A lot more of the national instrument is needed as a balm to heal our crime-stricken nation. On Tuesday night, when the North Zone preliminary was conducted, people came out in their thousands, commuting from panyard to panyard. From all reports the entire exercise, which ended after midnight, was incident-free as the public enjoyed the beautiful music played by some of the best steel orchestras on the planet. I continue to contend that pan is an instrument of peace and is the secret weapon all the world needs to combat violence and many of the ills that plague us today.
The first national champion of Panorama 2017 was crowned on Sunday night when Newtown Playboys Steel Symphony, led by Kwame Rodriguez, bettered 20 rivals to cop the Single Pan title, playing Carlon Harewood’s arrangement of SuperBlue’s Get Something and Wave.
Runners-up were San Juan All Stars and Woodbrook Playboyz, respectively.
Panorama judging for conventional bands continue nightly through this weekend.
The party scene also sizzled last weekend with some bumper fetes hosted by Old Hilarians (Cheers to 21) on Saturday and UWI (Wanderlust) on Sunday. Also impressing was Pelham Goddard & Roots when they headlined Sunday’s Roots, The Story Continues, Under the Trees at The Normandie in St Ann’s.
Many people are also favourably commenting about last Sunday’s Carnival, The Sound of People, a multi-faceted production staged by internationally acclaimed musician Etienne Charles at Queen’s Hall.
One patron said: “On a scale of 1-10, I will give Etienne’s show a 12.” Another quipped: “It is the best show I have ever attended in my entire life.” People are clamouring for a repeat of this production.
Not to be left out, Saturday’s Chutney Soca Monarch semifinal is being described by many as “epic.” Held at LIV Nightclub in La Romaine, the finalists selected to challenge KI on February 11 for the coveted title are Rikki Jai, Ravi B, Rooplal G, Hunter, Shivan R & Slammer Cutter, Michael “Showtime” Ramroop, Rick Ramoutar, Mishard Mayrhoo and Omadath Maharaj.
Tomorrow night’s Fete with the Saints is Saturday’s blue riband fete. Featuring Machel Montano, Kes the Band, Nuphoric, Private Ryan and more, the party will be held on St Mary’s College Ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair, from 6 pm.
On Sunday evening, from 5 pm, Yorke Inc will hold its Happy People all-inclusive fete at the University Inn & Conference Centre, UWI Circular Road, St Augustine.
Music will be by Kes the Band, Roy Cape All Stars, Dil-e-Nadan, Blaxx, Ricardo Drue, Raymond Ramnarine, Voice, KI, Tizzy, JW & Blaze, Point Fortin Engine Room and more.
Also on Sunday evening, the grounds of Presentation College, San Fernando will be transformed into a party zone when PREStige Past Students Foundation holds its 7PREStige all-inclusive fete.
Calypso and soca also have their place to shine in this weekend’s glow with the semi-final of the International Soca Monarch taking place on Sunday afternoon, back at its original home, the Arima Velodrome.
On Wednesday night, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsy Dolly, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste Primus and former Culture Minister Joan Yuille Williams were the honoured guests at the premiere of the all-female Divas Calypso Cabaret International calypso tent, based at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp) in Woodbrook.
Preliminary judging for the National Calypso Monarch competition continues nightly in the calypso tents, with the judges visiting Kalypso Revue tonight at SWWTU Hall in Port-of-Spain, Kaiso Karavan at La Joya, St Joseph, tomorrow, and Kaiso House at Globe Cinema on Sunday night.
Old Hilarians celebrate 21
The Old Hilarians came of age last Saturday evening with the staging of their annual all-inclusive fete on the grounds of Bishop Anstey High School in Port-of-Spain. Heading the list of dignitaries in attendance was Prime Minister Keith Rowley, accompanied by his wife Sharon and daughter Tonya.
The party offered a wide and varied selection of food, including goat done wild-meat style, Trini Melee kibabs, barbecued pig tail, lasagne, and various types of souse. Musically, getting things rolling were DJ Jugglers, who introduced former Flavourite National Schools Soca Monarch Sergio Camejo, followed by Slam 100.5FM artiste 5 Star Akil who did a solo set of his past and current hits.
Just after 8 pm, Kes the Band came on stage and treated patrons to an hour of high intensity music. At the end, with the strains of Wotless still reverberating, the crowd began chanting “We want more.”
DJ Alicia D Duchess, who has been ripping up parties this year, began her set at 9.06 pm and introduced Terri Lyons who thrilled with her song What Is Mih Name and Recruit, performed sans Skinny Fabulous.
Lyons was followed by Iwer George who entertained with a 15-song set, including hits like J’Ouvert, Fete after Fete, Bubble, Party Hot, Jump in the Water, Jab Molassie, Hand in the Air, People Want Water, Trinidad, Show Me Yuh Hand, Hand, Do The Iwer.
Before patrons could catch a collective breath, entered MX Prime & Ultimate Rejects performing monster hit single Full Extreme. Prime also went retro to do Soca Train, and maintained the high intensity in the crowd when he sang Soca Warrior. Patrons sang the Soca Warrior chorus, as well as all of Full Extreme. Ultimate Rejects injected a taste of Panorama by performing the pan version of Full Extreme, extending the hit for over ten minutes.
It was 10.30 pm when the Roy Cape All Stars made its entrance, led by vocalists Blaxx, Ricardo Drue and the provocative-looking Tizzy. As usual, the band presented a number of guest performers, including Teddyson John and Rupee, and gave yet another typically well-rehearsed All Stars performance, embellished by strident horns.
Old Hilarians’ Cheers to 21 still had lots of verve and energy when it ended at midnight.
Price cut for Panorama
Patrons to Pan Trinbago/NLCB National Panorama Festival semi-finals on Sunday, February 12 can enjoy reduced ticket prices to the event. After taking into consideration several economic factors, the promoters have reverted to its original price structure. So, tickets for the North Stand will now cost $350, Grand Stand $200, with the North Greens at $250.
The semi-finals (the Savannah Party) will begin at 9 am, with 58 steelbands in three categories performing their tune of choice before the judges.
Early birds to all areas will receive free instant scratch lottery tickets (Lucky 7 and 10 X the money)—2,500 to the North Stand, 500 to the Grand Stand, and 1,500 to the Greens, or a chance to win up to $200,000.
Additionally, all patrons in the Grand Stand and North Greens will get free rum and beer, with those in the North Greens receiving natural water as long as stocks last.
Earlier this week, NLCB announced its title sponsorship of the major steelband and calypso competitions, that is, both the National Panorama semi-finals and the Calypso Fiesta in San Fernando.