THE 2015 Buxton/Foulis Mash Tramp and Soca Bacchanal generated the expected vibe and festivity that is a customary feature, as it was expected to do.The crowds turned up in brilliant costumes last weekend, tramping through the streets in wild jubilation. The music boomed from atop several trucks as the large crowds tramped from the Plaisance Market Square to Melanie Damishana Market, thence to the Buxton Centre Ground.

In a brief interview with Promoter Ean ‘Father Moey’ Havercone, this publication was informed that the promoters suffered a huge loss because large crowds joined the costumed groups and stormed their way into the venue.

“It’s a custom each year to allow the costumed revellers to enter the venue free of cost. But the problem we are facing is that large crowds wait along the roadside and join the revelers, and would later force their way into the venue without paying a dime,” he claimed.

“Now, with overseas and local artistes, stereo sounds to pay plus other promotional expenses, we suffered a great loss. At the moment we are planning to make it a ‘free event’ next year, and modifications will probably have to be made to the artiste line-up,” he said.

Aside from this, Havercone said his promotional team was “faced with the issue of many sponsors who backed out at the last moment, even though they had assured they would have supported the event. As a result of this, we were forced to come up with additional financing to make the event possible.”

Sponsorship, he stressed, is vital in the hosting of such mega-events.
Fans were treated to performances by international act ‘Nadia Batson’, famous for her scorching hits like ‘Shiver’, ‘Manager’, and so many more. She was followed by acts like Lead Pipe and Saddis, with their mega hit, ‘Bend Up’.

On the local side of things, fans received a scalding serving of hits from Buxton’s own ‘Zagga B’, and of course the much celebrated Super Ray and Super Cat One Man Bands.
Sadly, the 2015 Carib Soca Monarch, Jumo Primo, did not get to perform.

(By Alex Wayne)