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Caribbean Buzz

Best of the Best Returns with Big Dancehall, Reggae and Soca Acts Taking the Main Stage on Columbus Weekend.

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The Best of the Best Music Festival has announced its full confirmed line up for the 15th annual staging of what’s been dubbed, the largest Caribbean Concert in North America. The event returns to Bay Front Park, Miami Florida on Columbus weekend, Sunday October 10th, 2021.


The holiday weekend will kick off on Friday October 8th with a Best of the Best pre-party, followed by the official Best of the Best pool party on Saturday, October 9th , with the Best of the Best Music Fest – Jabba’s annual ‘Jabba Strike Back – All Black Edition, immediately thereafter. “Taking into consideration the safety of our patrons, the uncertainty of the workforce and the climate of the travel industry, we decided to push Best of the Best to October for this one time only. This will allow persons to plan travel, book hotel and feel more comfortable as the CDC guidelines are more conducive for our style of concert,” said an event spokesperson.

Dancehall phenom, Spice sits heavy on the cast for this year’s Best of the Best main event on Sunday, October 10th, and she’ll be joined by Grammy Award winning reggae sensation Koffee, known for major chart topping singles like, ‘Toast,’ ‘Raggamuffin,’ ‘Rapture,’ and ‘Lock Down’. Additionally, the legendary Tanya Stephens has been added to the lineup, along with trailblazer, Lady G with her singles, ‘Breeze Off,’ and ‘Nuff Respect’.

Soca music will be on full show at Best of the Best 2021. Among the soca artistes billed to perform this year are, Alison Hinds, Bunji Garlin, reigning Road March champ of T&T, Farmer Nappy , Skinny Fabulous, Lyrikal, Patrice Roberts and Problem Child. Other top tiered Caribbean artistes also forming part of the major Columbus weekend event are, Tarrus Riley, Teejay, Jo Mersa Marley and Abby Dallas.

Retha Boone-Fye, program officer and director of Miami’s Black Affairs Advisory Board, in a statement said, “It is a celebration of Caribbean heritage. It has been kind of downplayed because it has been doing well for so long. Best of the Best has earned its reputation based on the fact that it is in its 13th year; This particular festival also hasn’t had any negative incidents and we are very proud of that.” The event has, over the years, welcomed a diverse community of record-breaking crowds from around the world. Ultimately, it has become the perfect getaway for music aficionados who prefer to “experience” live Caribbean music.

Tickets purchased for BOTB 2020 edition of the festival are still valid and can be used for access to this years’ Best of the Best Music Fest. BOTB will be postponed until Sunday, October 10th, 2021.

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Caribbean Buzz

Lil’ Bitts Vows Never to Miss de Mas Again as She Prepares for a Jam-packed 2025 Season

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Shivonne Church- Isaacs (Lil’ Bitts) has been in the soca industry for 20 years.

After two decades in the business, Lil’ Bitts—aka Shivonne Churche-Isaacs—has made a vow she plans to keep: never again will she sit out Carnival. The multi-talented artiste, known for her infectious energy and stage presence, has had a front-row seat to Trinidad and Tobago’s iconic festival season for years, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. She still remembers the shock she felt when she made the decision to skip the parades on Carnival Monday and Tuesday one season, only to end up physically sick. “I got sick—like, literally,” she admits. “I’ll never ignore Carnival’s call again.”

This year, Bitts is more than ready to hit the streets with Yuma for an unforgettable Carnival 2025. The excitement is palpable as she gears up for what’s sure to be a thrilling season, both on and off the road.

Rising to the Occasion with “Brighter Days”

Lil’ Bitts is happy to add something different to her repertoire, with ‘Brighter Days.’

With five songs under her belt and a growing social media presence, Lil’ Bitts is enjoying a well-deserved moment in the spotlight. Her Instagram and other platforms have become hubs of interaction with fans, opening doors to new collaborations and promotional opportunities. “Social media is the ultimate artiste toolkit,” she says, urging fellow performers to embrace the digital world to connect with their audiences.

One of her most highly anticipated projects is the track “Brighter Days,” which she says has been in the works for three years. Produced by Gaffa Productions, the song has become a personal passion project. “This one is really special,” she shares. “The world needs positivity right now, and I feel like this song is necessary.” She credits the magic of modern technology for making it all come together, working with talented producers like Stemz, District 6 Studios, and Benje Music in hybrid mode from different locations in the region. She’s also collaborated with M1 on a single called “Wetter” for the 2025 season. “We’ve been talking about working together for years, and I’m so happy it’s finally happened,” she says. “M1’s a unique talent; there aren’t a lot of artistes like him.”

A Dream Come True: Chutney and Multi-Cultural Magic

Teaming up with Reshma Ramlal, Bitts has been reminded of the beauty that exists in T&T.

As if things weren’t busy enough, Lil’ Bitts has recently ventured into the world of chutney music. She got a call from the Pungalunks Factory to contribute vocals for a track with Reshma Ramlal, the Warrior Princess herself. The track, “Poowah Nah Ready,” is a dream come true for Bitts, who has always had an affinity for East Indian culture. “When I was a kid, I loved dressing in Indian clothes and watching Bollywood movies. I knew I wanted to do a Chutney song one day, but it had to feel natural. And this—this feels right,” she said. Bitts reflects on how much she’s learned and appreciated about Trinidad and Tobago’s multicultural beauty through this experience. “The energy on set, the unity—it was amazing. We’re one people, and that’s something I never want to forget.” The collaboration has already earned a place in the spotlight, with Ramlal making it into the semi-finals of the Chutney Soca Monarch competition.

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Caribbean Buzz

$1 Million Up for Grabs In New Ultimate Soca Champions Competition.

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Trinidad and Tobago is set to stage a revamped International Soca Monarch competition in what is now dubbed The Ultimate Soca Champion competition. The event’s final will be staged on Thursday, February 20th, with the semi final round set for Sunday, February 9th. The announcement was made earlier today by organisers, at a media conference held at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain.

Soca artiste Voice is one of many big name artistes who’ve won big in the old International Soca Monarch Competition.

The organisers said the competition will not be split into Groovy/Power categories, however they said there will be special prizes for Best Groovy Soca, Best Power Soca and People’s Champion, based on public votes.

The event will feature the Ultimate Soca Champion reality TV show which organizers say is aimed at giving viewers an intimate look into the competition. “We believe this will help our culture to reach international audiences when packaged properly,” the team said.

In-Person Auditions will take place on Saturday, January 25th, 2025 at 9:00 AM at the Fernando Academy of the Performing Arts (SAPA). Regional/ International Artistes who are not in Trinidad and Tobago, are required to submit video auditions from January 20th at 8:00am to January 26th at 11:59pm.

“We aim to make this a production that captivates
audiences worldwide,” said Rome. “The Ultimate Soca Champion Competition will not only
elevate soca to international standards but also inspire the next generation of artistes.”

For registration, submission guidelines, and updates, visit ultimatesocachampion.com from Monday January 20th, or email ultimatesocachampion@gmail.com.

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