All set for Lagoon Street Jam

When the clock strikes 8:00 this evening, the Swinging Starz Band will strike, signaling the start of the annual Lagoon Street Jam.

The event which is one of the big events of the carnival season will see the performances of various calypsonians mainly from the Stardom Calypso tent.

Speaking to Dominica News Online on Monday morning, main organizer, Norman Letang, explained that everything is set for tonight’s activity.

“We expect to begin at 8 o’clock sharp and go until midnight,” he explained.

Letang said patrons should expect “up tempo” calypsos from the likes of Chris B, Jaydee, Omi, Walk Sok, Scrunter, Hunter, Checker, Mighty Jack, Sour Sour, Dbs, Jamabee, Shadow Flo, Headline, and Webb.

He added that calypsonians with slower beats such as Lugas and Daddy Chess are also expected to perform.

“We have two people from the other tents, Trendsetter, and Sugar S will also sing and we will have the Pig Tail winner of the Port Authority and Customs calypso competition,” he noted. “We think tonight we are going to have a wonderful time in Lagon.”

In giving a brief history of the event, Letang explained that the Lagon street Jam started way back in the 1980’s.

“That has been going on from the early 80s. It’s a nice thing to do it gets people in the carnival spirit,” he said. “When we started we used to do it, I always had a dream of playing carnival on Piper step in Lagon and I went to Trinidad in 1979 and I saw some block-o-rama, so I said when I go back to Dominica I must organize something like that, so I told these guys about it and we did it.”

The Lagon Street Jam is organized by the Swinging Starz band.

Letang pointed out that although most of the calypsonians come from the Stardom Calypso tent, it is open to any calypsonian who wants to perform.

“We have nothing against anybody else coming to sing but they have to let us know in advance because that spur of the moment thing can be a bit embarrassing,” he said.