Atlanta Carnival 2015

Atlanta Carnival 2015

Well it’s that time of year again, sweet sweet Carnival. Memorial weekend, a time of year I personally look forward to more so now than in the past couple years. A Caribbean carnival right in my adopted city and despite the controversy and the fact that technically “two carnivals” exist

I dunno know de ras why two carnivals exist or do I really want to know. Just seems that some island people can’t seem to get their shit together, unite and f*ckin’ act right.

The carnival definitely is not as big as a NYC labor day parade, Toronto Caribana (or whatever it’s called now) or Miami but I could only imagine how confusing it must be for visitors coming from out-of-town, looking for one carnival then going to the “other one” instead. I’ve even heard people express so much disgust they would rather drive to Orlando for their Carnival, the same weekend. Even this year one of the bands that I have admired for years MaddColors seem to be in the “other carnival” guess they have their reasons. But anyway watching them build a brand and grow and grow to me was cool as hell, while watching other bands do utter bullshit but anyway, de less said about that de better.

Now last year, I was a little disappointed, ok I was a lot disappointed with the whole Atlanta Carnival vibe to say de least. I dunno if it was the fact I was running on three hours sleep or I got to the parade mad late and could not find my band for at least 45 minutes, only to see Atlanta Police doing foolishness, rerouting de bands and barking orders at people. Maybe it was the silliness of the parade route end point, leading to a long ass silent march to the festival village past the magnificent view of the new Stadium construction. Or maybe it was the hollow, empty vibe of the venue. Carnival is sometimes what you make it regardless of how de vibe is around you, if you come out to enjoy yourself on the day, that is exactly what you will do.

Anyway that is the past, 2014 is a long distant memory. Atlanta carnival 2015 is here, the lineup of artist look great, it’s a new venue, the parade route look short and sweet and I am once again jumping…. well more like “chippin down de road” with Bimshire Band. Yah can’t go wrong with veteran artist Edwin Yearwood and the new Soca dynamic duo Lead Pipe and Saddis live on de truck and then some big bad dj spinning tunes. And to top all that off it FREE!! Hobbyclass people, yah can’t beat that attal attal.

Now this week as I prep for the day, I notice all of a sudden while getting my bajan paraphernalia together, cus afterall yah must represent yah island and I rep Barbados all day, everyday proudly! But all of a sudden my rassgate bajan flag dog tags missing, last place I remember having them on was in Hilton Head SC in summer 2014, typical and despite digging up de house the things gone, guess it would be pointless calling de hotel lost and found at this stage.

Also missing a Barbados flag bandana and my bajan color Adidas have an ignorant scuff mark on de front. But despite all this please believe I picking up my official Bimshire Band member t-shirt Friday coming, figuring out where de ass to park, link de crew and make sure I do some stretches just in case a big boxie gal decide to put it in my lap and take me to low-town and I can’t be shamed by struggling to get back up. Long story short I ready!!