan on taking URAVE into different spaces – not just Point Fortin Borough Festival, so in the future, URAVE may even be in Carnival in Port -of-Spain,” he said. The four sections are, “Pitch Lake,” “Garden Jewels,” “Fields Road,” and “Columbus Bay,” – all honoring integral aspects of the Southern experience. “I am from La Brea. La Brea and Point Fortin are like brother and sister,” said Hamilton, explaining that the idea is to truly highlight the South Western part of the island by giving those who are unfamiliar an experience of what they have to offer. “Deep South often feels neglected. We don’t have the opportunities or the experiences that others often have. We always have to go into Port-of-Spain to experience mas, so because I would’ve experienced mas so many times, URAVE aims at delivering a higher standard when it comes to experience, so that people who do not frequent Port of Spain, can enjoy what its like in the Borough Festival.”

URAVE stands for Unimaginably, Rhythmic, Audio, Visual, Experience. “These words are at the heart of the brand. The focus is on how people feel, how they are welcomed, and what they leave with. This is not something that is predominant in the Point Fortin Borough space so it is important to us, to establish this standard,” said Hamilton. He says the theme, “Life Beyond the Creek celebrates the beauty, creativity and talent within the South Western peninsula.

The band launch is being touted as one that will showcase exactly what masqueraders can expect on the rod come 2027. Though starting off with more of a Monday Wear mas deliverable, the band will be going hard to ensure the feeling of revelry and fun are high priority. “Years ago, bands like Legacy and Ronnie and Caro, and other big bands would come down from Port-of- Spain, but Borough Day has never had a Point Fortin based mas band involved.

Years ago, Legacy, Ronnie and Caro and other big bands would come down from Port of Spain and they never really had a Point Fortin based mas band involved. Our team has been having discussions with the Point Fortin Borough executives and we’ve been discussing all areas to ensure what we bring enhances the celebration,” said Hamilton, noting that the overall aim is to bring life to the celebration. “We hope even big mas bands will come back into the space after our presentation in 2027,” he said.

The Economics and the People.

All bases covered, inclusive of safety and convenience, Hamilton noted the state of the present economy. Understanding of the economic climate, he said URAVE’S website will go live after the band’s launch on Saturday and those interested in playing will be able to register with the option of securing a payment plan.”

On Saturday night in Point Fortin, fetters can expect a whole lot of energy and Carnival vibes. Artistes inclusive of Farmer Nappy, Trinibaby, Christo and Viking Ding Dong, will be apart of the excitement. “We are creating a safe space for people to come out and have fun. We want to always have a great time. The feeling is very important to us and we will show potential masqueraders just what it will mean to be on the road with URAVE, when we launch the band this weekend,” Hamilton assured.

Follow URAVE online on Instagram for more on what’s to come and be part of the greatest Borough Festival experience in 2027.

The most anticipated period on Tobago’s annual event calendar is just about ready to start and one of the island’s most successful entertainers is leading the charge, delivering an event on Thursday, October 29^th that will prove truly memorable. Shurwayne Winchester is Tobago’s golden boy. He has taken the Tobago Carnival product personally, believing it’s a good tool to market the island, if truly executed with love and sustainability in mind.  

Shurwayne emerged on the Soca scene over 20 years ago and has not slowed down. He has cemented his name in the Caribbean entertainment landscape over many years and he has represented Tobago with immense pride. Despite having moved to Trinidad, the two-time Road March champion remains deeply connected to his home and is set to host Tobago Love The Xperience in honor of that appreciation. “Together with my friend and old Tobago classmate, Lester Duncan, we’re using this event to show the world what Tobago is truly about. For me, it’s about giving back to the place that I came from. There is no prouder moment than being able to do something like this on your home soil. We wanted to offer those visiting the island, something more than the décor and the lights and music,” said the artiste, noting that this year’s theme for Tobago Love The Xperience is The Harvest. “We’re doing something that’s built around the heritage of Tobago. As somebody who grew up here it has always been important for me to do this – to give the foreigners a chance to see the real Tobago, to give them a chance to fall in love with Tobago – the things that they see and the feeling they get when they experience what we have to share.” 

Shurwayne believes the events happening at Carnival should embody the island’s underlying energy and attributes. “When they come here for Carnival, what they experience should make them want to return even outside of the Carnival season,” he said. 

Tobago Love The Xperience takes place at the Signal Hill Secondary School from 6pm on Thursday. “We want our people to fall in love with our island too. It’s important for us to love where we come from,” said the entertainer. “This event is about heritage and culture. It’s about the history of Tobago. When people enter the venue they will see and feel exactly what a Tobago Harvest is like even as we fete and celebrate the Carnival season,” he said. 

An artiste, promoter and ambassador, Shurwayne Winchester’s undying commitment to preserving what’s good about his nation, is commendable. He was one of the artistes who performed most recently at the funeral service held for the late, great Calypso King of the World, The Mighty Sparrow. “We have so much to offer the world and there are men and women who showed us how to do it with class and dignity. They took what we have and shared it well with the rest of the world. Men like Sparrow and Aunty Rose represented in a particular way for T&T and I just think it’s a fundamental part of being a patriot – someone who puts country before anything else.”