Hot Soca on the Hill
By admin | July 21, 2008
THOUSANDS of soca fans trekked to Farley Hill National Park yesterday for the third annual Soca On De Hill.
Dressed in their nippy shorts in hot summer colours, some women almost bared it all.
With just two weeks left before the big jump up on August 4, Barbadians and visitors soaked up the heat and sweet soca music from some of the island’s top artistes and DJs.
With a prompt start at 12 p.m., Jabae opened the show and set the mood for the other calypsonians.
click for photo gallery
Crowd pleaser
Fraud Squad whipped the crowd into frenzy with their popular Pork Mout, causing patrons to jam on the front rails with their waistline shots. The song, which has been causing “the other white meat” to sell like crazy recently, paved the way for bumper guard Stabby.
Dressed in his bright guard suit, Stabby caused pandemonium at the front when he dashed off the stage to “hurt up a bumper”.
The ladies went wild with excitement, some fanning with their flags and rags after Stabby ripped off his shirt to reveal a fine physique.
Soca Junkie Mr Dale delivered his two hits as patrons screamed ‘No’ when he asked “Are you ready to go home?”. He had to leave, however, and headed to the airport to jet off to St Lucia, where he will represent Barbados in the Caribbean Soca Monarch, Competition.
Over in the VIP section, patrons jammed in style, some lounging around on comfy chairs, others drinking “big mout drinks” from the bar. One patron in this section, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he thought you should have been allowed more free drinks. He said the five tickets he was allotted went quite quickly, and after that he still had to pull his pockets and would probably end up spending another $100 before the day ended.
Although there were not many stalls, two proprietors agreed business had been pretty slow and they would have to wait until closing to assess the day’s takings.
Promoter Michael Agard said the size of the crowd had been hard to judge, but he was seeing a lot more visitors than the two previous years.
Agard said the show had been running smoothly and up to 3 p.m. he had received no complaints.
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Shurwayne Winchester & Maxi Priest Link-Up For Crop Over
By admin | July 9, 2008
Barbados’ Crop Over celebrations will this year be the scene of a highly anticipated and much talked about collaboration between two of the Caribbean region’s most distinctive voices.
The track carded to be released tomorrow, Thursday, July 10th, will see soca and reggae meeting in fine style in the prelude to Crop Over as Trinidad and Tobago’s mega-phenomenon, Shurwayne Winchester joins forces with one of Jamaica’s most deservedly celebrated reggae acts, Maxi Priest in a track that’s guaranteed to be a hit across the region and at international carnivals this year and way into 2009.
“Make It Yours,” has been 6 weeks in the making and has transcended borders in that, it has been recorded in three countries, those being Trinidad and Tobago, England and finally, completed on the shores of Barbados, where it will first be exposed to the masses. The sentimentality of its release in Barbados is a significant one as, truth be told, the song was in fact birthed on that island, when both artistes separately heard the track which was produced by De Red Boyz of Barbados. Maxi Priest was the first to hear the track when he visited the island for an event in May and he immediately called on the production team to assist in getting him a collaboration with a good soca artiste for the song. Shurwayne visited next and loved the track as well… making the rest of the story, history.
Word in Barbados from De Red Boyz camp is that both artistes are incredibly satisfied with the track and such the same is the case with the producers from the respective locations where the track was touched, those being, Mark Abouhamad of Trendsetter Productions in T&T, Livingstone Brown at the Boogie Lab in England and Mikey Hulsmeier and Scott Galt of De Red Boyz.
Shurwayne Winchester, always eager to produce meaningful music that’s guaranteed to reach the masses on various levels, prior to the track’s release said that he is proud of what has been accomplished alongside Maxi Priest and the song’s producers, urging fans of Caribbean music to listen out for a masterpiece that’s almost certain to rock the Crop Over festivities this year and wreak havoc across the airwaves from island to island as word of its greatness gets around! Anticipation is high as countless local and regional musicians prepare to grace a Caribbean stage, the likes of which T&T and the world has yet been afforded the opportunity to see.
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Spicy best for the Pot
By admin | June 16, 2008
THE COCKSPUR Red Hot Cohobblopot will be bubbling with the bestof local talent and “Caribbean spice”.
Chairman of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Ken Knight, made that promise at the Press launch of Cohobblopot at Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church, yesterday.
Trini spice Machel Montano will headline the August 3 show at Kensington Oval. Patrice Roberts and David Rudder will be among some of the acts appearing with him.
Red Plastic Bag, Gabby, Kid Site, John King and the Merrymen have already been confirmed, and negotiations with others are expected to be concluded at monthend.
Montano flew in especially for the Cohobblopot launch. It is the first time that the Trinidad big ticket will be performing at what is being billed as the premier event of Crop-Over.
The 26-year veteran, whose band is now 40 per cent Barbadian with the inclusion of Indra Rudder, Darian Bailey and Dwayne Antrobus, said he was skipping Caribana in Canada for the first time in about 15 years to perform at Cohobblopot and observe Crop-Over.
“I am very honoured, this year, for the first
time ever to be featured
as a performer at Cohobblopot . . . . We have been missing out and we decided this year that we are going to try and stay closer to home, not only to strengthen the brand of Caribbean unity, but also to increase our knowledge of our neighbours.
“We have limited access to the meaning of Crop-Over and we look forward to this year diving in and starting to learn what it is really about,” Montano explained.
The group arrives on July 26, a week ahead of the Cohobblopot spectacle. They will be conducting workshops for young artistes, which will be held in association with the University of the West Indies.
Calypso Monarch Red Plastic Bag welcomed Montano’s inclusion in the Cohobblopot cast. Crop-Over had the potential to become a world-class event and it was “great” to have someone like Montano a part of it, he said.
Tickets for will start at $50, which is a $5 increase on the base price for last year. Knight said the NCF was cognisant of rising costs and tried to keep prices affordable.
nationnews.com
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Bigger winnings in Pic-O-De-Crop
By admin | June 16, 2008
CALYPSONIANS will have more at stake this year.
In addition to the subvention increase for calypso tents, prize monies for the Pic-O-De-Crop competition have been increased by five per cent while prize money for the Party Monarch remains the same.
The king or queen this year will drive away a brand new car, as well as $10 500 – $500 more than last year, while the Party Monarch winner will take home $22 000.
President of the United Artistes of Barbados, David Kid Site Piggott, said in a telephone interview the subvention increase for the tents, as well as that for Pic-O-De-Crop, was good, but raised concerns about artistes who had to pay producers on their own.
“Artistes are some of the key players in the festival. It is very expensive to produce a track, have it scored and ready for the band to read.
I am glad that the tents got an increase, but it is time that calypsonians get some kind of grant to help with their production,” Piggott said.
nationnnews.com
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Baje Blazing de trail
By admin | June 7, 2008
From the top of the hill to bottom of the valley, we blazing de trail…. no folks these are not the lyrics to Machel Montano’s hit tune, this is the theme for Baje Int’l 2008 Crop Over presentation. BLAZE
Baje Int’l launched their costume band on Friday evening in the cozy setting at Taboo, once known as The Boat Yard. Specially invited guest, loyal Baje revellers and curious on-lookers all got a first hand look at one of the festivals most anticipated costume bands. Baje’s presentation promises to be spectacular and like no other band on the road for Kadooment day.
As always, Baje boasts of a sizable contingent from Trinidad and this year is no different, they expect at least 400 revellers to join them on the road from the twin island repulblic.
The first of Baje’s themed fete is scheduled for on July 4th at Taboo, a smaller and more intimate setting compared to last years venue. They have also decide to return to their traditional drinks free fetes!
Full details on fete dates will be soon posted.
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Judging for Tents Only!
By admin | June 7, 2008
CALYPSONIANS can no longer be judged for the Pic-O-De-Crop, or Party Monarch competitions unless they are members of a calypso tent.
Reversing a decision agreed to by the Crop-Over stakeholders since 2001 when the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) hired its own band led by Andy Williams to back independent calypsonians at Lonely Hearts Club, the foundation stated yesterday such a practice was no longer viable.
According to an NCF statement emailed to the WEEKEND NATION by acting corporate communications specialist Wayne Simmons, “the enormous cost of producing these events” along with a “poor response by calypsonians to the accommodation offered to them through the exercise, has led the NCF to discontinue” the practice.
The statement referred to an “independent tent” going back two years, though records going back seven years ago showed the NCF judging independent artistes.
The statement added the foundation’s obligations included assembling the backing band, co-ordinating rehearsals, convening a panel of judges, a tabulator and an agent, securing a venue, advertising the judging via electronic and print media, providing catering and administering the process.
However, it added, “no more than ten persons, on average over the two years, presented themselves before the judges in the Party Monarch competition [and] of these only one entity advanced to the finals”.
“During this period, one person presented for the Pic-O-De-Crop competition [and] the attendance to these events between 2006 and 2007 was negligible”.
Not fair
While a source said it cost the NCF about $8 000 yearly to facilitate these independent calypsonians, the United Artistes of Barbados (UAB) said it was not fair to exclude talented artistes because they were not tent members.
“My stance has always been that about 75 per cent of calypsonians perform in the tents without getting paid. So you’re now asking people to join a tent, pay for costumes, arrangements and so on, and then don’t get a cent. That’s not fair! Why subject every artiste to that?” asked UAB president David Kid Site Piggott.
Saying it was too late now to negotiate with the NCF on this matter in mid-season, Site said “the dispensation has changed and it’s a different NCF now”.
Internal problems
He also said he had sought to raise the issue of stopping the Party Monarch preliminary competitors from being judged in tents, but this proposal was blocked by another UAB member who felt it would hurt his tent.
“UAB has internal problems,” Site added.
Former UAB head and calypso judge Desmond Weekes blasted the NCF’s new policy yesterday, saying the tents were crowded and “it takes away an opportunity from people who might have talent”.
But Simmons pointed out there was a cordial negotiation between the NCF and registered tents, with the latter supporting the NCF appeal “to entertain those persons who would otherwise have sought to be judged independently”.
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2008 International Soca Awards Announced
By admin | June 5, 2008
The 6th Annual International Soca Awards list of nominees and honourees were announced this week. This year, the prestigious event will be held at the St. Kitts Marriott Center under the patronage of the Honorable Minister of State for Tourism, Sports and Culture, Senator Richard “Ricky” Skerritt. This affair attracts soca performers, producers, song writers and lovers of the genre from across the globe to pay accolade to those deserving of the honor. Amongst these very talented artiste nominated this year, is one of Barbados’ fastest growing entertainment websites www.bajanfuhlife.com, nominated in the category of “Favorite Soca Info Website”. Congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees!
Here are the nominees
Best New Female Soca Artist
• SHEKERA
• JULIETTE MILLS
• MARIE ANNE
• KIMBERLY DOPSON
• ZOELAH
Best New Male Soca Artist
• Sizwe C
• KAMAU
• DON TRENT
• PROBLEM CHILD
• SKHI
Female Soca Vocalist of the Year
• GO DOWN BY LIMA CALBIO
• CHEATERS BY MARIE ANNE
• LOVE OF MY LIFE BY NADIA BATSON
• MO WUK BY PATRICE ROBERTS
• GO DOWN LOW BY ZOELAH
Male Soca Vocalist of the Year
• IT FEELS LIKE AM HOME AGAIN BY EDWIN YEARWOOD
• FIRE BY KEVIN LYTTLE
• NEVER LEAVE YA BY KERWIN DU BOIS
• CARNIVAL PLEASE STAY BY SHURWYNE WINCHESTER
• ME & YOU BY DON TRENT
Female Soca Performer of the Year
• NNIKI FRANCIS
• DESTRA
• FAYE-ANN LYONS
• TIZZY
• ZOELAH
Male Soca Performer of the Year
• BUNJI GARLIN
• EDWIN YEARWOOD
• MACHEL MONTANO
• RIKKY T
• LIL RICK
Soca Duo or Group of the Year
• 2NTRIGUE
• 3 CANAL
• 3 SUNS
• LUNI SPARKS & ELECTRIFY
Soca Song Writer of the Year
• KERNEL ROBERTS & MACHEL MONTANO - (UNCONDITIOAL LOVE, BLAZE D TRAIL, MAKE LOVE)
• KERWIN DU BOIS - (BREATHLESS, NEVER LEAVE YA, GYAL FARM)
• NADIA BATSON - (MIND YUH BUSINESS, LOVE OF MY LIFE, CONFUSION)
• FAYE-ANN LYONS - (GET ON, ROAD CALL, WHO STANDING)
• BERBICE - (TRAFFIC, WATER, CARIBBEAN GIRL)
Best Soca Collaboration Grove
• PROBLEM CHILD & JADINE - SECRET AGENT
• KERWIN DU BOIS & SHAL MACHEL - GYAL FARM
• JAMESY P. & CECILLE - DO ME BABY
• MR. VEGAS ft. DESTRA - ON THE FLOOR
• MACHEL MONTANO ft DAVID RUDDER - OIL & MUSIC
Best Soca Collaboration up Tempo
• SHURWAYNE WINCHESTER & JONNY KING - WHOLE DAY
• PATCH & DA MA$TAMIND - DE TAIL GONE
• MACHEL MONTANO & MIGHTY SPARROW - CONGO MAN
• DESTRA & SEAN PAUL - FREE IT UP
• LUNI SPARKS & ELECTRIFY
Over All Female Soca Artist of the Year
• DESTRA
• FAYE-ANN LYONS
• NADIA BATSON
• NNIKI FRANCIS
• ZOELAH
Over All Male Soca Artists of the Year
• KERWIN DU BOIS
• BERBICE
• MACHEL MONTANO
• RIKKY T.
• MR. DALE
International Soca DJ of the year
• BACK TO BASICS
• DJ SPICE
• MISS BOOMARANG
• DR. JAY
• SOCA TWINS
Best Soca Compilation Album/CD of the Year
• DE RED BOYZ PRESENTS - SOCA BONFIRE - VARIOUS
• BEST OF THE BEST - SOCA HITS 08
• SOCA .758.
• SOCA GOLD - VARIOUS ARTISTS 1 2008
• THE REAL DEAL - STRAIGHT FROM BIM
Best Soca Compilation Rhythm
• LEHGO ME RIDDIM
• BANJO RIDDIM
• BARBER SHOP RIDDIM
• GYAL TOUCH RIDDIM
• RESPONSE RIDDIM
Soca Humor of the Year
• PHONE CARD - (REPLY) BY SILVER
• DE TAIL GORN BY PATCH & DA MA$TAMIND
• STRANGE NAME BY BLACKIE
• PHONE CARD BY CRAZY
• RAMCONPONG BY PETER RAM, CONTONE & PONG
Favorite Groove Soca - Female
• GO DOWN LOW BY ZOELAH
• SADDLE BY DESTRA
• MO WUK BY PATRICE ROBERTS
• KICK IT OFF BY TIZZY
• WUKKING UP BY PATRICE ROBERTS
Favorite Groove Soca - Male
• WHINNING SEASON BY MACHEL MONTANO
• OUT ON DE ROAD BY ZAN
• SOKA JUNKIE BY MR. DALE
• NAUGHTY SHAUTY BY SMALL AXE BAND E.K
• PARTY ANIMAL BY PROBLEM CHILD
Favorite up Tempo Soca - Female
• GET ON BY FAYE-ANN LYONS
• LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION BY CLAUDETTE PETERS
• MAS BY NNIKI FRANCIS
• MY POSSE BY NADIA BATSON
• FLY AWAY BY ZOELAH
Favorite up Tempo Soca - Male
• BREATHLESS BY BLACXX
• PRESSURE BOOM BY RICKY T.
• TRAFFIC BY BERBICE
• BOOM BAM BAM BY GRAND MASTER FT. SMILEY
• FIREY BY BUNJI
Soca Artist Album/CD of the year
• WATER BY BERBICE
• UNSTOPPABLE BY CRAZY
• WORK OF ART BY JAMSEY P.
• CARIBBEAN GIRL BY NADIA BATSON
• FLAME ON BY MACHEL MONTANO
Soca Song of the Year
• GET ON BY FAYE-ANN LYONS
• SOKA JUNKIE BY MR. DALE
• PRESSURE BOOM BY RICKY T.
• GYAL FARM BY KERWIN DU BOIS & SHAL MACHEL
• PARTY ANIMAL BY PROBLEM CHILD
Favorite Soca Info Website
• www.tropicalfete.com
• www.toronto-lime.com
• www.bajanfuhlife.com
• www.socaordie.com
• www.trinijunglejuice.com
Over All Soca Band of the Year
• RED HOT FLAMES
• EDWIN YEARWOOD & KROSFYAH
• SMALL AXE BAND
• NU VIBES BAND
• MACHEL MONTANO HD
SOCA PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
• RED BOYZ - (BAND ON FIRE, ME & YOU, CHIPPIN’)
• KASEY PILLIPS - (ROBOMAN, MY POSSE, MIND YUH BUSSINESS)
• PARRY JACK - (AH NOT GOING, BASHMENT FREAKS, DO ME BABY)
• NEIL BERNARD - (GET ON, HAVING AH TIME, PELE PELE PA)
• KERWIN DU BOIS - (BREATHLESS, 2 DAYS, GYAL FARM)
Best Soca Music Video
• ROLIN‘- BLAZIN’ D TRAL MEDLEY BY MACHEL MONTANO & PATRICE ROBERTS
• SOKA JUNKIE BY MR. DALE
• DESIRE BY SKHI
• PUMPIN‘ BY PETER RAM
• CAN’T WAIT BY LIL RICK
• PASSA PASSA BY CASEY
• WINE DOWN LOW BY DEVON MATTHEWS
• STRANGE NAME BY BLACKIE
• MONIKA – SOCA ELVIS
• THINK IT OVER -TERRY SEALES
Best Soca Re-Mix Collaboration
• PATRICE ROBERTS ft MACKA DIAMOND - WUKKIN’ UP REMIX
• FARM P ft KERWIN DU BOIS - SEXY CHOCOLATE GIRLS - REMIX
• PETER RAM ft AIDNIA - PUMPIN REMIX
• FARMER NAPPY ft ANHONY B. - CHIPPIN’ REMIX
• RICKY T. ft. MR. VEGAS - PRESSURE BOOM (REMIX)
Best Dj Soca Mix CD of the Year
• 2008 SOCA MIX BY DJ CHOICE-ONE MD
• SOCA FEEIN” 2008 pt2 BY DJ REE
• 2008 XPLOSION MIX 2 BY DJ STEPHEN
• 2008 GROOVY SOCA MIX EXCLUSIVE BY DJ Jester (from X-Caliber International)
• WE GOT THE FLAVOR BY LeXXXus SOUND & CENSORED
• UNITE DE SOCA 2008 MIX Pt 1 BY MISS BOOMARANG
• ADDICTED 2 SOCA BY SOCA TWINS
• DJ MIX BY THREEKS SOUND BERLIN
• 2008 SOCA MIX VOLUME 1 BY DJ SPICE
Over All Soca Chutney Artist of the Year
• HUNTER
• RIKKI JAI
• DE HITMAN
• RAVI B
• RAYMOND RARNAIN
Over All Soca Chutney Band of the Year
• DIL E NADAAN
• GEMINI BAND
• JMC TRIVENI
• KRAMA BAND
• SUPER TONES BAND
Soca Chutney Song of the Year
• FIRE WATER BY DE HITMAN
• INTOXICATED BY RAYMOND RARNAIN
• BRING IT BY HUNTER
• AKLA RUM IS MEH LOVER BY RAVI B
• MONIKA BY SOCA ELVIS
Favorite Soca Online Radio
•WWW.REDHOTFLAMES.COM/RADIO_LINK.HTM
• WWW.THEFRONTLINERADIO.COM
• WWW.RADIOBAJAN.COM
• WWW.SOCA919.COM
• WWW.WACKRADIO901FM.COM
SOCA ROAD MIX OF THE YEAR
• FARMER NAPPY - CHIPPIN’ (ROAD MIX)
• KERWIN DUBIOS & SHAL - GAL FARM (ROAD MIX)
• LEHGO ME RIDDIM - RICKY T - PRESSURE BOOM (ROAD MIX)
• FAYE-ANN LYONS - GET ON (ROAD MIX)
• ROY CAPE ALL STARS FT. BLAXX – BREATHLESS (ROAD MIX)
Best Soca Chutney Collaboration of the year
• HUNTER & BUNJI GARLIN - I WANT MEH Rum (RE MIX
• D HITMAN & BUNJI GARLIN - BRING D RUM
• D’HITMAN & BLAZER DAN - BHANGRA PARTY
• DIL - E - NADAN Ft. BUNJI GARLIN - BAND ON FIRE
• RIKKI JAI & SHAWN NOEL - PAGAL
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Wednesday 2000 presents Ultimate package
By admin | June 1, 2008
Your dream is about to become reality.
Wednesday 2000 presents the ULTIMATE KADOOMENT PACKAGE
Spellbinding costumes, the widest range of goodies, unlimited premium drinks and full breakfast and dinner …. on the MV Harbour Master.
Your dream comes true with BEAUTY BY NATURE – The Best of Barbados, capturing the essence of our main natural tourist attractions.
EXOTICA (Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary), FLORAL FANTASY (Orchid World/Andromeda),
MYSTIQUE (Animal Flower Cave), WONDERWORLD (Harrison’s Cave)
For further info call:
422 8187 | 231 8187 or email wednesday2000kb@yahoo.com
BANDHOUSE OPENS SOON
LAUNCH EVEN SOONER
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CW Contact 2008
By admin | May 31, 2008
In 2008, Contact band is ready with a new look, a new attitude and some seriously beatiful costumes. Contact 2008 is ready to take on the world with a revitilised spirit and bountiful energy. Join them as they explore the theme for Crop over 2008 “Essence of a woman”.Each section of the bands costumes depicts a difference aspect of the character and persona of a woman, using colour to symbolise the various attributes. They have invited every woman to discover her true personality and every man to discover his ideal woman.
To Make Contact visit http://www.candwcontact.bb/
Band leader: Mr. Anthony Lane
email: anthony.layne@cw.c
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Boyz’s homage to Gods and Goddesses
By admin | May 30, 2008
CAMPUSBOYZ will take a mythological wine down Spring Garden this Kadooment when more than 900 gods and goddesses take to the road.The band, titled Of Gods and Goddesses, is divided into five sections: Japanese Gods of Winter, Native American Gods of Creation, Greek Gods of The Sea, Hawaiian Gods of Fire and Roman Gods of Vegetation.
Each of them depicts a different god or goddess. Greek gods of the sea gives the ladies a choice of two designs to strut their stuff.
Band leader Aundrea Wharton said CampusBoyz had maintained its pricing structure.
“In the face of strict pricing and VAT, and inflation and gas, and everything going up, we’ve managed somehow to keep our prices between the range of $380 to $420, which I find is very good and I’m sure our revellers as well will be very happy,” he said.
The band house, located at Howell’s X Road, St Michael (obliquely opposite the Barbados Community College), is fittingly called Mount Olympus and the various sections within it have been named for gods and goddesses as well.
CampusBoyz‘ band fetes kick off tomorrow at Mount Olympus with Ignition at 7 p.m. The Sunday parties continue every week.
Mount Olympus opens for registration and other business on June 8 from noon to 9 p.m.
The second band house opens at the Student Guild at the University of the West Indies on June 15. The hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
One of the new features this year is the Crop-Over Fair, where bandleaders can showcase their stuff and people can register.
There will also be the usual attractions including jumping tent, food, drink and entertainment. This takes place on June 28 at the band house.
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