Carnival 2006 News

Trini Revellers, Legacy impress Savannah crowd
March 01, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
Who will take the band of the year for 2006 - and will the controversial song "Band of the Year," sung by Patrice Roberts and Machel Montano, take the Road March title this year? It was a tight race yesterday between Machel Montano's "Scandalous" and Patrice Roberts and Machel Montano's "Band of the Year." However, the song "Band of the Year" may not qualify for the Road March title as this year's rules do not allow "sampling" of music, which "Band of the Year" is said to contain.

Mas rules in Downtown PoS
March 01, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
DOWNTOWN PORT-OF-SPAIN was transformed into the ultimate street party as Carnival 2006 celebrations climaxed in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday. The thousands of masqueraders who flooded South Quay attempted to give the Queens Park Savannah a run for its money as the city's premier Carnival location.

'Band of the Year' takes Road March lead
February 28, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
Up to 3 pm yesterday Machel Montano's and Patrice Roberts' "Band of the Year" and Montano's "Scandalous" were noticeably leading the race for Road March, with the first slightly ahead.

Jouvert King and Queen crowned on South Quay
February 28, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
THOUSANDS of col-ourful, sweaty, mudcaked and greasy revellers danced and pranced with pulsating energy to heart pounding Soca music from Destra and Machel Montano in the early morning hours of Jouvert which marked the beginning of Carnival and the Reign of the Merry Monarch.

Luta is kaiso king ...Chalkdust dethroned
February 28, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
MORELL "Luta" Peters won the 2006 National Calypso Monarch, but the People's Choice went to Chalkdust (Dr Hollis Liverpool). Luta had worked steadily through the kaiso season to win the Unattached Monarch Competition, and both the social and political commentary winning titles at the Categories Calypso Finals. He sang two upbeat and inspiring songs "Check the Foundation" and "Kaiso, Kaiso." While his songs chided, they didn’t moan and whine, but offered constructive solutions.

Luta holds no grudges as kaiso king
February 28, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
"WE have a nice thing going," said new National Calypso Monarch, Morel "Luta" Peters, yesterday in explaining his recent win over rival and one-time colleague Chalkdust.

Shurwayne Winchester sweeps National Soca Monarch Finals
February 26, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
Shock then anger was the reaction of the majority upon the announcement that Shurwayne Winchester had dethroned Bunji Garlin to capture the 2006 International Soca Monarch title. Even before the pronouncement was ended the crowd began to boo and call for Bunji. Thankfully, unlike in previous years when the people did not agree with the judges decision at the Soca Monarch finals, there was no violence.

All Stars go for glory
February 25, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
FIVE-TIME National Panorama champions Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars will be going all out to increase their tally of wins when they take the stage tonight at the 2006 National Panorama Finals at Queen's Park Savannah.

Sheldon John wins Extempo... again
February 25, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
SHELDON JOHN certainly saved his best for last in winning Thursday's Extempo Finals at Queen's Park Savannah and in so doing, retaining the crown he won last year.

Traditional Mas takes over PoS
February 25, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
THE STREETS of Port-of-Spain came to life yesterday with traditional mas characters as the National Carnival Commission (NCC) and the Ministry of Culture launched Traditions of Carnival 2006.

Luta is top kaiso commentator
February 25, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
LUTA (Morel Peters) won two of the four Calypso crowns up for grabs at the Calypso Categories finals held alongside the Extempo Finals on Thursday at the Queen's Park Savannah.

Re-enacting Canboulay riots of 1881
February 25, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
With flambeaux, sticks and stones in hand, costumed revellers took to Duke Street, Port of Spain yesterday morning to re-enact the Canboulay riots of 1881.

Carnival parade route changed
February 23, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
THE National Carnival Commission (NCC) yesterday announced a route change for the parade of bands for Carnival Monday and Tuesday because of safety concerns arising out of major construction work being carried out in Port-of-Spain.

Luta is TUCO King
February 22, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
VETERAN Morrel "Luta" Peters is the 2006 Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO) Unattached Monarch after he topped a mixed field of veterans and youngsters alike on Monday night at City Hall, Port-of-Spain. And although the audience was small and the venue modest, the artistes gave a nice variety of performances.

35,000 go 'fete mad' at Alternative Concert
February 20, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
A CROWD estimated by police at being comfortably in the 35,000 range, crammed into the Queen's Park Savannah Saturday night for Machel Montano's Alternative Concept 4 Concert which apart from a few minor scuffles - including one in which a man was beaten by two women - went smoothly.

New venue, sub-standard performances kill Brass Festival spirit
February 20, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
A new venue and sub-standard performances by several artistes may have killed the usually vibrant spirit of the Caribbean Brass Festival, which has traditionally served as an exciting kick-off to the countdown to Jouvert.

Calypso Monarch semis dubbed 'Calypso Fiasco'
February 20, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation president Michael "Protector" Legerton was yesterday already hard at work, conceptualising a new formula for Calypso Fiesta, the National Calypso Monarch semi-final, the sub-title of which has come in for blunt sarcasm at street level, where Saturday's marathon was being referred to as "The Calypso Fiasco".

Gospelypso singer is new Young King
February 15, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
After seven attempts, Gospelypso singer Sean Daniel has finally captured the NACC Young Kings Calypso Monarch Competition. Daniel, who captured the NYAC Stars of Tomorrow title earlier this month, made it two titles in as many weeks when he delivered a strong rendition entitled "True Government" to beat out a competitive field and walk away with $70,000 on Monday evening at the St James Amphitheatre, St James.

Cro Cro out of Calypso Fiesta
February 15, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
Three-time National Calypso Monarch Cro Cro is adamant that "some kind of conspiracy" has resulted in his being eliminated from the 30 singers selected for Saturday's Calypso Fiesta, the semi-final round of competition for this year's crown.

Ban on N. Stand rhythm sections
February 15, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
It may be the swansong season for the North Stand as we know it but the popular Panorama hotspot is not about to disappear quietly. ...Pan Trinbago insists claims of North Stand overcrowding resulted from an illusion created by the proliferation of rhythm sections and has announced a ban on these groups of percussionists.

All Stars stretches its lead
February 14, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
Neal and Massy Trinidad Steel Orchestra stretched its lead over the other big bands during the semi final round of the National Panorama competition at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday.

Little Cro-Cro scores big in South
February 14, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
The competitive and winning streak is clearly a genetic trait in the Rawlins family, as the youngest member has now copped her first Calypso title, adding to an already lengthy list created by her father.

Judging error, so all big bands in Panorama semis
February 11, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
In an effort to avoid any form of legal action against the organisation, Pan Trinbago has allowed all 17 steel orchestras in the Large Band category to compete in tomorrow's semi-final round of competition in the 2006 National Panorama Championships.

Dragons and clowns
February 10, 2006 : trinicenter.com
Amidst the baubles, boobs, bottoms and beads of contemporary Carnival, a well-costumed and properly presented dragon band still offers a compelling spectator option, although these rare moments are often squandered on arguments about "dying art", ill-timed debate that competes with visuals best appreciated in near silence.

Minshall unveils new designs
February 07, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
Mas designer Peter Minshall unveiled the designs of his Mas presentation for the 2006 Carnival entitled "The Sacred Heart," at Veni Mange's all-inclusive Carnival Fete at Pier 1, Chaguaramas, on Sunday.

Rudder teams with SuperBlue
February 07, 2006 : trinisoca.com
Among this season's greatest surprises is a brand-new collaboration between the incomparable King David Rudder and eight-time road-march champion SuperBlue, who slipped through the social cracks a few years ago and has since been the subject of a mixture of derision and pity.

Our musical saviour
February 05, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
This evening marks the third of six nights of the National Panorama preliminaries, a massive exercise involving 124 steelbands comprising over 8,000 players, the sheer logistics of which is mind-boggling.

Machel, Andy Singh cut Soca/Chutney CD
February 04, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
Machel Montano’s Xtatik band and Chutney Soca band SSL Mellowbugz are the latest cross-over in which Montano and Andy Singh have combined their talents. The CD O Sundar Larki which means "Beautiful Women," was completed and produced on Thursday morning.

Crime and humour at South Kaiso mix
February 04, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
BITING southern humour, competed with calls for a crime-free TT from calypsonians at Wednesday night's gala opening of TUCO's Kaiso Showkase tent at Palms Club.

19 music trucks for kiddies mas
February 02, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
Nineteen trucks have been contracted by the Junior Carnival Committee of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) to provide a steady supply of music to masqueraders.

Vybe tops Soca Monarch semis
January 31, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
Soca artiste Mista Vybe, who is now enjoying maximum rotation of his song "The Thing," topped the semi-final round of the TSTT International Soca Monarch Competition, held at Soca Broadway in the National Stadium on Sunday.

Cops use guns to control massive crowd at Licensing Fete
January 30, 2006 : trinidadexpress.com
Several people were hit by rubber bullets when police opened fire on a massive crowd thronged outside the Licensing Fete, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The night Skatie stole the show
January 30, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
Arima Calypsonian Skatie (Carlos James) stole the show at the opening of Calypso Revue on Saturday night at the Arima Velodrome, receiving the most encores for his song "Picture of Trinbago." Skatie with his political commentary received three encores for his performance as a "photographer," highlighting certain government ministers on bribe charges and other forms of corruption in TT.

Blind singer makes it to Chutney Monarch finals
January 30, 2006 : newsday.co.tt
BLIND SINGER Asha Kamachee, of St Helena Village, Piarco, has qualified for this year's National Lotteries Classic Chutney Soca Monarch finals. Kamachee was one of 32 singers who appeared before the judges at the semi-finals on Saturday night at Rienzi Complex, Couva. No stranger to the chutney stage, Kamachee sent the crowd into a frenzy when she delivered her tune, "Sweet Chutney Music." She called on the crowd to dance and free up and enjoy the Carnival season.