LOCAL carnival bands are beginning to put arrangements in place for their various portrayals during the upcoming July festival.
One of them is R3D Rebellion which has revamped its core and embarked on a mission to foster a refreshed approach to delivering the ultimate Saint Lucian Carnival experience, whilst REDefining carnival with innovation, excitement and a focus on euphoric revelry.
On March 17, the Bay Gardens Beach Resort hosted a crowd filled with anticipation at the band’s official Press Launch where a formal announcement was made of the rebranded carnival band, “RED Rebellion,” a subsidiary of RED Unlimited Inc. and unveiling of its theme, “Rise of the Empire”.
The theme was inspired by the Greco-Persian Wars which were a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and Greek city-states. The collision between the fractious political world of the Greeks and the enormous empire of the Persians began when Cyrus the Great conquered the Greek-inhabited region of Ionia. Struggling to rule the independent-minded cities of Ionia, the Persians appointed tyrants to rule each of them. This essentially was the source for the very popular film, “300” and the sequel “Rise of an empire”.
The band will essentially portray the key cities, their way of life and depict armies from this era by highlighting the battles of the Greek city states and Persia. This year the nine sections will be derived from the theme, to include Sparta, Athens, Thebes and Arcadia.
On Saturday next, the empire rises at Gaiety Grounds in Rodney Bay, with renewed energy, revival of the passion and an amalgamation of ideas displayed through costumes designed to dazzle.
Said a band statement: “This untamed movement promises to shatter expectations and redeem that which made it superior. Revellers interested in joining this movement, have an opportunity to secure their spots prior to the launch, through RED LOCKED, by submission of a deposit. This very attractive incentive permits revellers first bids on selection of a section of their choice once the band has launched.”
Additionally, the band has announced plans to host two major events during the carnival season – “Uprising”, the ultimate j’ouvert party and Red Bikini Beach Affair.