Caribbean Buzz
Sold Out Show. Machel Does It Again! This Time at Barclays Centre, Brooklyn.
The power to deliver time and time again; those may be the best words to define the man who has carried Soca music for four decades. Machel Montano sold out the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn on Monday night, showing the world that Soca music does hold its own in the business of music and entertainment.
In the lead up to the 40th anniversary show in New York, Montano excitedly shared behind the scenes moments at rehearsals and with fellow entertainers, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons, Skinny Fabulous, SuperBlue and Problem Child. He raved at the fact that young soca star, Voice would be a part of the show, as would female sensations, Patrice Roberts and Nadia Batson. The hysteria surrounding the mammoth event, was undeniably strong.
Preliminary snippets shot via phone by eager patrons, showed moments of Soca ecstasy as Fay Ann Lyons took the stage, and together with Bunji and Skinny Fabulous, Machel delivered the Road March winning anthem, ”Famalay.” Lyons- Alvarez, in a post on social media on Monday morning wrote , “Being in a room with such musically accomplished men, it’s awesome being a woman with the same titles. All these men have won multiple Road march and Soca Monarch titles, and being the only female with three Road March and two Soca Monarch titles…it was great going through the structure for MM40.” Hours later, she would mount the stage in a black, superhero-like ensemble, paired with knee-high boots and a face covering that would leave her audience awestruck.
In the aftermath of the show on Monday night, Montano offered thanks via social media to all who’d made the event possible. “Every Single seat sold and then some!” he wrote before calling out a number of people, including his dancers and the artistes who shared the stage with him. He said, “I can’t explain how this makes me feel , there are just not enough words that could ever explain!!! To all of the fans , those from New York and all those who flew in , all Caribbean People and all the other countries that represented last night, the Soca lovers, my friends and family. The whole ah Kingdom came down !!!!!! I love you all , I thank you all for making this dream a reality! WE DID IT … no radio, no tv … we did it in ah real life!!! Thank you!!!”
Caribbean Buzz
$1 Million Up for Grabs In New Ultimate Soca Champions Competition.
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.
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.
Caribbean Buzz
Jamaican Music and Culture Takes Centre Stage in South Florida, in February.
In South Florida, Caribbean culture finds a second home with a number of major caribbean centric events hosted throughout the year. On Sunday, February 2nd, the 2nd annual Reggae Genealogy Music Festival takes centre stage as the pulsating sounds and multifaceted history of that country, is set to be showcased.
The event will take place from 4pm to 9pm at the northeast parking lot of the the Broward Mall in the City of Plantation. Via media release, Ebuzztt learnt that the area will be transformed into a lively concert venue where attendees will enjoy an immersive journey through Jamaica’s unparalleled musical legacy in celebration of Reggae Month.
Produced by Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, this family-friendly showcase will begin by tracing the early beginnings of popular Jamaican music, prior to Jamaican independence from Britain in 1962, to the present, touching on mento, ska, nyabinghi, rocksteady, lovers rock, dub, reggae and dancehall. Performers including industry legends like Ernie Smith, Eric “Monty” Morris, Wayne Armond, Ambelique and more will perform musical features alongside the Code Red Band and lead singer Bobby Rose, as well as dancers from Carimer Theatre, captivating the audience with a slew of hits from yesteryear.
In Act I, the story will be narrated by effervescent Jamaican Consul General Oliver Mair, whose theatrical background will lend levity to the early evening events. Later, in Act II, the showcase will also highlight the influence of Jamaican music on genres such as dub, pop, reggaeton and Afrobeats, in a current and future musical journey curated and performed in part by DJ GQ of Y100. Entertainers like Bigg G, Phil Watkins, VP Records diva Shuga and more will lend contemporary musical stylings to the night.
Ahead of this rhythmic melding of entertainment and learning, attendees are encouraged to come out early to enjoy free museum tours, events and activities, food and shopping in the event area as well as inside the mall.
Gates for the Reggae Genealogy concert open at 4 p.m. with showtime at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $15 for early purchase to $75 for full-priced VIP. Find tickets, sponsorship, vendor and volunteer information at www.reggaegenealogy.org
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