Red Boat Experience

Continuing their central mission to serve as a platform for Caymanian creatives, CNCF are hosting a weekend of Caymanian music at the Harquail Theatre across 18-19 November. The two concerts seek to pay homage to Cayman’s rich cultural history, through musical performance.

On Saturday 18 November, Stuart Wilson will be joined by several of the island’s leading musicians for his concert ‘Oh Cayman Islands’. The brainchild of Wilson, the musical concert celebrates the different facets of Cayman’s history and traditions through original songwriting. Patrons will be able to enjoy music from a wide variety of genres by Wilson, Chris Sanchez, Beneil Miller, Madam Nirosa, Georgie Duarte, and James Geary.

After a successful launch performance at the Harquail Theatre in April of this year, the Red Boat Experience returns the following evening, 19 November, for an encore event. Created by multidisciplinary artist and musician Randy Chollette, with support from CNCF’s Grants for the Arts programme, the Red Boat Experience is dedicated to highlighting and celebrating Caymanian drumming traditions whilst providing musicians with a foundation in which to incorporate Cayman’s heritage and traditions into their work. All pieces performed at these ‘gatherings’ are entirely improvisational and feature an array of artists. For iteration 17 local creatives with join Chollette on stage including: Eden Hurlston, Glen Scott, Michael Wilks, Nasaria Suckoo Chollette, Heather Lopez, Freya Jane, Patrick Lopez, Matrix the Rapper, Beneil Miller, Yohann S. Fitzgerald, Melisha McField of Dream Chasers Cayman, Michael Mothen, Max Kazakov, Lorna Reid, Nathan Barnett, Bill McLaughlin, Brian Watler, and Humberto Scanio.

Says CNCF CEO Natalie Urquhart, “We are excited to welcome so many talented musicians and creatives to the Harquail stage for weekend of Caymanian music that celebrates past and present. These production partnerships are part of CNCF’s expanded commitment to providing both projects grants and performance opportunities for the creative sector, and we look forward to supporting more such events in the future.

Oh Cayman Islands will take place Saturday, 18 November from 6-8pm, and the Red Boat Experience will show the following day from 4-6pm. The two concerts are made possible through CNCF’s recently expanded Grants for the Arts programme, and CNCF’s new Production Partnership Grant, funded in 2023 by Chairperson Susan A Olde, OBE.

Tickets for both concerts are available for purchase at TicketsPlus.ky, as well as in person at the CNCF offices at 17 Harquail Drive. In addition, Red Boat Experience tickets are also available at the Body Works Wholistic Wellness Centre in Queen’s Court or via direct message to Red Boat Experience co-organiser Nasaria Suckoo Chollette on Instagram, who can be reached @suckoochollette.

For more information about these events or CNCF programmes and event calendar, visit www.artscayman.org, follow @caymanculture or contact [email protected] or 949-5477.