Ronnie Butler takes to the stage.

Published On:Wednesday, June 09, 2010

By MEGAN REYNOLDS

Tribune Staff Reporter

mreynolds@tribunemedia.net

A CELEBRATION of Bahamian culture in the hidden gem of Arthur's Town, Cat Island, delighted hundreds who flocked to the annual Rake'n'Scrape festival this weekend.

Local legend Ronnie Butler, Cat Island natives the Lassie Doe Boys and lyrical whizz KB were among the performers who kept the rhythms pumping for hours on end during the four night festival.

Gospel singers warmed up festivities by opening the festival on Thursday and then closed the event on Sunday night, while Friday night was dominated by Cat Island's own Lassie Doe Boys and Saturday saw the big stars take to the stage.

First stepped up KB backed by the Lassie Doe Boys band, even singing a rendition of 'Just Cause She's Fat' on request before stepping aside for the 72-year-old godfather of Bahamian music Ronnie Butler who moved the crowd well into the early hours.

Those who were not moved to the dance floor by Mr Butler's well-known goombay rhythms including 'Burma Road' and 'Age Ain't Nothing But A Number', or the rapping of the saw and shaking of rattles, tapped their feet from the comfort of chairs and tables arranged in the open air arena to accommodate a crowd and fan base ranging from children to the elderly.

Meanwhile revelers intoxicated by the music - or gin and coconut water - showed no sign of backing down as they shaked and wined without interruption as they mingled and made friends plastered with smiles widening from ear to ear.

Enthusiasm for the music so traditional to Cat Island and the Bahamas even took some dancers on stage, either to show off their moves or get instruction from the experts.

And when they tired from all the activity they could browse stalls lining the multi-coloured compound where vendors sold local strawwork, bush medicine, jewelry and souvenirs.

Or they could stop to taste out-of-this-world fish burgers, falling-off-the-bone barbecued ribs, melt-in-your-mouth peas and rice, crispy conch fritters at a bargain price, or sweet breads laced with pineapple and coconut.

All elements of the event proved the true festival spirit so rarely found in a consumer-driven commercialised western world is alive and well in Arthur's Town, Cat Island.

Here the essence of Bahamian culture at its best is shared and celebrated by artists and spectators; be they die hard Rake'n'Scrape fans or first-time visitors who are instilled with a newfound love of traditional Bahamian music between the four walls of the festival compound.

And there is no better place to relax after a long night of music and dancing than the powder soft pink and white sand beaches fringing an expanse of mesmerising turquoise sea on beautiful Cat Island, one of the country's last remaining untouched gems.

A weekend in such a paradise proves the value of travelling to the Family Islands for the summer festivals, to embrace and support a thriving Bahamian culture and enjoy its simple and sublime pleasures.

Therefore it was unfortunate several festival-goers travelling from Nassau and the Family Islands were delayed for more than five hours on Bahamasair's Friday morning flight, and then held up by Cat Island Air who took only a fraction of their passengers to Nassau six hours behind schedule without a word of apology on Sunday, while the majority were left stranded in Cat Island overnight.

Their inconvenience only highlighted the promptness and pleasant customer service offered by SkyBahamas which scheduled additional flights for the event and saw home many happy Rake'n'Scrape revelers.