Caribbean Buzz
URAVE- ‘Life Beyond The Creek’ Launches this Weekend in the SouthLand. There’s Never Been Anything Like It.
There’s a major shift happening in entertainment in T&T. The energy is rising. On the heels of Tobago Carnival – a spectacle that has left mas lovers craving more, there’s a band launch on the horizon that promises entertainment lovers a true taste of what Trinidad’s South West peninsula has to offer. URAVE is a brand that’s building community and dedicatedly setting things in motion for the best Borough Festival Point Fortin has ever experienced, in 2027.
Speaking exclusively with Ebuzztt.com, Directors, Kariym Balthazar and Roland Hamilton shared details on ‘Life Beyond The Creek’ – the concept for URAVE’S 2027 Borough Festival presentation. The event takes place at the Clifton Hill Beach Resort on Saturday, November 7th from 9pm.
Two of seven directors who make up a broad team of professionals, their planning for this upcoming event, has been extensive. “We officially kicked off the project in May this year. We’ve put in a lot of work and with a strong team, we are guaranteeing an enhanced Borough Festival,” said Hamilton. He has been a part of the entertainment and promotional landscape in Trinidad and Tobago for the past 15 years. Hamilton said the URAVE brand was conceptualized back in 2015, but opportunity to present it to the people of Point Fortin and those coming into the Borough the way it was conceptualized, has only truly shown itself at this time. “This is not just a band. We’ll also be doing events in the space as well. URAVE will host something like a ‘First Jam’ in the Borough celebrations in 2027 and even our road experience will start off with a brunch event for two hours, with food stations before we hit the streets to play mas. When our masqueraders get off the road, they will enjoy a las’ lap experience too,” he said.
Four mas sections ready for presentation on Saturday, Balthazar told Ebuzztt that this is just the beginning. “We plan on taking URAVE into different spaces – not just Point Fotin Borough Festival, so in the future, URAVE may even be in Carnival in Port -of-Spain,” he said. The four sections are, “Pitch Lake,” “Garden Jewels,” “Fields Road,” and “Columbus Bay,” – all honoring integral aspects of the Southern experience. “I am from La Brea. La Brea and Point Fortin are like brother and sister,” said Hamilton, explaining that the idea is to truly highlight the South Western part of the island by giving those who are unfamiliar an experience of what they have to offer. “Deep South often feels neglected. We don’t have the opportunities or the experiences that others often have. We always have to go into Port-of-Spain to experience mas, so because I would’ve experienced mas so many times, URAVE aims at delivering a higher standard when it comes to experience, so that people who do not frequent Port of Spain, can enjoy what its like in the Borough Festival.”
URAVE stands for Unimaginably, Rhythmic, Audio, Visual, Experience. “These words are at the heart of the brand. The focus is on how people feel, how they are welcomed, and what they leave with. This is not something that is predominant in the Point Fortin Borough space so it is important to us, to establish this standard,” said Hamilton. He says the theme, “Life Beyond the Creek celebrates the beauty, creativity and talent within the South Western peninsula.
The band launch is being touted as one that will showcase exactly what masqueraders can expect on the rod come 2027. Though starting off with more of a Monday Wear mas deliverable, the band will be going hard to ensure the feeling of revelry and fun are high priority. “Years ago, bands like Legacy and Ronnie and Caro, and other big bands would come down from Port-of- Spain, but Borough Day has never had a Point Fortin based mas band involved.
Years ago, Legacy, Ronnie and Caro and other big bands would come down from Port of Spain and they never really had a Point Fortin based mas band involved. Our team has been having discussions with the Point Fortin Borough executives and we’ve been discussing all areas to ensure what we bring enhances the celebration,” said Hamilton, noting that the overall aim is to bring life to the celebration. “We hope even big mas bands will come back into the space after our presentation in 20207,” he said.
The Economics and the People.
All bases covered, inclusive of safety and convenience, Hamilton noted the state of the present economy. Understanding of the economic climate, he said URAVE’S website will go live after the band’s launch on Saturday and those interested in playing will be able to register with the option of securing a payment plan.”
On Saturday night in Point Fortin, fetters can expect a whole lot of energy and Carnival vibes. Atistes inclusive of Farmer Nappy, Trinibaby, Christo and Viking Ding Dong, will be apart of the excitement. “We are creating a safe space for people to come out and have fun. We want to always have a great time. The feeling is very important to us and we will show potential masqueraders just what it will mean to be on the road with URAVE, when we launch the band this weekend,” Hamilton assured.
Follow URAVE online on Instagram for more on what’s to come and be part of the greatest Borough Festival experience in 2027.
Caribbean Buzz
The International Soca Monarch Will Return in 2027. Trinidad and Tobago Takes on the World. Wadicks Weighs In.
The ground has been calling for it – the return of the International Soca Monarch competition in Trinidad and Tobago. Now there’s news that the the competition will return in Carnival 2027 under the theme, Trinidad and Tobago vs The World.
One artiste, true to the authenticity of the culture, says it’s great news. Ebuzztt caught up with Wadicks earlier on Friday, just after the news broke. “This is something very good for artistes to test themselves – to see how best they are in representing the country when it comes to Soca music. It’s good for people to gauge themselves against their cohorts and it’s been a while since artistes have been able to really do that,” he said.
The competition’s official date is yet to be revealed, however if tradition is marinated, it will be held on Friday, February 5th. Scorch Limited and Scorch Events will produce the show. “For 2027, the competition returns with a bold, international dimension, placing Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca talent against artistes from around the world in a celebration of the genre’s growing global reach,” said a media statement issued. Details surrounding venue and participation requirements will be forthcoming.
For Wadicks and many other Soca artistes who occupy the space, the music delivered ahead of the competition is of dire importance. “I will jump in once the people gravitate to the music. The people must not be wondering what song this artiste is singing when they hit the stage in the competition. You don’t want to enter with a song the people don’t know,” he emphasized.
In the early years of the international Soca Monarch competition, under the stewardship of Mr. William Munroe, the International Soca Monarch was a monument in Carnival. Radio stations were heavily engaged and money spent on major advertising campaigns that saw emerging and seasoned artistes interviewed and their music placed on intentional rotation as a result of paid advertising. Whether this approach will be taken, as the effort to re-establish the solidity of Trinidad and Tobago in this area gets underway, is left to be seen. “No matter what, it starts with the people. Once the people accept the event and come out to enjoy it… but the marketing of the event is very important too. It’s a huge undertaking and if Scorch can get the people who come to their events and all the other people who love the culture, that would be fantastic to get T&T back to where it once was when it comes to the ISM,” said Wadicks. He has one song already bubbling ahead of Carnival 2027 and plans to release a second next week. “I have ‘Thickerz’ out already and I’m releasing a rum tune next week,” said the artiste cheerfully. He’s never in a bad mood.
With Grenada’s Soca Monarch now leading as the poster child of what Soca Monarch should look and feel like, Wadicks says he thinks the Spice Isle does a great job of showing the world just what true enjoyment of the music looks like. “They have no fashion statement – Grenada has no respect for clothes as compared to Trinidad where it’s more about fashion than enjoyment. In Grenada you could come out in any colour and after the party, patrons leaving dirty and sweaty, having had a time,” he said with a laugh.
Prize monies a major factor when it comes to competitions in Trinidad and Tobago, Wadicks says he doesn’t believe this should be the defining factor in any artiste’s decision to enter the competition. “The Soca Monarch brings out the best in an artiste when it comes to interacting with the people and getting the people to accept the challenge of a command. Artistes have to be able to move the crowd ; Besides being strong vocally, their ability to command the crowd must be on point,” he highlighted, adding, “We as the representatives of the culture should be pushing to bring back the Soca Monarch to where it was, but of course, not everybody will think like me.”
On the tempo of the Soca that’s required for big flag crews and real mayhem to return to big venues in T&T, Wadicks agrees that the sweetness that’s currently trending must subside. “Once the tempo starts to escalate things will get better. ‘De t’ing too sweet, especially for a short season,” he said frankly.
The Scorch team at the helm of the 2027 production says this production will have “no backroom and no bacchanal,” with an expert panel of music industry experts, cultural commentators and soca veterans scoring creativity, lyrics, stage presence, overall impact and a specially introduced aspect – the Sparrow Tribute. “The Mighty Sparrow belonged to both sides of this battle, so every finalist – home side and away side must pay tribute to the Calypso King of the World somewhere in their Fantastic Friday presentation,” explains an accompanying ISM27 deck issued to the media.
The word is out and the people have gotten exactly what they’ve been asking for. What’s left to see now is just who supports with cultural passion and pride at the forefront, and who chooses not to.
Caribbean Buzz
A Caribbean Icon Has Passed. The Mighty Sparrow Leaves Behind a Mighty Legacy. Machel, Shurwayne Reflect.
On the heels of his passing, the Caribbean community immediately drew for the memories of his heyday, but for those who knew him best, moments shared intimately with The Mighty Sparrow through musical interaction and opportunities presented, will continue to be a solemn reminder of the human being that he was.
Soca King, Machel Montano recalls the opportunities given to him by the legendary entertainer. Sparrow’s timeless hits will live on and for Machel and many other artistes, his death at the age of 91, is a very real reminder of life’s impermanence. “I am flooded with emotions of every kind but most of all, I am filled with joyful memories of moments I’ve shared, lessons I’ve learnt, and music that shaped my very being,” said Montano. In 2008, the pair had collaborated to re-create Sparrow’s classic hit, ‘Congo Man.’ It was certainly a collaboration that will live in Machel’s heart forever.
More than seven decades of service to the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, The Mighty Sparrow’s legacy includes honors received from the country he was adopted by from a very young age. He had been awarded the Hummingbird Medal Silver in 1969, the Chaconia Medal Gold in 1993 and the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2014, for his inimitable contribution to one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most enduring musical art forms, Calypso.
Shurwayne Winchester, in paying tribute to the icon, said, “In every lifetime, your presence would be needed, your music would be essential, your wit and personality required, because you, Mighty, Mighty Sparrow, were a gift to us all.” Shurwayne was one of the last artistes to collaborate with the legendary Calypsonian. The song is called, “My Island Girl,” released in 2023.
Mentored and loved by the Mighty Sparrow throughout her career, Natasha Wilson shared that her heart is saddened and announced that he had taken his last breath at 2:22pm on September 27th. “Dr. Slinger Francisco, the Calypso King of the World has passed,” she said in a Facebook live video. She asked for time on behalf of the family, to process the death of the man many considered the greatest Calypsonian who ever lived.
The Mighty Sparrow was born in Grand Roy, Grenada in 1935. His family migrated to Trinidad and Tobago less than two years later. In 1956, his career started with the hit single, ‘Jean and Dinah.’ It may have been his most famous song, but it would be only one of many, many incredibly well-constructed Calypso singles. Kees Dieffenthaller, in paying tribute, said The Mighty Sparrow was “the blueprint.” Internationally acclaimed songwriter and vocalist, Angela Hunte also shared, “My Sundays will always be filled with your voice in my house.”
From Barbados to Jamaica, his birthplace, Grenada, Guyana, the United States, the UK and at home in Trinidad and Tobago, the loss of Slinger Francisco – The Mighty Sparrow, is felt. Guyana’s President, Irfan Ali said, “He brought recognition to our Caribbean civilization. His melodies and lyrics sailed far beyond the region’s shores,” adding, “Sparrow lifted calypso from mere entertainment into an art form.” The Honorable, Mia Mottley also shared sentiments of deep appreciation and adoration for the Birdie, as he was fondly called, writing, “Calypso gave the ordinary Calypsonian a voice. Sparrow carried it to the world with incomparable genius. Born in Grenada and raised in Trinidad, he belonged to all of us.” She called on Caribbean adults to, “let our children hear him. Let them know that this brilliance came from among us.”
