Ebuzz News
Authentic Vibes Promised For Borough Day Celebrations as This Big Band Returns.
Evolution does not mean destruction. For the people who’ve walked the earth long enough to understand the importance of experience, the return of one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated music bands, will come as no surprise.
Already booked, and ready to deliver performance like only this band can, the Point Fortin Borough Day celebration promises to erupt with authentic Soca vibes this year. Traffik returns to Point Fortin in 2023, and with experience its trump card, the band’s leader, Eddie Charles says they’re prepared to cause a major stir in this year’s celebration.
Now rejuvenated and ready to bring back authenticity to the carnival circuit, Charles explained that his decision to step down from the A- Team’s frontline asset, was a well communicated one. “There are no hard feelings whatsoever. The move is one I believe is necessary for my career as an entertainer who dabbles not only in the Carnival sector, but also in the Christmas and corporate performance sector,” said Charles. Already, he has confirmed bookings for December 2023- something that many artistes often hope for.
Eddie Charles has for decades proven his versatile edge as a stage performer and vocalist. His Soca parang music has placed him in a category all of his own, with many promoters reaching out annually to book him for their shows, locally and internationally. “Traffik is now Traffik 2040. We’re looking toward to the future, but still, we aren’t forgetting the true essence that makes Traffik what it has always been,” said the artiste. Eddie believes there’s space for everyone in the business of music. “There’s so much variety, and every space calls for something unique. Truth is, what patrons attending a Borough Day fete may desire of a performance cast may be totally different from what’s desired by patrons attending an event at the Queen’s Park Savannah or O2Park,” he said.
During Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2023, many online conversations surrounded the continued casting of the same group of artistes, repeatedly, by event promoters. “While we understand that promoters will pull for the big names in the season, based on music popularity, it is really important to give patrons a good time, and that requires authentic, potent performance.”
Charles’ return with Traffik 2040 is promising a whirlwind experience for patrons, with sets that will deliver hardcore Soca music and enticing stage performances. “What is a fete without a performance that leaves people sweaty, smiling and exhilarated,” he asked with a laugh. He says this is what Traffik’s return to the scene, will bring.
Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations kicking off later this month, Eddie Charles is ready and excited. Several event promoters have secured the band for their events and he says he can’t wait to show patrons just what a fete should feel like.
Ebuzz News
Trinidad and Tobago’s Voice Will Rep for Soca at Best of the Best 2026. Artiste’s Inclusion Shows Soca’s Global Reach.
He had one of the most memorable Carnival seasons with a Soca track that stole the hearts of Soca lovers in 2026 and now Aaron ‘Voice’ St. Louis is set to represent hard for the Soca music genre at the upcoming ‘Best of the Best’ Music Festival in Miami on May 26th. His appearance will be his debut to the highly anticipated festival and already, the energy is high.
Voice represents the bridge between Millennial Soca and GenZ vibes. ‘Cyah Behave Mehself’ was lapped up like good Caribbean food at Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago back in February, and it is expected to do the same as the international summer season approaches.
Set to take place on May 26th at Museum Park, Downtown Miami, Voice’s inclusion on the cast underscores the Soca genre’s continued global reach within a predominantly reggae and dancehall showcase. Known for his high energy performances and melodic songwriting, the Trinidad and Tobago three -time Soca Monarch King has built an extensive catalogue of hits that that has proven to resonate with a global audience.
Organizers say anticipation for Voice’s performance at Best of the Best, is high. “Fans are looking forward to a dynamic set that brings soca’s signature energy to the festival stage.”
Best of the Best Music Fest remains one of North America’s premiere Caribbean music events, drawing fans from across the region and Diaspora for a full day of live performances. This year’s lineup includes, Sizzla Kalonji, Beenie Man, Tarrus Riley, Capleton, Rajah Wild, Skeng, Vanessa Bling, among others.
Reggae
New ‘Jamrock’ Documentary Celebrates Unforgettable Moments. Cruise Returns to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa, This Year.
Ahead of its 11th annual voyage in November, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise shares its story through a new film. VIBE premiered All in the Same Boat, a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Reshma B and produced by Boomshots TV that traces Marley and his manager Dan Dalton’s brainchild from a bold, outsider idea into one of the most culturally significant movements in reggae and dancehall today.
With over a decade’s worth of unforgettable moments pulled from the last 10 voyages, this 30+ minute documentary captures the spirit of a global reggae community built on shared identity, resilience, and reverence for Jamaican culture. It features iconic performances, real conversations with the artistes and DJs, and the heartbeat of it all: the “Jamrockers.” These are die-hard reggae lovers from over 40 countries who pull up every year for one reason – to feel that irreplaceable connection to Jamaican culture and keep the Marley message of “One Love” alive.
Having successfully navigated challenges including extreme weather and a global pandemic, the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise continues to thrive. Its 11th staging will return for its annual voyage from November 11th to the 16th, sailing from Miami aboard Norwegian Joy.
Stacked from foundation to future, this year’s lineup brings together reggae and dancehall’s most influential voices: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley (Traffic Jam Set), Burning Spear, Sizzla, Capleton, Beenie Man, Protoje, Barrington Levy, Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Lila Iké, Ding Dong & the Ravers Clavers, Tony Matterhorn “Man on the Moon”, Gyptian, 450, Richie Spice, Ghost, Mr. Lexx, Professor Nuts, L.U.S.T., Sister Carol, Sevana, Flourgon, Johnny P, and Jemere Morgan are confirmed.
The cruise’s famed Sound Clash at Sea will return alongside powerhouse sound systems including Stone Love (Geefus), King Jammy, Silverhawk Sound, Rory Stone Love, Renaissance Sound, Federation Sound, Warrior Sound, Rampage Sound, Kingston12 HiFi and Souljah1 Muzik, preserving a cornerstone of Jamaican music culture in its most authentic form.
Jamrock is a Premiere Reggae Event
The Jamrock experience has evolved into the premier reggae event at sea—one that continues to redefine how the culture is celebrated on a global stage. The five-day experience continues to immerse guests in the full spectrum of Jamaican life—from Nyabinghi sunrise sessions and sound bath meditations to dancehall workshops, fitness programming, and curated culinary offerings led by acclaimed Chef Lumley. A new addition this year includes a live theatrical production by legendary playwright Oliver Samuels, adding yet another layer to the cruise’s ever-expanding cultural canvas.
Following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025, the cruise will return to Jamaica with renewed purpose, maintaining its distinction as the only chartered cruise with two Jamaican port stops. That commitment translates into tangible impact, generating millions annually for the island’s tourism and cultural economy while reinforcing a direct connection between the music, the people, and the place that birthed it.
As All in the Same Boat makes clear, Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise is a movement with its own rhythm, one that continues to bring the diaspora home, while inviting the world in. Since its inception in 2014, the mission remains the same: to create a space where reggae lives, breathes, and connects us all.
The documentary made its debut during the 10th annual cruise and later screened at Art Basel in support of hurricane relief efforts led by the Marley family’s Ghetto Youths Foundation. Damian Marley and Dan Dalton were executive producers of the film.
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Ebuzz News16 hours agoTrinidad and Tobago’s Voice Will Rep for Soca at Best of the Best 2026. Artiste’s Inclusion Shows Soca’s Global Reach.