PoeTree Barbados Hosts Free Pop-Up Event Showcasing Island's Rising Poetic Talents | Abbeville Restaurant Review

PoeTree Barbados hosted a captivating free pop-up event on Thursday at the historic Abbeville Restaurant and Bar, bringing together some of the island’s most talented poets, performers, and musicians for an evening of artistic brilliance.

The event, which was attended by more than 120 poetry lovers and cultural enthusiasts, was a testament to the vibrant and ever-growing spoken word scene in Barbados.

Among the evening’s highlight performances was StonedwithCupid, who dazzled the crowd with his moving pieces Sweet Girl Your Boyfriend is a Clown and Lost in Love. His evocative storytelling drew both laughter and introspection from the audience.

Negus Knots followed with a powerful rendition of I Break, delivering his poignant words, which had members of the audience nodding their head in agreement as he highlighted various social ills in society.

Deo The Poet impressed with an array of poems, including IG Model, which explored the complexities of female popularity on social media, and I Am, which is a powerful poem that explores race and identity. However, it was his performance of his viral poem I’m an Addict that made the crowd roar as they laughed at his humorous poem, which recounted his experience with an older woman.

PoeTree Barbados Buss Ah Rhyme Champion, Malachi Hope stunned with his poems The Ancestors Reside and There Was a Boy showcasing a mature reflection on history and identity beyond his years.

The night continued with the multifaceted Ashley Serieux, who captivated the audience with her performance of Bajan Customer Service. The audience roared in laughter as she recounted a myriad of humorous experiences that she has had working in the retail sector. However, it was her second item, Villain, that had the audience mesmerised as she gave an emotive performance of the now viral poem, which details how she became a villain after receiving no love from those she loved the most.

Sam Sounds, who is fresh off his performance at the Reparations Now concert, where he performed with the likes of Sizzla Kolonji, took the stage with energetic renditions of Emergency and Paradigm Shift, while Iyah Badd who is a new performer on PoeTree Barbados roster performed his poem What Poetry Means to Me as well as his newly released song Find My Way.

One of the evening’s standout moments came from Rae, who performed his poem Enigma and gave the audience a sneak peek of his upcoming performance for the Spirit of The Nation Parish Talent Finals on November 16.

Adding a musical touch to the evening, Zoe Sunshine had the crowd singing along as she delivered a beautiful cover of Estelle’s American Boy, showcasing her vocal range and charm.

The evening was further enriched by performances from Cher Antoinette, whose poem Delectable left the audience in awe, and V Speaks.

The host of the evening, La Shawna Griffith, also took to the stage to perform her thought-provoking piece, Society Likes to Police Women, which touched on the challenges faced by women in modern society.

This pop-up event at Abbeville Bar and Restaurant in collaboration with Bar Cutters was a true celebration of local talent and culture, further cementing PoeTree Barbados’ reputation as a leading platform for spoken word and artistic expression in Barbados. (PR)