By: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Chris Brown, promoter and creative lead behind the BARE brand events, has never been afraid of a challenge or of trying something new, especially when it comes to his events. He goes beyond the normal, pushing the proverbial envelope each idea until the experience feels right. This Tobago Carnival, that drive is taking BARE Beach to Pigeon Point for a party that begins at midnight and ends with the sunrise, from the time the moon rises over the glistening waters at pigeon point beach to the golden rise of the sun.
Brown stated “the move came down to making the best decision for the event and its patrons. “When you’re producing something at this level, sometimes you have to be willing to adjust the original plan rather than force something that isn’t giving you exactly what you want.”
While BARE Beach would normally begin at 9 p.m. on Saturday, this year the start has been pushed to midnight. Brown said the opportunity to use Pigeon Point Beach made it possible to create a stronger overall experience. The change was carefully considered, but once the venue and timing came together, he felt it was the right move for BARE.
Pigeon Point is one of Tobago’s most recognisable beach settings. Brown wants patrons who know it by day to discover a different side of it after dark. Production, entertainment, bars, lighting, branding and content areas will transform the space into what he calls a full BARE experience.
“We’re not simply putting a party on the beach,” he said.
The six-hour journey is part of the attraction. Patrons will arrive to the lights, music and energy of Pigeon Point at night, then feel the atmosphere shift as dawn approaches. “Tobago Carnival doesn’t operate on a normal clock,” Brown joked. He wanted BARE Beach to claim its own space in the weekend rather than feel like another daytime beach party.
For Brown, changing the experience is how the brand grows. Last year was BARE Infinite; this year, BARE is heading to the beach. “One thing I don’t want BARE to become is predictable,” he said. Patrons should recognise the name and the standard, but still wonder what “theme” will the team think of next.
That growth is measured in more than crowd size. Brown said BARE pays attention to what patrons respond to and builds on it through stronger production, partnerships and marketing. He wants returning patrons to see immediately that the experience has moved forward.
This year’s partnerships bring BAEWKND together with SCORCH, Scorch Radio and Umbrella Couture. SCORCH contributes its experience in events and Carnival culture, while Scorch Radio brings personalities, content and a platform to reach patrons. Umbrella Couture adds the fashion and lifestyle element, and BAEWKND brings the BARE concept and production.
“What people wear, especially the ladies, is a big part of the visual identity and experience we’re creating,” Brown said. The collaboration, he added, is more than “four logos on a flyer”: it brings each brand’s strengths into one Tobago Carnival event.
The musical direction follows a rule Brown holds firmly: BARE is a party first, not a concert. DJs, personalities and performers will carry the night through soca, dancehall and Afrobeat’s without breaking its flow. Blaka Dan, College Boy Jesse and Jadel are among the names being worked into the entertainment experience, with additional surprises planned. Even when an artiste touches the stage, Brown wants the party to keep moving.
BAEWKND is also returning to Fog Angels J’Ouvert for a third year with its own VIP section and Sai-Ren costume, designed by Shay Manning of Defestival Concepts, who is part of the BAEWKND brand. Brown said the experience extends beyond the costume to drinks, breakfast, dedicated service, content and the feeling of moving through J’Ouvert with your own crew. Patrons who follow that with BARE Beach can make a full BAEWKND journey of their Tobago Carnival.
The audience for that journey is growing beyond people already on the island. Brown sees visitors from Trinidad and the diaspora arranging flights, accommodation and transport around their Carnival plans. He wants BARE to become one of the events they automatically place on their itinerary.
He also believes Tobago Carnival’s support systems must grow with its events. Earlier coordination among promoters, tourism bodies and other stakeholders, clearer permission processes, better transport planning and stronger destination marketing would help the island reach more visitors. The benefit, he noted, goes beyond a fete ticket to flights, ferries, hotels, food, clothing and other local services.
For now, Brown’s focus is on the mission ahead: turning a beach people know into an experience they have not had before. At BARE Beach, the lights come on at midnight and the sun rises over the golden sands of pigeon point illuminating the blue waters of the bay, where we will all rise with its energy, and sing along to that well known classic phrase from Bunji Garlin’s Differentology: We Ready for the Roaddddd”
