Icom's Blog – March 2018 Archive (27)

Following numerous requests, the highly anticipated event which has become a staple in the Caribbean & North-American Carnival calendars is finally making its first appearance in scenic Jamaica on April 5. 

In the last decade, Silent Morning, the annual ‘breakfast boat ride party’ and cooler cruise concept has literally and figuratively made waves within the Caribbean islands and diaspora with landmark…

The world’s most stylish drink, Campari, continues to be at the forefront of everything Carnival in the Caribbean, with a robust Carnival in Jamaica season to follow-up from their successful run for Trinidad Carnival 2018.

For their Trinidad Carnival Road March debut, Campari poured from their bars and trucks in the immensely popular Tribe, Tribe Rogue, Fantasy and Entice bands respectively, in addition to…

Need a literary justification to visit the Caribbean this spring? Consider the NGC Bocas Lit Festival, taking place in downtown Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. Billed as the region’s premier literature festival, the Lit Fest is devoted to developing and promoting Caribbean authors by hosting five lively days of author panels, workshops, film screenings, and performances. Held at the National Library and Old Fire Station, the festival will run…

For over a quarter of a century as the Caribbean’s largest long-standing music festival, Reggae Sumfest returns to Montego Bay, Jamaica with a heavy-hitting artist lineup featuring the world’s top reggae and dancehall artists.

Friday night (July 20) is the ultimate dancehall takeover with…

Soca Awards Ltd. would be presenting its 15th Annual International Soca Awards (iSA 15) in St Lucia, on Tuesday 10th, July 2018.

Under the auspices of Senator the Honourable Fortuna Belrose, Minister for Local Government and Culture and the Honourable Dominic Fedee, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Celebrating its (15)…

Despite needing time to to recover from an onslaught of hurricanes last fall, the Caribbean hosted more than 30 million tourists in 2017—a record—and it's ready for more. Consider this your cultural calendar for the region; we'd happily book a flight to attend any of the food festivals, regattas, or Hamilton performances. Book a trip that does some good. All you have to do? Show up and spend your tourist dollars.…

For the last three months, I have been a part of the Sokafit BodyMORPH programme, a three-month fitness programme that incorporates weight training, nutrition advice and twice-weekly Sokafit classes.

The programme is an offshoot of Sokafit, a fitness system created by media personality Lisa Wickham and her business partner Sheldon Felix.

As the name implies, the…

Gird your loins ladies, Safaree is making his way to Trinidad. 

The Love and Hip Hop star--and Nicki Minaj's ex--made the announcement of his visit via his Instagram early Tuesday, stating that he'll be hosting 'Love & Hennessy Trini' at Vas Nightclub. 

The event will be held on Saturday, April 7, along with DJs Akeem 5.0, Selector Myles and Selector…

Most of us associate Nashville, Texas with Stetsons, cowboy boots and country music. But on Saturday 19 May all of this will change, when Nashville hosts its first ever Caribbean carnival.

The event, which is being promoted as Nashville Carnival and Caribbean/South American Food Festival, will be held at Cumberland Park, 592 South 1^st Street, Nashville, 37213. The first official band launch will…

The granddaughter of the founder of Soca, Garfield Blackman aka Ras Shorty, Nailah Blackman burst onto the soca scene in 2017 by force. 

She debuted with Kees Dieffenthaller on the song 'Work Out' then blazed a trail of her own with songs such as 'Bailah Mami', 'Badish' with Shenseea and the ode to her grandfather 'Sokah'.

Billed as the artist most likely to go…

Carnival season is just around the corner and soon it will be time to party! But having a fantastic time takes energy and so it’s important to keep refueling. Here’s a selection of the restaurants and cafes Kingston has to offer hungry revelers.  

Breakfast

Two great breakfast spots are Eleni's Bakery in Sovereign North Plaza and Tea Tree…

Former Trinidad & Tobago and Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke is being sued by reigning Chutney Soca Monarch Neval Chatelal for the non-payment of a TT$250,000 (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) loan.

Yorke, 46, was reportedly loaned the money in March last year to assist in a financial bind.

In the court documents filed last week, Chatelal claimed that…

Kees Dieffenthaller is known jokingly in Trinidad and Tobago as the President of the Red Man Association. 

With his boyish good looks and sweet vocals, the frontman for Kes the Band has proven to be a force in Caribbean music, constantly pushing the envelope to shape the sound of his music. 

One of the most versatile singers in soca, Kees is known for hits such…

The 7th annual Orlando Caribbean Festival will take place  March 17 & 18 at the Orlando Amphitheater in the Central Florida Fairground. This event is the destination for all who share a passion for or are looking to explore the Caribbean Culture through its food and music.  The festival promises to be a fun filled atmosphere that is sure to entertain everyone. 

There will also be a culinary preview of…

Nineties babies will know the infectious pop hit, Mm-Bop by Hanson, then growing into their teens, may recall the first time (or few) hearing singer-songwriter John Mayer whisper to his lover's wondrous body.

Those two successful pop musicians share more in common than achieving international acclaim. Hanson and Mayer both had career-defining performances at the annual, highly anticipated South by…

"We are not the US$200 to US$1,200 carnival," said Julianne Lee, director of Jamaica Carnival.

Regardless of preparations to participate as one of the four bands to take the streets of Kingston on April 8, Lee says a lack of funding has immobilised the Jamaica Carnival team from moving forward with plans.

"Following a meeting with the various officials last year,…

As a direct counteraction to the annual carnival road march that some say contributes to havoc in Jamaica, the local church community is fine-tuning plans for a massive parade in the Corporate Area on October 27 this year.

The event is months away, but organisers, Maranatha Ministries, anticipate a mega turnout

of thousands from every denomination - an idea…

IF you’re searching for something to do this Saturday, how about curling up with a copy of Bazodee via Itunes. When Bazodee was released in 2016 it created a stir among local audiences. The movie, starring reigning Road March King Machel Montano, is now expanding its reach and will be available on the popular Itunes platform from today.

Itunes might just be the first of many spaces you can find the 2016…