After some uncertainty, the popular Fire Fete is on tomorrow night at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain. Perennially a crowd-puller, this fete, billed this year as Fire & Foam, will be served by the Asylum Vikings, KI & JMC 3Veni, Olatunji, Iwer George, Lyrikal, 5 Star Akil, Ricardo Drue and DJs Ryan Spartan, Tech, Socks and Sheriff. Also on the cast is emcee Sonny Bling of Slam 100.5FM.
A much improved and better co-ordinated Fete Royal all-inclusive was held by QRC in St Clair last Saturday. The cuisine was a unique and varied one, inclusive of Jamaican delicacy mannish water, stewed horse, Kay's fish broth from Rampanalgas, Edghill's geera pork and Ellerz Cafe's seabass fish n chips. QRC went over the top with its Asian stalls as well, served by Rassam, Ghazal, Tandoorie Hut and Passages to Asia. There was also an exclusive vegan stall and an immaculate fruit stall, complete with fruit carvings. Now a staple at most premium all-inclusive parties, popular bake and shark was done by the women of Garden Kitchen, although having to also supply their fare at Stumped!, also in progress at the nearby Queen's Park Oval.
The food stalls, erected on the college's football field, were easily accessible with no long lines. This was also that way at the bar, fuelled by premium liquor brands.
Karma, featuring Ravi B and his sister Nisha B opened the live performance segment and set the tone for ensuing bands, Kes the Band and The Asylum Vikings. Nisha B has certainly improved in her vocal quality and stage craft.
Kes the Band, fronted by vocalist Kees Dieffenthaller, offered an energetic performance. Guesting with the band were Ricardo Drue and Olatunji. In the wake of Olatunji performing his infectious Ola, Kes did a wonderful rendition of Benjai's Phenomenal.
After an interlude of DJ music, the Vikings were introduced just before 11 pm with Fay Ann Lyons opening her 2015 hit Raze. Her husband Bunji Garlin then took over the lead mic and the Vikings proceeded to give another of its well-rehearsed, compact sets. Making a surprise guest appearance, much to the amusement of all in attendance, was 2015 International Soca Monarch semi-finalist Hott Mouth Granny to do her single Go Granny.
Fete Royal was closed off by World Wide Steel Orchestra escorting patrons out of the venue. This year's edition of the fete was a marked improvement to preceding ones. There was the noticable increase of a more youthful attendance and the DJs and bands played more music that catered to a younger clientele.
Popular soca artistes and bands are not necessary to rock a Carnival party. All that's needed is one good disc jockey. Belmont's DJ Cutting Crew did just just this when he played last Sunday at a J'Ouvert band launch at Rafa clubhouse, Queen's Park East, Port-of-Spain. Cutting Crew had the party swinging non-stop from mid-afternoon to Sunday night.
The band A Fan Fare for the Kings & Queens of Carnival 1959-2014, is being produced for the second year by veteran mas man Peter "Blues" Reynald under the banner of West Indian Roofing Fan Fare & Associates. The party was a semi-inclusive and for an admission fee of $30, yes $30, patrons were treated to hops and buljhol, hops and chicken gizzard, bake and shark, split peas and rice cook-up, and other cuisine. Premium drinks were also on sale at reasonable prices.
To play in Reynald's band, which will be all-inclusive, masqueraders are being charged $150. This guarantees drinks and breakfast on J'Ouvert morning. Music will be by DJ Cutting Crew on a 40-foot trailer. Before Carnival weekend, Reynald will be hosting a "blow out" at the band's camp, located at 22 Belmont Circular Road, on January 30.
The schools' all-inclusive fund-raising itinerary continues tomorrow with the equally popular Hilarians fete, at Bishop Anstey High School, Abercromby Street, at 5 pm. There will be no Destra and her band Bakanal at the party this year but it will be adequately fuelled by Roy Cape All Stars, feat Blaxx and Darnella Simmons; Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons & The Asylum Band; Dil-e-Nadan, feat Raymond Ramnarine, plus guest artistes.
Calypso Monarch pick
This week I heard my first contender for National Calypso Monarch honours. It's reigning Young Kings Monarch Stephen Marcelle's If it ain't one thing, it's another.
A cabaret singer managed by Roxanne Browne-Phillips, Marcelle has been knocking on the doors of calypso for quite some time. His song was composed by Nigel Davidson and arranged by Junior Ibo Joseph.
Browne-Phillips said this week: "This is a big song that has a lot of potential. The opening bars of the song isn't a sample of the original song. It's by singers Ibo got together in his studio. Stephen is consistent and has been working really hard in calypso. He isn't even in a calypso tent this year as he was writing exams when auditions were in progress. He auditioned for one tent but its management rejected the song, maybe because of its political nature? We in his camp know that he has the ability to be a deserving monarch but, at the end of the day, it's all up to the people who judge the competition."
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A calypso and pan weekend
After a fortnight of fetes, calypso tents and panyards move into the spotlight.
With Kaiso House and Divas Cabaret calypso tents already opened, this weekend sees Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco) premiering three tents under its umbrella, and Panorama 2015 preliminaries being held in the north and east.
The sweet, infectious sound of steel commences this evening at The Paddock, Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, at 6 pm, when Pan Trinbago holds the National Panorama Single Pan preliminaries (North Region). The Panorama competition continues tomorrow evening, at the same time with the East Region preliminary being held at The Velodrome, Arima. The South/Central Region preliminary is scheduled for Sunday evening, at 5 pm, at Petrotrin Sports Club Car Park, Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre.
Calypso music from years gone by is the preferred selections of the majority of the steelbands participating in this year's Single Pan preliminaries. Less than five bands have opted for current releases inclusive of Sound of Music of Morvant with The Holy Grail, composed and sung by Thecia Rodriguez.
Selections from the repertoire of Kitchener, Becket, SuperBlue, Tambu, Shadow, Arrow, Lord Nelson, to name a few, are some of more popular choices of the bands. In fact, Aldwyn Roberts has the most plays to date. These include Ka Ka Roach, No Wuk For Carnival, Pan In A Minor and Rainorama.
The Kalypso Revue, under the management of Sugar Aloes (Michael Osouna), will host its traditional opening this evening, at The Velodrome, Arima, at 8 pm. This year, the tent's cast is expected to include former national monarchs Pink Panther, Chalkdust and Sugar Aloes, defending Extempore Monarch Brian London, Skatie, Devon Seale and Ninja.
Also opening his Icons calypso tent this evening, at 8.30 pm, is former national monarch Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins). Once again, Cro Cro's tent will be pitched at Ambassador Hotel, Long Circular Road, St James.
Perennial crowd-pleaser All Rounder will once again headline the cast at Klassic Ruso when the tent premieres its season this evening, at 7 o'clock. After years of being housed at Port-of-Spain City Hall, the tent has shifted venue and will be base this year at ISSAS Restaurant & Pub, 130 Henry Street, Port-of-Spain. All Rounder will be joined by his daughters Shirlaine Hendrickson and Lady Wonder, Crazy, Contender, Sergio Francisco and others.
It's eastbound for calypso lovers tomorrow evening when Tuco opens Kaiso Karavan at Eric Williams Auditorium, La Joya, EMR, St Joseph, at 7 pm. The tent's cast includes reigning Humorous Monarch The Incredible Myron B, De Original de Fosto Himself, Cardinal, Stinger, Singing Francine, Erphaan Alves, Johnny King and Eunice Peters.