The thrills and spills of Cup Match

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27: It’s that time of year again when we celebrate emancipation, spend precious time with family and friends, wear our colours with pride and get in the party mood.

Cup Match is here and there are a host of all different events happening all around the island. 

The Bermuda Sun’s Sarah Lagan rounds up the fun and games surrounding this year’s Cup Match.

Wednesday, July 27

What: Beach Fest – Emancipation Celebration
Where: Horseshoe Bay
Time: From 5pm to 2am
Tickets: Available on the gate from www.premiertickets.com for $30.
The sixth annual BeachFest, for the first time, takes place over two days extending what was already the biggest beach bashment on the island. Wednesday is a paid event — it’s the first time organizers The Chewstick Foundation have charged an entrance fee but they have made it well worth your while. International reggae “singjay” Mr Vegas, born Clifford Smith, will headline the event. There will also be music from local artists and musicians, a midnight emancipation celebration and a Caribbean style J’Ouvert body painting session. Day one is a bar-only event.

What: No Boundaries
Where: Barr’s Bay Park
Time: 6pm to 2am
Tickets: Available for $40 from Docksiders.
Docksiders is throwing it’s first ever full blown concert and there will be music for all tastes. Bermuda’s own Broadway star Rebecca Faulkenberry is the special guest. She will share the stage with Uzimon and his NYC band, The Kennel Boys, The Conscious Band and newly formed band Duty Free.
The party is also being billed as Uzimon’s official album release party. Docksiders owner Reed Young told the Bermuda Sun: “We want to emphasise that this is a concert for everybody, young, old, locals, expats. It is our first attempt at this type of thing but if it goes well we will endeavour to make it a regular event.”

Thursday, July 28

What: Beach Fest – Day two
Where: Horseshoe Bay
Time: From 11am to 2am
Tickets: Free event
Day two of BeachFest is full of the usual free family fun and games BeachFest is famous for. There will be a soccer and volleyball tournament and the new addition of an American football tournament. Sign-up takes place at 11am. There will be tug-o-war, a skate ramp and an attempt at the planking world record. Throughout the day there will be live music and DJs performing.

Friday, July 29

What: Cup Match Fever
Where: Fort St Catherine
Time: 8pm to 3am
Tickets: $35 for regular tickets and $85 for the Fever Lounge. Available from Kit n Caboodle, Jazzy Boutique, the event DJs or by calling 705-2109 or 536-1999 or 536-6342.
Celebrity Bad Girl Natalie Nunn makes a return to Bermuda to host the party along with special celebrity guests. Chinese Assassin and Champion squad from Miami will spin tunes along with a slew of local DJs.
Organizer Rowan Ramotar said: “These guys will bring a nice Caribbean and urban pop flavour to Bermuda.”
The event features top Bermuda  DJs in old and new soca, reggae, R&B, hip hop, rap and top 40. The event is being put on by the “Fantastic Five” which is made up of Rowan Ramotar — Wild Apache Promotions, Janson Cross —VIP promotions, Jason Darrell — DJ I-Mega, Cushi Ming and Gussie Godwin — Smooth Innovations.

What: Soca v Reggae
Where:  Tiger Bay, St George’s
Time: 8:30pm
Tickets: $50 in advance from Washington Mall
The question at this party is ‘are you batting for reggae or soca?’
Featured performers include Problem Child and Skinny Fabulous for the soca side and for the reggae side, performers are Ding Dong and Bermuda’s own C’Daynger.
There will also be special performances by Tiny T, Live Wire and Lamont Robinson.
DJs for the night will be Tony Tempo, Oxmighty Andrew, Poison Dart and YGS. Organizers say they have endorsements from both St George’s Cricket Club and Somerset Cricket Club that this is the official Cup Match after party so revellers are encouraged to come wearing their colours.

Sunday, July 31

What: Boasty BeachFest Bashment Boat
Where: The Uber Vida departs from Albuoy’s Point
Time: Meet on the dock at 10am and party until 6pm
Tickets: Tickets are $150 and are available by emailing [email protected] or by calling 292-2439 or 535-2575.
In another first for the Chewstick crew, they have hired out party boat the Uber Vida to throw a Non-Mariners party raft up. 
There will be music from Vybez Alliance, Dirkistan Freedom Fighters, Deni Ocean, and live performance. Ticket price includes food, drinks and entertainment.

What: Non-Mariners’ Race
Where: Mangrove Bay, Sandy’s Boat Club, Somerset
Time: From 10am
The wackiest non-race on the ocean accompanied by the biggest raft up.