Icom's Blog – February 2018 Archive (29)

Saint Lucia celebrates its 39th year of independence today. Lucians worldwide are preparing for concerts, religious observations and, of course, partying.

The island has a long history of conquest and settlement, which began with the native Arawaks, who were ousted by the more aggressive Caribs in about AD800. Its name at this time was Iouanalao (‘Land of the Iguanas’, thanks to an…

St. Kitts and Nevis are the sort of islands that dreams are made of: a lush tropical landscape, pristine beaches, luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and ultimate privacy; top that off with a world-class music festival and you have yourself Destination Paradise!

The St Kitts Music Festival which celebrated 21 years in 2017, has been going from strength to strength. Among the major international stars who…

Now that the feathers and the sparkles and the high-octane soca music have left the streets of the Trinidadian capital of Port of Spain for another year, what’s left is what is referred to as the feeling of “tabanca.” It’s a post-Carnival malaise that some say is only cured by more bacchanal.…

St Lucian duo Lu City performed their latest release featuring soca king Machel Montano at Machel Monday in Trinidad on February 5th becoming the first St. Lucian duo to not only perform at the event but also the first St. Lucian artists to feature Machel Montano on a track.

As a mainstay of the Trinidad carnival entertainment scene, Machel Monday is the largest live performance show with attendance and…

The annual Orlando Caribbean Festival is going big this year with a heavy lineup of musical talent lined up for the daylong event, including the surprising announcement of Wyclef Jean of Fugees and solo fame.

Joining Wyclef on the lineup will be Jenn Morel, Djakout #1, Konshens, Alison Hinds, Tanto Metro/Devante, Harmonik, TVice, Klass, and Kai.

The Orlando…

Music

Music plays a big role in many Barbadian events. As well as reggae, calypso and soca, genres include jazz, gospel, techno and pop. And as this is the home of Rihanna, there is even a street named after her. Jazz/reggae saxophonist Arturo Tappin hails from the island, while Bajan Alison Hinds is the Queen of…

TWO of the people who were held in connection with the alleged Carnival terror plot have been jointly charged with possession of a firearm. The couple—Adil Mansano and Alisha Thomas—were charged early yesterday morning and appeared before Magistrate Rehanna Hosein in the Port of Spain Court. 

During the appearance, neither of them was called upon to plead and were remanded into custody, having been denied…

Road march winner for 2018 has been announced. 

Machel Montano featuring Superblue has won the 2018 Road March title with Soca Kingdom It was played a total of 336 times

Iwer George with Savannah was played 140 times

Patrice Roberts came third with Sweet For Days played 112 times.…

Carnival Tuesday in full swing!

Go Destra! Showing off her costume in…

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Carnival in Haiti. This is no joke! …

That is it Chutney Soca Monarch has come to an end!  At one time Trinidad and Tobago was not sure if the show would actually take place, so it is wonderful to see that the finals took place last night and there is a new Chutney Soca Monarch.

1st Place – Nishard Mayrhoo and Neval Chatelal 

2nd Place – Omardath Maharaj …

Arranger Duvone Stewart managed to take two bands to the winner’s row on Saturday Night. 

BP TT Renegades won Large Band category playing Year For Love and Pan Elders won the Medium Band Category with Limbo Break

The Full…

There was change at the top of the calypso pyramid last night as 24-year-old Helon Francis was crowned the 2018 Calypso Monarch with “Changes”—a powerful social commentary about Trinidad and Tobago’s need for introspection and revolution of thought to address corruption and crime in the two-island republic.

Much of the pre-Dimanche Gras final hype focused on the entrance of now three-time International Soca…

Voice wins International Soca Monarch 2018, pays tribute to Black Stalin.

This is Voice's third Soca Monarch win. 

#ISM2018 RESULTS:

1st- Voice 

2nd- Blaxx…

Hip-hop star Cardi B walked out of Piarco International Airport and into a warm Carnival welcome Wednesday afternoon ahead of her highly-anticipated performance at Big Bad Soca with Bunji Garlin.

Although flanked with her entourage and heavy security, the Bodak Yellow rapper took time to take selfies with fans and sign autographs.

When asked how she felt to be…

Ronnie & Caro have won Band of the Year titles as medium and large band, in competitions in the Queen’s Park Savannah and Downtown Port-of- Spain at least a dozen times. While bandleader Ronnie Mc Intosh is easily recognised as a frontline vocalist for some top music bands as a past Soca Monarch but not many people know the silent force behind Mc Intosh, not just as an entertainer but as a success mas band leader and winning Band of the Year…

Attention all Carnival revelers and masqueraders attending the Caribbean’s biggest bacchanal: Non-consensual grinding, the provocative hip-gyrating, free-for-all that’s known in Caribbean parlance as “wining,” can get you slapped with an assault charge.

Trinidad and Tobago, the two-island country that’s considered the birthplace of the modern-day Pre-Lenten Caribbean Carnival, is telling all attendees that…

Independence Day is a public holiday in Grenada.

Grenada celebrates Independence Day on the 7th of February every year. It is a public holiday in the country which marks the Independence of the country from the United Kingdom in February 7, 1974. Grenada’s recorded history started on 1498 where the indigenous communities living in the country called Grenada “Camahogne”.…

Princes Town Member of Parliament (MP) Barry Padarath is calling to the Government to say whether tourists travelling to Trinidad for the Carnival season will be safe, given the record homicide rate.

Padarath asked the question in response to the recent comment by Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, where in responding to travel advisories warning foreign nationals…

SINCE its origins, Carnival has been a festival for freedom of expression, where masqueraders could break free from the monotony of everyday life and go beyond their comfort zones. As such, getting that unique visual appeal is critical for the success of any masquerader.

For almost three decades make-up artist and director at Beauti Bank Trinidad, Lester Rauseo has revolutionised the traditional Trinidadian…