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Indie Valley was a showcase of original music by Trinidadian indie rock bands The Narrows, Sint James and the featured act of the night, Viren Neel.
The Caribbean is known for reggae, calypso and soca music, just to name a few of the staple genres. To a lesser but still powerful extent, heavy metal and hard rock music also pervade the Caribbean and there are concerts and festivals that support these genres so they can thrive. However, indie music is on the come-up in the region and I believe Indie Valley did well to solidify the genre’s appeal and reach, even just in Trinidad for now.
According to Sabo Camacho – one of the main contributors to Indie Valley as well as multi instrumentalist and vocalist of The Narrows band,
Indie Valley was born out of the need to provide more diverse spaces for alternative bands to perform and patrons to experience live music.
The members of The Narrows, Sint James and Viren Neel felt like the local music industry was not recognizing the talent within it, so they carved out a space of their own. The Indie Valley model takes inspiration from events on the island like Sunsetters, SOTU and Mix Tings – events that are alternate to the typical offerings one will find in Trinidad and that are known to be well organized and executed.
Venue
The air of togetherness was as tangible as the lush green surroundings. Patrons were encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets to lay on, and coolers of drinks, as alcohol was not on sale.
There were a number of artisans providing products and services for every taste during the event. From precious stones to popsicles, art prints and more, the artisan section was a treat to walk through, see some familiar faces and learn about local artisans I hadn’t known before.
Notably, there was live tattooing by Chloe Cadet, taking place where she offered a variety of custom flash tattoos to choose from and get tattooed on the spot!
The food lines were quite long and the vendors seemed overwhelmed with the volume of orders. However, this did not take away from the overall experience of the night.
Restoring faith in humanity, there was a “Connect” space, powered by Keep Hope Alive and Dragonfly as a means for strangers to meet, sit on blankets on the lawn and have meaningful conversations in a safe space prompted by the Keep Hope Alive game developed by Micah Jodhan.
This was great for meeting new people and networking.
Technical
I must be honest and say that I did not expect the show quality that we received. The sound was well mixed for the outdoor space, being bright with great instrument and vocal clarity. I was most impressed by the use of projection mapping, done by North Eleven, that wrapped the stage proscenium.
I’ve always found that projection mapping does wonders to enhance the overall experience of events and installations. I would definitely like to see this used more in the country and region.
The bands at Indie Valley
They set the tone and the high bar for the night with their gorgeous three part harmonies by the band’s vocalists Rosa, Sabo and Rae, and their timeless sound reminiscent of The Beatles. Rae also put down some outstanding gritty vocals that cut through the sound like butter. Each of The Narrows band members swapped instruments regularly swinging between bass, guitar and piano, including drummer, Cubby taking his turn on the keys.
The Narrows also debuted their song “Your Nothing” never before played live.
Performing as a three piece band, the reimagined music still managed to contain their typical electrifying riffs by guitarist Dimitri and the band’s hitting instrumental breakdowns. Bassist Evvi is a super groove queen while drummer Mica always manages to keep things percussively interesting.
His music has a sweet and psychedelic 60s and 70s style with a captivating and nostalgic vocal performance. I’d not seen him live before and was thoroughly impressed. I found the songwriting and storytelling to be captivating and I believe that his fans did too, as hoards of people flocked to the front of the stage to sing and dance and enjoy Viren Neel’s music.
Bassist for the band, Aaron Lowchewtung added the perfect bassline to every song in a way that did not seem humanly possible but, alas, happened. Viren also revealed that this was the first time not only performing with a live band but also with his brother, Ved, on keys.
Indie Valley, hosted by Erik Barcant, ended with some good old fashioned “liming” (Trinidadian slang for “hanging out”) and dance music sets by DJ Joming and Karrilee Fifi – who was also praised for her contributions to the success of Indie Valley.
The Narrows, Sint James and featured act Viren Neel offered exceptional indie music of substance and quality where each band’s distinct sound lent to the event’s atmosphere.
I have no doubt that Indie Valley has the potential to be a cornerstone festival in the Caribbean musicscape, leading the way for the alternative and indie community for time to come.
Keep up with the bands and artisans from Indie Valley: Caribbean Indie Music Festival.
Click here (IG) and here (FB) to follow and stay updated with Indie Valley. You can also find all the night’s artisans on the Indie Valley pages.
Connect with the Indie Valley bands below:
The Narrows, Sint James, Viren Neel
Megan hails from the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. She is a musician, singer/songwriter with a vast technical theatre background and can be called a rockstar of the creative world. Boasting a holistic understanding of multiple Creative Arts spanning a roughly 16 year career, while being an activist who is passionate about the empowerment of girls, womexn and the LGBTQ+ community, Megan exists at the intersection of the Creative and Cultural Industries and social change. She considers herself a citizen of the planet, having traveled considerably during her career, and is energized by her chosen family and professional networks that span the globe. Megan holds a Certificate in Digital Media Studies with a focus in Music Technology, BFA in Performing Arts with a focus in Theater Design and Production, a Master in Arts and Culture Management (hons) and has a vocation for coaching creatives. Megan also loves writing music, gigging, connecting with people of all cultures and prioritizes having the ocean waves underscore her daily life.
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