With performances from Geno D, Ancient Man, Veronica Bishop, Anderson da Artist, Ira Storr and the Spank band, Lassie Doh and the Boys and Cooling Waters, the Cat Island Rake 'n' Scrape Festival will be a party you won't soon forget.
And Ancient Man, who has performed at the festival numerous times, promises an exciting show for the May 31-June 2 event as he will sing tributes to Tony McKay and other Bahamian rake 'n' scrape legends. And this will be Ancient Man's return to the festival as he hasn't performed in Cat Island in two years.
At previous rake 'n' scrape festivals, he performed to a packed house and expects no different at the Arthur's Town event.
"The crowd can look forward to an exciting performance," he said about what will be one of the hottest tickets around town, and a long weekend getaway of summer fun.
The festival is the signature event for Cat Island. It draws droves of people and showcases the rhythmic vibe of the island's premier rake 'n' scrape music. It will also feature a gospel concert, a battle of the rake 'n' scrape bands, quadrille dancing, a children's corner with games and a fishermen and farmers market.
The gospel concert will jump start the activities at 8 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday a good old down-home breakfast at the festival grounds will get the festivities started. Throughout the day, the best in authentic Bahamian arts and crafts will be on sale. Patrons will also enjoy skits and traditional storytelling by Helen Thurston and Evelyn Dean. In the evenings visitors can expect to be on their feet all night dancing to the sounds of popular rake 'n' scrape bands that bring the house down every year.
Another highlight will of course be the food, with traditional Bahamian delights on sale during the festival.
The event also encourages the education of young Bahamians about their heritage.
"We want to teach the young children some of the Bahamian history as it pertains to games and activities," said Allworth Rolle, a festival committee member. "We will bring out some of the fun of yesteryear with games that families used to play together... ring play, the carrying of the firewood, skipping rope and the jumping dance. We try to teach the youngsters the culture that was passed onto us from our parents, and inculcate that along with the rake 'n' scrape to teach them the various dances like heel and toe that go with the music," he said.
"A new highlight to this year's festival will be the civic environmental group, the Cat Island Stewardship and Recycling Club. Its members will be at the festival collecting plastic, aluminum and glass to be recycled. They will also be handing out information to get the public to generate more interest in recycling and the reduction of use of wasteful products," said Sooner Halverson, a club member.
Each year the festival attracts a large number of people to celebrate a piece of Bahamian culture, and this year will be no different.
Cat Island Rake 'n' Scrape Festival
When: Thursday, May 31 to Saturday, June 2
Where: Arthur's Town, Cat Island
Time: 8 p.m. - until
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