Thornton Heath Festival 2015 was a huge success because of a mixture of brilliant music, colour, dance – and not least our children says Festival MC, Callton Young OBE.
National soca star, Triniboi Joocie, got Thornton Heath on its feet with a breathtaking performance that epitomised carnival. He first sang Beautiful, Go Down, Mawd and then Las Wuk.
Thornton Heath heard Soca at its very best!
It witnessed a first class performance, from a first class artist.
If any revellers had not heard of Triniboi Joocie before, they had now!! The crowd’s response was unequivocal! It called loudly and in unison for ‘more, more more!’
So they got more, until the Festival had to close – with Triniboi Joocie held to a promise by the throng to return to Thornton Heath next year with more of his Soca genius!
Triniboi Joocie turns on his Soca geniusEarlier in the day Flagz Mas Band brought an awesome display of colour to the High Street in the form of resplendent hand-made carnival costumes. They performed solo, joined in the Carnival Parade and supported Triniboi Joocie in his stage performance too. It must be said, a great deal of the day’s success can be shared with them. So a big shout goes out to Eon at Flagz Mas Band.
Flagz Mas Band dancer!
Flagz Mas Band in full swing, led by Eon
Scariofunk Collective gave an amazing display of street dance with an outstanding performance of choreographed dance moves.
The Collective is a Community Interest Group formed to bring diverse communities together through the medium of dance. It is pretty unique. It turns out quality dancers and performances, as ably demonstrated at the Festival!
Scariofunk Collective in full street dance flow
Stunning reggae performances were provided by Kimberley SK and Suzie Jay. Kimberley SK, captivated the crowd and then reeled it in!! She held it in the palm of her hand for almost half an hour with a truly brilliant performance from her growing repertoire of songs!!
Kimberley SK aka ‘Special K’
Further variety came in the form of Felicity Triner and the Tamil Cultural Dancers. Thanus of the Tamil Cultural Dancers danced a Bharathanatya piece portraying the beauty of a peacock. This bird is used as Lord Muruga’s vehicle which is why she says ‘it is important to acknowledge it as well as the Hindu Deities’.
Thanus portraying the beauty of a peacock
Suruthi Shasheetharan, also of the Tamil Cultural Dancers, danced a semi classical Bharathanatya piece dedicated to Lord Krishna. Although a fusion piece, it was choreographed to show the personalities of Lord Krishna.
Suruthi strikes a dance pose
Suruthi wants to change the World to make it a better place!
She has signed up to be a Youth Ambassador for the Global Volunteer Network.
If you want to help Suruthi fulfill her goal, take a look at her Youth Ambassador Page and take it from there. https://www.gvnfundraising.org/fundraise?fcid=415108
Newcomers to the Festival – Yohanah Abrahams, King Arthur, and Shanai Williams accompanied by Suzanne Jellow and Ben – went down a storm too.
Then there was Benjamin Brown who auditioned for The Voice UK and who came to the Festival to share his exceptional vocal talents. A shout of thanks goes out to Ben!!
Thunderous Japanese Taiko drums were played by Tamashii School of Taiko Do. While steel drums were play by the Endurance Steel Orchestra which brought a real carnival atmosphere to the Festival.
Hipsinc, a spectacular belly dancing troupe, showed why they are regulars at the Thornton Heath Festival and always among the crowd’s favorites!! Chantel paired up with one other dancer this year and put on a dazzling display of gyrations that left even the best dancers thinking about having lessons!
Hipsinc show belly dancing at its best!
And then there was Slav-Ya-Nee, a Slavic folk group in full ethnic dress – and Dillon Wyte, who revellers will all remember from last year’s Festival, playing some sizzling guitar rifts.
Slav-Ya-Nee performing in Slavic dress
Locally designed processional pieces were prominent again in our Carnival Parade and, not least, local pipe bands. This year’s theme was peacocks. Local artist, Karen Barnett, should take a bow for delivering yet another spectacular display for us all.
However, I have to say that the Festival’s surprise stars were Thornton Heath’s children! They gave unrehearsed mass dances on stage to songs like Watch me Whip, Watch me Nae Nae!
Seeing is believing!!! So my biggest thanks of all go to them! Well done kids!!!
Thornton Heath’s children lead the way!
About 6,000 people attended the Festival, their day made all the more enjoyable because of the glorious weather.
The children stole the show!
The feedback on Facebook and elsewhere has been amazing! Everyone is saying it is ‘the best of the Festivals so far!’ I agree though I might be biased!
Credit goes to all the Festival organisers in particular Tony Rowland (Chairman), Debbie Lehane, Councillor Pat Clouder, Hon. Alderman Adrian Dennis, Karen Barnett, Andrea Cornwall, Agnes Forbes and Everton Brown.
Thanks go also also to DJ Cassy M for manning the set and to Steve Reed OBE MP for doing the Festival’s Prize Draw!
Check out Thornton Heath Festival 2015’s Facebook page for photos of the event!
Please send us your photos of the Festival too so we came add them to our fascinating pictorial record!!
See you next year at Thornton Heath Festival 2016.