Calypso tent
Encyclopedia
Calypso tents are venues in which calypsonian
s perform during the Carnival
season. They usually are cinema halls
, community centers, or other indoor buildings which have seating and stage arrangements to host the entertainers, guests and patrons; or outdoor shows which are held in parks or, more famously, in the Queen's Park Savannah
. Some of these tents are held at many venues, called Roving Caravans or Roving Tents.
Such venues are still called "tents" because calypsonians all used to sing on stages which were literally covered by a tent
. The first such tent was organised by a calypsonian whose sobriquet
was Railway Douglas. As time went along, buildings and other empty spaces that were properly arranged were also used, but the name stuck.
Although traditional calypso has lost ground to soca
and party music, the Tents remain popular venues and still serve as a launch pad for many young artists.
Calypsonian
A calypsonian , originally known as the chantwell is a musician, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition...
s perform during the Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
season. They usually are cinema halls
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, community centers, or other indoor buildings which have seating and stage arrangements to host the entertainers, guests and patrons; or outdoor shows which are held in parks or, more famously, in the Queen's Park Savannah
Queen's Park Savannah
Port of Spain's largest open space—and the world's largest traffic roundabout—is the Queen's Park Savannah, known colloquially simply as "the Savannah". It occupies about of level land, and the distance around the perimeter is about 2.2 mi...
. Some of these tents are held at many venues, called Roving Caravans or Roving Tents.
Such venues are still called "tents" because calypsonians all used to sing on stages which were literally covered by a tent
Tent
A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
. The first such tent was organised by a calypsonian whose sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
was Railway Douglas. As time went along, buildings and other empty spaces that were properly arranged were also used, but the name stuck.
Although traditional calypso has lost ground to soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
and party music, the Tents remain popular venues and still serve as a launch pad for many young artists.