Booster Shot: Dominica cancels Soca Monarch Show in 2010 Carnival

February is almost here, which means it's the traditional carnival season around the world.  The Caribbean's nature isle, Dominica will be celebrating as well.  however, this year the celebrations will be missing a couple of elements that patrons have begun to look forward to.

International Artiste Night and Soca Monarch, two events introduced to Dominica carnival in the last two seasons, will not be staged in 2010 due to budgetary constraints.  Unfortunately, these events though relatively new to local celebrations, were very popular with Dominican youth and will be sorely missed.

The cancellation is disappointing, but its not the end of the road for Dominica Soca Monarch.  Organizer Val Cuffy told the media the event has been rescheduled for May 23, 2010.  Before then reigning soca monarch Daddy Chess will be taking his show to Trinidad to represent Dominica at International Soca Monarch on Friday, February 12, 2010.

Love and Soca,


Nurse Karen

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Booster Shot: Roy Cape to be honoured at World Creole Festival

Nurse Karen and Roy Cape (June 2009, St. Vincent)

Dominica's annual World Creole Festival is right around the corner. The music event features a wide variety of music styles that relate to the island's joint African and French heritage. Usually we think of Cadence, Zouk, Bouyon and Kompas when the Creole Festival comes around, however, there's a healthy dose of soca and calypso in the mix as well. This year Trinidadian veteran bandleader, Roy Cape will be among the honorees!

Cape is being recognized for his contribution to Caribbean music for decades, both at home in his native Trinidad and Tobago and in Dominica. He will travel to Dominica to perform in the 3-day long event, October 30 through November 1st. This is the saxophonist's first appearance at the fesitival, although it is reported that Roy Cape's first performance on the Nature Isle was in 1969 with the Sparrow Troubadours. He came back again with Black Stalin in 1988.

The World Creole Festival continues to grow as one of the region's premiere music events. If you like reggae, you can catch Morgan Heritage and Maxi Priest. However, for soca lovers, the final show is looking like a very hot ticket. Scheduled appearances include the likes of WCK, Denise Belfon, Iwer George, KMC, Daddy Chess, Kurt Allen, Chocolate and of course Roy Cape All Stars.

Roy Cape says he was bestowed the 1994 Hummingbird Gold National Award in Trinidad, but he finds it special for another country to pay tribute.

Very special indeed. Congratulations Mr. Cape!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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On De Scene : Caribbean Soca Monarch 2009 TONIGHT!

Carnival Sunday and though it is overcast in St.Lucia, the celebration will continue. This morning I attended the dipping of the positions for tonight's event ; Caribbean Soca Monarch.

Cultural Development Foundation graced the media, artists and everyone else present with some words on the growth and influence of this competition. A few artists scheduled for tonight's event will be absent due to flight delays. Which leaves a total of 10 competitiors (including the reigning Caribbean Soca Monarch King, Ricky T).

The 10 listed in order of numbers which they drew at the function will compete in front of 7 judges (from around the region) and of course the soca enthusiasts which will flood the Mindoo Philip Park this evening.


1. St.Vincent and the Grenadines - Skinny Fabulous (De Beast Leggo)

2.Grenada - Herminey “Miney” Victor (1000 Masqueraders)

3. St.Lucia - Ilah Man (I want my Money Back)

4. Barbados - Michael “Mikey” Mercer (Explosion)

5. St.Lucia - Ricky T (Like a Jumbie)

6. Guyana -: Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts (Ah Coming)

7. St.Lucia - Q pid (Relieve Me Pressure)

8. Trinidad and Tobago -Street disciples (Take a Wine and Hush you Mouth)

9 Grenada -Lyndon “Pupa Leendi” Adams (Rum Oye)

10. Dominica -Chester “Daddy Chess’ Letangs (Ready or Not)

The show begin after the King and Queen of the Bands scheduled for 8 p.m.. And we will be bringing LIVE COVERAGE of the enitre event (King and Queen of the Bands and Caribbean Soca Monarch)!

So WATCH LIVE !


Peace and Soca
Rochelle

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On De Scene : Caribbean Soca Monarch Finalists Announced

Well this is de show dat pushes St.Lucia Carnival up to a higher gear , talking about the Caribbean Soca Monarch. The list of competitors are in so here it is at your disposal. There are a few islands whose arists have not been confirmed by CDF. But according to them , towards the end of next week they should be announced. So for now here is the list of artists that will join the 2009 St.Lucia Soca Monarch along with 2 other St.Lucian aritsts on July 19th at the Mindoo Philip Park. Boy I excited bout this show , saw at least two of the artists in Trinidad and they delivered! I am certain it will be a Great Show!



Caribbean Soca Monarch

Mikey - Explosion (Barbados)


Tino - So High (BVI)


Daddy Chess - Ready or Not (Dominica)


Miney - 1000 Masqueraders (Grenada)


Pupa Leendi - Rum Oye (Grenada)

Vanilla - Ah Coming (Guyana)

Rondell Meade - ( Song not Confirmed) (Montserrat)


Skinny Fabulous -Head Bad (St. Vincent)


To be announced (St Vincent)


Benjai - Drunk Again (Trinidad & Tobago)


To be announced (Anguilla)


To be announced (Antigua & Barbuda)


Nurse Karen, I know you itching to change your flight schedule. No worry ah go get on bad for two or for de whole Team!

Peace & Soca
Rochelle

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Booster Shot: 2009 Mas Domnik Results

2009 Mas Domnik - Dominica Carnival Results: “More Fete Less Twaka”

Band of the Year

1. Go Girls and Kairi Mystique
Depiction: “Western Bacchanal”

2. Carnival Corner
Depiction: "Mélé Mélanjé"

3. Thunder Bird
Depiction: "Fire and Ice"

J’ouvert

First Lapo Kabwit on the road -- The Gutter Lapo Kabwit

Best Pappy Show -- The Religious Ones

Best Individual on the road - Rohan James

Best Sennsé on Carnival Monday - St. Joseph group

First Steel Band on the road - Real Steel Band

Best Jou ouvé group -- Newtown pre-school

The award for the lapo kabwit band which played the longest on the road - The Newtown Lapo Kabwit.

Calypso and Soca

Calypso Monarch
1. King Karessah
Songs: ‘Pastor’s Rod’ and ‘Calypso too patriotic’.
“Best Stage Presentation” Award

2. Observer
Songs: ‘Shut up legislation’ and ‘EIO’

3. Tarina
Songs: ‘Endangered Species’ and ‘Gwayé’

Junior Calypso Monarch – Sheldon Alfred / De Professor

Soca Monarch – Chester Letang/Daddy Chess

Queen Shows
Carnival Queen (Miss Dominica) – Kayan Toussaint
Carnival Princess – Chrislin Tavernier
Miss Teen Dominica – Kelcia Righton

Road March
“Carnival is Colour” -- Lloyd Wayland/De Energiser

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The Rounds: Fay-Ann Lyons is a Mommy Now!

Good Evening Soca Lovers!

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  The Soca Therapy crew is all back from Trinidad and Tobago carnival, with lots of stories to tell. 

First, listen up, cuz I’m only going to say this once.  Faye Ann Lyons and Bunji Garlin are the proud parents of a bouncy baby Girl.  The new addition to Trinidad’s 1^st family of soca arrived on the scene by C-section around noon yesterday.  Faye-Ann was admitted to Mt Hope hospital on Friday evening due to a condition called Pre-Eclampsia.  It’s set on by stress during the pregnancy and affects one in ten first time moms.  It can be very dangerous for both mother and child.  The baby girl was delivered one month ahead of schedule.  Although the little one is quite premature, both she and Faye Ann are doing great.  According to Faye-Ann’s manager, members of the Trini media have been camping out at the hospital, hoping for pictures, and even quizzing hospital staff for details. The name has not been released, although from what I can tell they have chosen one. The family is just trying their best to maintain a little bit of privacy. 

A baby girl, is the last of several prizes Faye-Ann was able to win this carnival. She is now the biggest ever winner slew of new titles to her name.  Last week Friday, I watched her become the first female to win the Power soca crown in Trinidad, beating out husband Bunji Garlin and Iwer George who tied for second place, and Blaxx with Tusty, who rounded out the fourth position.  She was a double queen that night, also taking the top spot in the groovy category over last year’s defending champ, Shurwayne Winchester, Benjai, and Zoelah respectively.  Congrats to each of them, for putting on a spectacular show.   The viewers at home texted in all night to legitimize Faye-Ann’s winning role.  As if two titles wasn’t enought, she earned 60 per cent of the people choice votes too!

It’s such a big week for Faye Ann.  Tuesday solidified her as the Soca Queen of Carnival 2 K Wine.  Meet Super Blue was heard at judging point’s 410 times, making Mrs. Lyon-Alvarez this year’s Road March Queen as well. Destra came second with Bacchanal, and Blaxx came third with Tusty.

 Before I go, I’ve got lots more news, that you can check out in detail on Nurse Karen Etc.  This afternoon, Shurwayne Winchester held his 2^nd annual Children’s Concert in Tobago to benefit the Happy Haven School.  The kids were treated to performances from TC, Princess Adanna, Destra, Benjai, Black Stalin and more.  Speaking of Tobago, Trinidad's sister isle held its own Soca Monarch competition about two weeks ago.  Let me formally send my congratulations to Fire Empress for snatching up the crown with "Mamalaya." In 2K9 women rule, for real!

With Fire Empress at the SVG Soca Monarch Semi-Finals

Carnival just came to an end in Guyana and Dominica too.  Vanilla is this year’s Mashramani Road March Queen after, placing second to Shelly G at Carib Soca Monarch with her song “Rude”.

In Dominica, Daddy Chess is Soca Monarch and De Energiser wins Road March with a Calypso entitled, Carnival is Colour.  It’s the first release off his new album Sugar and Spice.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  For lots more detail and discussion about everything mentioned today, plus my day-to-day, Trinidad Carnival Diary, visit the Nurse Karen Etc blog online at triple w dot mustard seeds dot net.  Now, back to de docta!

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The Rounds: Dominica, Trinidad, Guyana Soca Monarch. Oh My!!!

Good evening soca lovers, I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Being the day after Valentine's Day, I'd like to take a moment to share one thing I truly love. (I'm sure Marxman could echo the same sentiment)  We love that Trini Carnival falls in February, while this city is frozen over. That means if you miss me next Sunday, it's because we joined Dr. Jay in Trinidad's lovably hot sun.

In Dominica, soca lovers celebrated Valentine's Day watching 12 competitors do battle for the Soca Monarch Crown. In the end, it was the 2008 defending Soca Monarch Daddy Chess who managed to capture the title once again with a tune called "Ready or Not". Congrats to Daddy Chess! Love that you got love from the fans and judges at home. Last Sunday, he was one of the many artists hoping to impress the international soca monarch judges in Trinidad. But he didn't make it through.

In case you haven't heard, the 23 finalists who will be performing in the International Soca Monarch show in Trinidad were announced early last week. The main event will happen on Friday, February 20 at the Hasley Crawford National Stadium. I have no idea why, but the evening will feature a panel of celebrities who have no expertise in soca music whatsoever, including American film stars Danny Glover and Chris Tucker, plus Trinis: Olympic sprinter Ato Bolden and former Miss Universe, Wendy Fitzwilliam.

Ok, so you wanna know who's in? Fay-Ann and Shurwayne made it to the finals in both groovy and power - while Nadia Batson is in groovy only, although she was a power soca SEMI-finalist too. Toronto's own Kerwin Du Bois will be in the groovy mix come Fantastic Friday, but unfortunately Peter Ram, Red Plastic Bag and Mr. Slaughter will not. For the complete, albeit economical list of 2009 Soca Monarch finalists, visit Nurse Karen Etc at Mustard Seeds dot net.  

Click Here

Over in Guyana, their Mashramani Carnival celebrations are off to a slow start due to the economic crisis. So far, carnival related events have suffered poor attendance thanks  low promotion. Organizers are blaming that on fading corporate interest. None the less, the show must go on. The Carib Soca Monarch competition was last night. Check my blog this week for the results!

Now, up to Jamaica for some suprising news. Jamaica Carnival is around the corner on Easter long weekend. However, soca lovers in that country have recently come under attack after the government's recent decision to ban explicit dancehall from the airwaves. Many Jamaicans feel that dancehall was unfairly singled out, while soca music is just as bad if not worse in it's sexual messages. Hey, don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger!

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. If you want to voice out about something you heard me mention. Join me online on the Nurse Karen Etc Blog at Mustard Seeds dot Net. Check back regularly for daily coverage of Trini Carnival 2009! Now back to Jester!

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Booster Shot: Dominica Soca Monarch kicks off on Valentine's Day

For many, February 14th is all about chocolate, flowers and streaming romance. But this year soca fans in Dominica will have to reschedule the mushy stuff. Tonight is all about Soca Monarch.

The event takes place at Pottersville Savannah. There will be feature performances from MFR Band and WCK, plus dancehall artiste Wayne Marshall. The 2009 Champion will win cash prize of $10,000 and a scooter valued at $15,000.

In order of appearance, here are the 12 competitors tonight:

De Hunter
Clinty (2008 1st runner up)
Mr. Benjie of Triple Kay - "Fire"
DJ Midian of Esclav - "My time"
Daddy Chess (Defending 2008 Soca Monarch) - "Ready or not"
Skinny Banton of CK4Lyfe - "Get up"
Mr. Mystic - "Take a pause"
Benno of Esclav - "We like it"
Lloydie - "Another year"
Falcon - "Carnival"
Ja Foxx - "Down de road"
Anwa Cadette of WCK Band - "Carnival zombie"


The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and a scooter compliments R.C Enterprises valued at $15,000.

Cuffy said a “bumper crowd” is expected since Jamaican reggae/dancehall artiste; Wayne Marshall will be the headline of the night.

“Mr. Wayne Marshall has promised to come down and deliver a fantastic performance for the ladies. There might be a very special surprise that he may bring in from Jamaica as well, but we will wait and see what is happening. But definitely we know that the acts of Jamaica have lived up to expectations and have delivered once they have reached to Dominica’s shores. Las t year we had Mr. Vegas.

“It’s Valentine’s night. We expect every Dominica to walk with a rag; walk with a flag. It’s the first major event since the opening,” he said.

The MFR Band of Portsmouth, the WCK Band and other bands will also entertain the audience at Potters Ville Savannah.

Tickets can be bought at Bulls Eye Pharmacy, Depex Colour Lab and Frontline Bookstore for $25. The damage at the gate is $30.

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