OCPA Calypso Tent Music Series starts June 13th!

Toronto, ON, Canada: The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) presents its annual “Calypso Tent Music Series” from Friday, June 13th through to Sunday July 13th, 2008 in advance of the Scotiabank Caribana™ Festival which starts July 15th – August 3rd, 2008.

This is an exciting annual music series showcasing the best Calypso and Soca performers in Canada. It runs for three nights (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) at various venues in Toronto. Each night features a different calypso tent performing original Calypso and Soca music in its best storytelling tradition: social and political commentary, humour, and wit.

KULTURE CALYPSO TENT
Dates:                Fridays – June 13th, June 20th, June 27th, July 4th & July 11th
Venue:               Cutty’s Hideaway – 538 Danforth Avenue, Downtown Toronto
Showtime:          8pm
Performers:        Black I, Mighty Sandy, Calypso Cowboy, Paycheck, King Smokey,
                          Tyma, Lady Lydz and other guest performers
House Band:        Interphaze Band
Info/Tickets:       Roger Clarke at 416-409-6514

THE PROFESSIONALS
Date:                     Saturdays – June 14th, June 21st, June 28th, July 5th & July 12th
Venue:               United Steelworkers Union Hall – 25 Cecil Street, Downtown Toronto
Showtime:          8pm
Performers:       Beginner, Macomere Fifi, Dick Lochan, Naki, Drew Gonzalves,
                         Pan Man Pat, Jayson, Pensioner, Lady Pearl, Valentino King (Aruba)
                         and other guest performers
House Band:       Toronto Soca Bunch
Info/Tickets:      Judith Thompson at 416-769-7888

KAISO FORUM
Date/Time:        Sunday, June 15th at 3pm       
Venue:              De Great Iron Pot - 55 Nugget Ave, Scarborough

                        Sunday, June 22nd at 3pm       
                        Scarlet Ibis Caribbean Restaurant - 1880 O’Conner Drive, Scarborough

                        Saturday, June 28th at 8pm       
                        Sydney’s Restaurant & Lounge - 5120 Dixie Road, Mississauga

                        Saturday, July 5th at 8pm           
                        De Great Iron Pot - 55 Nugget Ave, Scarborough

                        Sunday, July 13th at 3pm        
                        Scarlet Ibis Caribbean Restaurant - 1880 O’Conner Drive, Scarborough

Performers:       De Carra, Sailor, Dynasty, Sparkles, Connector, Spivey (Montreal),
                         King Cosmos, Structure (2007 OCPA Calypso Monarch), Lady Scorpio,
                         Susan G, Laura, Web, Love Man Kent (from Montreal), Yellow,
                         Red Man and other guest performers.
House Band:      Neu Jenerashun
Info/Tickets:     Norma Coar at 905-794-0637 or Bryan Thornhill at 905-883-6224

The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) is a registered not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1981 by a group of individuals who saw the need for an umbrella group to guide the growth and development of the calypso in Toronto and Canada. Its mandate – as set out in its Constitution and Bylaws – is to promote the calypso art form in all its diversity: storytelling, social and political commentary, and comedy in song; to create opportunities to compose, perform and record calypso; and to facilitate calypso music’s growth and development in general. Contact OCPA directly at ocpa2007@gmail.com.

OCPA is a stakeholder of the Scotiabank Caribana™ Festival which is managed by The Festival Management Committee (FMC). For more information about this year’s Scotiabank Caribana™ Festival 2008, check its website at www.caribanafestival.com.