Kobo Town
Kobo Town, founded in 2004, blends Canadian and Caribbean cultures through the contemporary reimagining of calypso music. Founder, Drew Gonsalves, grew up in Trinidad and moved to Ottawa when he was 13 with his Québécois mother. Caught between two worlds, Gonsalves turned to music and poetry, eventually creating Kobo Town with fellow Trini expats and members from his former band, Outcry.
Kobo Town is named after a neighbourhood in Port-of-Spain, the capital of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the birthplace of calypso music. Kobo Town is inspired primarily by calypso, and its ability to combine elements of storytelling with up-beat, tropical tunes. Kobo Town released their first album Independence in 2007 followed by Jumbie in the Jukebox in 2013. Jumbie in the Jukebox, predominantly recorded in Belize, was nominated for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize recognizing the year’s best Canadian album
Jumbie is a type of spirit (good or evil) told in some Caribbean folklore to frighten children to keep out of harm—our closest equivalent would be the boogie man. The album envisions a jukebox inhabited by a jumbie projecting sounds inspired by West -Indian music. Kobo Town tells a tale in every song and the more you listen, the deeper the message integrates. Kobo Town is a band you can bring anyone and everyone to see.
Audio
Shows
$22.95 - $27.50 advance Ticket Info Tickets At: Hoyne Brewing Company, online @ ticketweb.ca
We've had a couple of months to rest and regroup so we can continue to bring you more great shows before we wrap up the rest of the year.
And what better way to kick off our fall season with the return of Toronto's KOBO TOWN with guests Hot Pot who are coming to ENCORE on Wednesday, September 30th?
Kobo Town is one of Canada's best kept musical treasures and they are loved by fans around the world. Led by Drew Gonsalves who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, Kobo Town has dedicated their careers to keeping calypso music alive and evolving. They do so by blending irresistible melodies and rhythms that are familiar to lovers of both traditional and contemporary Caribbean styles of music such as dancehall, reggae, ska and other adjacent styles that keep audiences dancing non-stop!
It's no surprise that they were Calypso Rose's main backing band for her largest European tours.
Kobo Town whose careers span over two decades are longtime friends of the Victoria Ska & Reggae Society and have played on the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival and various special events several times over 15 years.
At their show on Wednesday, September 30th we look forward to celebrating selections from their most recent album Carnival of Ghosts and enjoying some other Kobo Town classics throughout the night.
Opening the evening before Kobo Town will be Victoria's Hot Pot who are making their first appearance with us in over a year. Get ready for a generous helping of hip hop, funk and soul delivered in a way that will have you dancing and sometimes laughing at the same time.
Tickets on sale August 28th at 10am on Ticketweb.ca Admission to 19yrs+ in advance.