Carnival 2015 gets going tonight when Harts International launches Dominion of the Sun at O2 Park, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas. Next year's presentation is expected to be outstanding, in keeping with the standard of excellence established by Edmond and Lil Hart way back in the 60s and maintained by their son and main designer Gerald Hart. Tonight's music is expected to be "awesome," according to one organiser as its playbill includes DJs Marcus Williams, Hans & Gonzo, Nick Pena, Kern Crosby and Dominic Williams
Tonight's launch premieres an avalanche of similar events in July when five major bands have their's scheduled. Of these, the most unique is the July 12 launch of The Village by D'Krewe. Bandleader Roland St George is leaving north Trinidad to launch his band in the east, in Valencia. Held in collaboration with Big One and Friends Promotions, D'Krewe's launch is at Holiday Ranch, on Toco Road, along the Valencia By Pass. The party begins at 10 pm and goes until four the next morning.
Other July launches include Passion � Neverland (July 12); Tribe � Wings of Desire (July 19); Bliss � Blue (July 19); Ronnie & Caro � We Come Back Home (July 24); Fantasy � Blockbuster (July 26); and, Paparazzi � Wonderland (July 31).
In other 2015 Carnival buzz, Legacy director Juliet de la Bastide recently disclosed that her band intends breaking from tradition of being the last band to launch its mas (Reflections), usually in October. She revealed that Legacy is aiming for a launch date in September.
Start the mas
Carnival 2015 gets going tonight when Harts International launches Dominion of the Sun at O2 Park, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas. Next year's presentation is expected to be outstanding, in keeping with the standard of excellence established by Edmond and Lil Hart way back in the 60s and maintained by their son and main designer Gerald Hart. Tonight's music is expected to be "awesome," according to one organiser as its playbill includes DJs Marcus Williams, Hans & Gonzo, Nick Pena, Kern Crosby and Dominic Williams
Tonight's launch premieres an avalanche of similar events in July when five major bands have their's scheduled. Of these, the most unique is the July 12 launch of The Village by D'Krewe. Bandleader Roland St George is leaving north Trinidad to launch his band in the east, in Valencia. Held in collaboration with Big One and Friends Promotions, D'Krewe's launch is at Holiday Ranch, on Toco Road, along the Valencia By Pass. The party begins at 10 pm and goes until four the next morning.
Other July launches include Passion � Neverland (July 12); Tribe � Wings of Desire (July 19); Bliss � Blue (July 19); Ronnie & Caro � We Come Back Home (July 24); Fantasy � Blockbuster (July 26); and, Paparazzi � Wonderland (July 31).
In other 2015 Carnival buzz, Legacy director Juliet de la Bastide recently disclosed that her band intends breaking from tradition of being the last band to launch its mas (Reflections), usually in October. She revealed that Legacy is aiming for a launch date in September.
Two of the nation's most loved Indo-Trinidadian artistes will tomorrow come together at the Sundar Popo Auditorium of the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando to present a concert simply titled The Comedian and the Singer.
The show, presented by Randy Glasgow Productions (RPG), will feature comedian Kenneth Supersad and singer Indar Kanhai, each delivering full-length concert performances.
The guest artistes are Shiv Shakti Dancers, Rakesh "The Raja" Yankarran and other popular musical and comedic acts including an Ian Allen look-alike along with a number of surprises. RGP is putting together a show that will blend chutney, Bollywood, Indian classical, stand-up comedy, theatrical comedy and comical music.
Supersad who has risen to the top of the stand-up comedy acts was popular with audiences at the 2014 Alternative Comedy Festival. Over the past 20 years he has honed his skill well and is a versatile entertainer who also excels in theatrical comedy and as a chutney singer of very funny songs. A humble and charitable man, Supersad is loved in his community where every Christmas he passes through the streets on a truck giving toys and snacks to the neighbourhood children. He is promising a first-class performance with a lot of new material.
Kanhai is an accomplished singer who performs everything from religious, folk and classical East Indian songs to chutney, Bollywood and pop. He is as celebrated in India as he is loved here at home. In 2003, Kanhai was invited to perform at the Bollywood Awards, held in Atlanta that year. He met Kumar Sanu who was impressed with his performance and they developed a friendship and a working relationship that led to Sanu going to India to record. Kanhai's song list includes Apna Tujhe, Kiska Rasta, Abhi Mujh Mein, Tere Jaisa, Do You Know and Zindagi Hai Tarapana.
Regular and VIP tickets are available at all regular outlets nationwide and NAPA, San Fernando all day today and tomorrow. For more info: Randy Glasgow Productions 622-0834 and 628-9158; rgpltd2002@yahoo.com, facebook/rgp events.
Good music?
I recently heard two beautiful bits of music, now available at the record shops.
One is a Ray Holman single featuring vocalist Gerelle Forbes and the other is a Pelham Goddard release.
Forbes sings Holman's A Woman Needs while the Goddard recording is a cover version of You are What Love Is, made popular years ago by Mave & Dave (Mavis John/Dave Elcock).
Goddard returned to his Agra 9 Studio in St James with the intention of promoting front line singers Moricia Cagan and Nigel O'Connor.
All the music was arranged and produced by Goddard with an alto sax solo by Malcolm Boyce. Both Holman and Goddard are veteran steelband arrangers as well; Holman now attached to Skiffle and Goddard to Republic Bank Exodus.
Goddard said: "I will like to think, as a local song, for this summer holiday it will put much needed love back in our country."