2008 International Soca Monarch Semi-Finalists announced

Defending champion Iwer George performing at the 2007 Int'l Soca Monarch Finals

Sixty-two artists have been announced to compete at the 2008 Soca Monarch semi-finals. Only twenty (10 power/10 groovy) will move forward to 'Fantastic Friday' (Int'l Soca Monarch Finals) to be held on Carnival Friday February 1st.

3-time Soca Monarch winner Bunji Garlin has returned to once again face off against current title holder Iwer George. Also making a grand return is Soca Monarch's all-time title winner, Superblue, who will look to add to his record 5 wins.

In the Groovy Soca Monarch category, Biggie Irie will defend against some veteran talent as well as the likes of new-comers Kees Dieffenthaller and Zoelah to the competition.

The 2008 semi-finals takes place on Friday January 25th, and the finals will take place on Friday February 1st at the Queens Park Oval.

The power and groovy soca monarch semi-finalists are as follows:

GROOVY SOCA MONARCH SEMI-FINALISTS
1. Ainsley King
2. Brent Anthony
3. C'Donnia
4. Cassi
5. Devon Matthews
6. Eunice Peters
7. Farmer Nappy
8. Gary Cordner
9. Jamesy P (St. Vincent)
10. Kees Dieffenthaller
11. Keegan Taylor
12. Laura Pereira
13. Mr Dale (Barbados)
14. Michelle Sylvester
15. Mr Chucky
16. Nadia Batson
17. Patrice Roberts
18. Peter C Lewis
19. Peter Ram (Barbados)
20. Skhi
21. Shal Marchall
22. Shurwayne Winchester
23. Terry Seales
24. Teddison John (St. Lucia)
25. Tony Prescott
26. Tizzy (Antigua)
27. Third Bass
28. Tracey D
29. Zoelah (St. Vincent)
30. 3Suns
31. Marie Anne
32. Faye-Ann Lyons

POWER SOCA MONARCH SEMI-FINALISTS
1. Allan Piper
2. Blaxx
3. Bunji Garlin
4. Crazy
5. Dawg-E-Slaughter
6. Denise Belfon
7. Eustace and Phive Pound
8. Fireball
9. Kurt Allen
10. Keisha Stewart
10. Lil Rick
11. Lil Bits
12. Luni and Electrify
13. Nadia Batson
14. Nnika (Grenada)
15. Ms Alysha
16. Olatunji Yearwood
17. Patch
18. Pelf
19. Problem Child
20. Ricky T
21. Rootsman
22. Rita Jones
23. Shurwayne Winchester
24. Sanelle Dempster
25. Sean Caruth
26. Super Blue
27. Tizzy
28. Young Marcel
29. Blazer
30. Faye-Ann Lyons

Salah's Steelpan Academy is the new 2007 Pan Alive Champs

Salah's Steelpan Academy is the new 2007 Pan Alive Champs
Toronto, Saturday August 4th, 2007 - A Montreal based Pan band topped the points standing at Lamport Stadium last night, against Ontario's finest pan sides. Salah's Steelpan Academy scored a 271, good for first place at the 10th annual Pan Alive competition.

Some of this year's favorites ended up in a 3-way tie for 2nd place, much to the dislike of many fans inside Lamport Stadium. Full results from Pan Alive are listed below.

Pan Alive 2007 Results
1. Salah's Steelpan Academy - 271 points
2. (TIE) Pan Fantasy, Afropan, New Dimension - 266
5. Silhouettes - 263
6. Pan Vibrations - 248
7. Panatics - 2428. Metrotones - 249
8. Pan Masters - 228
9. (TIE) St. Jamestown, Hamilton Youth Band - 227
11 - Symphonex 225

For full CARIBANA results go to:www.toronto-lime.com/carnival/results.htm

Carnival Nationz captures 3 out of 4 titles at the 2007 CARIBANA King & Queen Competition

Three number ones - Carnival Nationz winners at Lamport Stadium
from left: Tamara Alleyne-Gittens, Rudy Rampersad & Kurt Alexander

Carnival Nationz captures 3 out of 4 titles at the 2007 CARIBANA King & Queen Competition

Friday August 3rd, 2007 - Curtis Eustace's Carnival Nationz walked out of Lamport Stadium last night just shy of a clean sweep. The Nationz crew won three of a possible four titles (King of the Bands, Queen of the Bands, Male Individual of the Year) and placed 2nd in the Female Individual category.
Tamara Allyene-Gittens was succesful in defending her 'Queen of the Bands' title and now has back-to-back wins in her very first two Caribana appearances. Co-masquerader Rudy Rampersad, also undefeated in two years now extends his all-time 'King of the Bands' record to 11 victories. The 'Male Individual of the Year' went to new-comer Kurt Alexander (also of Carnival Nationz), and Joanne Boisson of Borokeete Canada spoilt the clean sweep by capturing the 'Female Individual of the Year'.

The unoffical results from lasts nights competition are as follows:

Female Individual of the Year
1. Joanne Boisson - 'Gateway to Atlantis' (Borokeete Canada)
2. Rebecca Kerr - 'The Fire Dancer' (Carnival Nationz)
3. Cyrese Pounall-King - 'Andromcia - Subduer of Men' (Tribal Knights)
4. Monica Lewis - 'Travelling' (Nip Davis & Assoc)

Male Individual of the Year
1. Kurt Alexander - 'The Master of the Seals' (Carnival Nationz)
2. Andy Charles - The City That Never Sleeps' (Toronto Revellers)
3. Gaelen Sidney - 'Dreamscape: Limbo of the Lost' (Evolution Carnival)
4. Shane Richards - 'Cold Fusion' (Caribbean Connection)

Queen of the Bands
1. Tamara Alleyne-Gittens - 'Abracadabra' (Carnival Nationz)
2. Carol Cuffie - 'A Nubian Queen' (Arnold Hughes & Assoc.)
3. Susan Low - 'Lady Shanghai' (Evolution Carnival)
4. Betty Toni - 'D' Rising of the Phoenix' (Tribal Knights)

King of the Bands
1. Rudy Rampersad - 'The Ring Master' (Carnival Nationz)
2. Ronnie Devignes - 'Spirit Hawk - Chief of the Pow Wow' (Mas Toronto)
3. Dexter Seusahai - 'Toharqa: King of the Tribe' (Tribal Knights)
4. Satish Narinesingh - 'The Shaman Rising' (Pleasure Players)

Photos and video clips are available at:
http://www.toronto-lime.com/pictures/carnival/2007/070802_kings_and_queens

CARIBANA FESTIVAL 2007 PARADEORDER OF STEELBANDS

The following is the order of Steelbands after their draw for positions. However, the complete integrated order of the entire Parade (masbands and steelbands) will be determined soon.

1. Metro Tones
2. Pan Masters
3. St. Jamestown Youth Orchestra
4. Pan Fantasy
5. Salah's Steelpan Academy
6. New Dimension
7. Sillouettes
8. Jesse Ketchum Pan Vibrations
9. Afro Pan
10. Panatics

For a complete listing of 'PAN YARDS' for the 10 registered Steelbands in the 2007 CARIBANA Parade go to www.toronto-lime.com/carnival/toronto_panyards.htm

Big Talent Turn Out For Digicel Rising Stars ‘07

The producers of Digicel Rising Stars should be extremely pleased that the success of last years Digicel Rising Stars has had a positive impact on the would be stars that turned out for the first audition of the new season, in Ocho Rios last Saturday.

From as early as 6:00 am the aspiring stars turned up at the Island Village Shopping Centre, in search of that big break. Some of the usual suspects were missing from the first audition though by midday it became obvious that Jamaica was taking notes during last years show as the acts obviously prepared to walk the road to stardom.

For many persons like Duane Bascente, a resident of Portmore, the show symbolizes his quest to stardom. “I have been rehearsing everyday for the past year trying to perfect my craft, with the hope that I can make the top ten at one of the auditions,” he said. “I have prepared myself to go to all the auditions just in case I don’t make it at one venue. Nothing will stop me from realizing my dream.”

“Ocho Rios is usually one of our largest auditions because in the past three years we held the auditions in the third or fourth week and by then the momentum of the show would have picked up, so it was overwhelming to know we were able audition over 400 persons at this, our first audition.” Paula Pinnock-MacLeod, Digicel’s Marketing Projects Manager and the show’s Executive Producer.

The contestants in Ocho Rios impressed Nicole Desvignes, Series Producer for Trinidad and Tobago’s Digicel Rising Stars who along with her show’s director were at the auditions as guest of their Jamaican counterparts. “It was nothing short of phenomenonal to see the varying talent that Jamaicans possess. The contestants sang everything from Country & Western to R& B and did it with such ease,” she said. “We came to Jamaica to observe the audition with the view of incorporating some of Jamaica’s ideas in our show. The level of organization that goes into the production is remarkable, plus it helps when you have great talent as we saw in Ocho Rios.”

As Jamaica’s leading television programme Digicel Rising Stars has set the bar high for local television production. From memorable performances to excellent scripting and editing, the talent show has put Jamaican talent in the limelight both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. “We have invested a lot in the production of the show. It’s humbling to know it’s appreciated by our viewers,” said Claire Clarke-Grant, Marketing and Sales Manager, TVJ.
With Ocho Rios down auditions continue this Saturday, April 28 at Fayors Entertainment Centre, Mandeville; Saturday, May 5 at Neville Antonio Park, Port Antonio; Saturday, May 12 at Pier One, Montego Bay and Saturday, May 19 at The National Stadium, Kingston. The first show will be aired on Sunday, May 27 at 8 p.m. on Television Jamaica.

The winner of this year’s Digicel Rising Stars will receive a cash prize of $1 million, two singles produced and distributed by Green sleeves, a music video and $100,000 call credit courtesy of Digicel. The second place winner will receive $600,000, a single produced and distributed by Greensleeves, and $75,000 call credit courtesy of Digicel. Third place will receive cash of $400,000, a single produced and distributed by Greensleeves and $50,000 call credit courtesy of Digicel.

http://www.digiceljamaica.com/risingstars