Carnival is more than jump and wave in today’s world. It’s an experience that event organisers go hard at to establish their individual brands. This coming Sunday, one team of organisers says their event will be perfection. Brunch and Soca – the premium, all inclusive carnival fete, takes place at Trinity East College, Trincity from 4pm to 11pm. St. Vincent and the Grenadines artiste, Skinny Fabulous, is a part of the organizing team.

With an ever- evolving entertainment landscape, the expectations of carnival event attendees is at an all time high. For the organisers of Brunch and Soca, it’s a challenge they’ve dedicated their time and energy, to ensuring complete satisfaction in 2026. “Brunch and Soca Trinidad will ultimately deliver top tier food stations, multiple premium bars, the greatest soca Djs, and trending soca artistes, all within a beautifully designed, upscale setting. This is where Carnival meets premium execution,” said one event coordinator.

Fashion and style now a major part of the Carnival dynamic in the Caribbean, many often question how should one dress for an event of this calibre. “The dress code is fashionably brunch- chic, so patrons are encouraged to come styled up, and ready to enjoy the Carnival Sunday atmosphere,” said the coordinator.

The Brunch and Soca team has effectively and dedicatedly worked toward leaving a lasting memory, with each event executed. “Patrons have higher expectations when it comes to creativity, ambiance and value, which is pushing promoters like us, to elevate our productions. While the industry is more competitive, it’s creating better, more intentional events,” said the spokesperson. Additionally, she explained that there is now a strong demand for premium, well curated experiences. “There’s a lot of opportunity now for brands that focus on quality and authenticity.”

Even amid the high demand for more quality, fashion, creativity and perks at Carnival fetes, feting in itself remains a very important aspect of the Brunch and Soca experience. “This event is unique because it blends brunch culture with carnival energy, creating not just a party but really, an all round memorable, premium experience.”

Brunch and Soca tickets are available at all CACHE locations in Trinidad and Tobago and online at www.brunchandsoca.com.

Machel Montano’s dedication and undeniable work ethic are the core character traits many will have the chance to see, in the documentary, ‘Like Ah Boss’. The man, who, for over four decades, has worn the crown of King of Soca, says beyond 2026, he plans on shifting his focus to other aspects of music and life, which he knows is necessary at this time. The documentation of his 45- year career in Soca music, took his team 11 years to complete and still, Machel says, there are things that have been left out – things he will eventually include in a subsequent documentary.

In a brief Q&A following the screening on February 10th at Movie Town, Port-of-Spain, Machel said it has not been easy. “This was quite a challenge for us. It took us 11 years to do this and it’s just part of the story. This isn’t even the whole story. This is just what we could’ve done.” The 11- time Road March King added, “It was just like, wanting to share everything with everybody. We have a love, everybody you see on that screen is a love,” said Montano, as he highlighted the dedication of some of his closest team members – one of whom is Soul, who has been at his side since 1986. “That film was really putting out everything that we see, hear and feel – the only thing you couldn’t do was smell or taste, but you could feel it. For me, I was really proud of what they put together,” he said.

Describing seeing the final version of the documentary as a magical experience, Machel told the audience that throughout the process, he made every effort to facilitate whatever was needed by the crew, admitting that it was all he could do amid his extraordinarily busy life.

THE YEAR 2015 WAS PIVOTAL

‘Like Ah Boss‘ was shot primarily in the year 2015. It was a significant turning point for him – a year he had committed to refocusing his attention and removing himself from the International Soca Monarch competition. Machel had vowed to go out ‘Like Ah Boss,’ and that he did, winning the title and going on to perform at several fetes in the aftermath of his crowning moment.

Manager, Che Kothari, in analyzing his experience with Machel over the years, said, “It’s quite ridiculous watching him. We live it everyday. We’re going through it again in this season – back to back to back to back – right after this, we go straight to another show. To document that and to show people the power that you have within – when you have a message and you want to share that with the world and you relentlessly work towards that, that’s something that I’m inspired to shoot,” he said.

Kothari was a professional photographer when he met Machel in 2014 and according to the entertainer, Che’s arrival into his life was the equivalent of answered prayer. He said during one of his moments of vulnerability, in an apartment in the US, having experienced setback, he wrote in his journal the type of person he needed to be his manager and that person proved to be Che Kothari. “We are living in, and creating history and it’s a real honor to be beside this man and to be able to support that,” said Che.

EXPERIENCING DOUBT, FACING CHALLENGES.

“I’m going through some tough times right now, trying to reach the top of the mountain,” said Machel quite frankly, when asked whether he has experienced doubt over the years. “It’s all through the documentary,” he said, noting that as it pertains to the documentary, there was doubt as to whether the film was good enough. “We still don’t think it’s at the quality for us to get it to Netflix because it’s so much old footage that we can’t really get it to look better, to be cleaner. I am the procrastinating perfectionist. This is the first one. There will be another. There’s the Machel Montano book and we’re already working on the next version,” he said, noting that 2025 into 2026 has been a period of tremendous challenge for him. “There is a part of this story that we didn’t tell that is actually very actively happening between 2025 into 2026 and that is probably one of the biggest challenges of my life and that will be told as soon as we finish carnival and hopefully by next year we’ll be able to tell that part of the story,” said Montano.

Machel says there is always doubt. “We are always positively dissatisfied,” he admitted, saying despite the team’s feelings, he hopes everyone will enjoy what has been created for his fans and Soca music lovers around the world.

A NEW DAY IS COMING.

A career that some have compared to that of International superstar, Michael Jackson, complete with highs, lows, celebrations and spectacles, Machel Montano says he has learnt and grown a lot over the years. “It’s fun to walk into your closet and put on something different, pretend to be somebody, role play but over the years, through all of that, I have realized that I really should be doing the opposite. Instead of putting on things, I should be taking things off,” he said, going on to explain that he has recently learnt that going inward, is the fastest way out.

Now, the entertainer says he has reached a point where he gets it, and he has nothing more to prove. “I have seen it all, done it all and I have it all, and when you have seen it all, done it all and have it all, you look up and you want to do what is needed.”

As to what is needed at this time, the artiste who recently acquired his Master’s Degree in Carnival Studies, said what is needed is for the children of his country, Trinidad and Tobago to be higher educated, “and not be fully dunce.” He went on to say that the country must also understand that oil and gas is not the richest resource. “It’s the people. It’s the talent. I am about to take that journey,” he said, referring to his plans to ensure that these needs are realized.

‘Like Ah Boss’ hits movie theaters in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana on February 12th.