Kobo Town (acoustic / duo)

Drew Gonsalves of Kobo Town brings Trinidad's calypso tradition into the 21st century with his powerful voice and politically charged lyrics. In acoustic duo or stripped-down formats, the essence of Kobo Town's message remains potent—addressing social justice, inequality, and Caribbean identity. Gonsalves, a Canadian of Trinidadian descent, draws from calypso pioneers like The Mighty Sparrow while incorporating folk, reggae, and world music influences. The acoustic configurations allow audiences to experience the storytelling heart of calypso without the full band's brass section. Kobo Town has won multiple awards including the JUNO Award for World Music Album of the Year for 'Independence' (2014). Their music has been featured on NPR and BBC, and they've performed at major festivals worldwide. The duo format showcases Gonsalves' poetic lyricism and guitar work, maintaining the band's commitment to music as social commentary.

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