Thirty-two years ago, the biggest and most expensive Carnival fete to attend could put you back $15 at the gate. Today, it is not inconceivable to pay $1,500 a head to venture beyond the gate of an all-inclusive party. Well, it has started—the countdown to parties for Carnival 2014. Within the past fortnight my inbox is packed with information about the fetes, including Fire, Army and UWI. With the possibility of St Francois Girls’ College having no Carnival fete next year, Trinity College has retaken the mantle of having the season’s first of these events among schools. January 19 is the date red-circled for Trinity’s Soca in Moka XV, to be held at the college, Moka, Maraval. Now hailed as one of the season’s best-organised all-inclusive fetes, music is expected to be by Roy Cape All Stars, Dil-e-Nadan, Bunji Garlin & Asylum Band. President Anthony Carmona, is expected to be the party’s special guest.
Word on the ground is that after a hiatus, Outta de Blue is returning in a new form and shape. This year, organised by an amalgam of dedicated alumni of Queen’s Royal College, Fete Royale is to be held on January 25, at the St Clair college. A media launch will be held shortly to announce all the goodies of this party. Making its debut in the all-inclusive, fund-raising arena in 2014, among schools, is Woodbrook Secondary Alumni on January 25. Themed “Bring the Happiness Back,” it will be held at the school’s compound on French Street, Woodbrook.
The blue riband schools party, UWI Fete, is on February 2, on the spacious grounds of the principal’s residence at St Augustine campus. For the past 23 years, the fete has been the cornerstone of the university’s Development and Endowment Fund.
To date, more than 3,000 bursaries have been awarded by the fund to promote academic excellence, assist deserving students and to facilitate student interchange among the campuses.
UWI Fete, known for its exquisite food, spirited atmosphere and creative décor, is sure to uphold the tradition in 2014. This unique fund-raiser, “the original all-inclusive,” goes from noon to 8 pm. Themed “Brasil,” patrons will experience the rich culture of Brazil, through an enticing mix of music, dance, and of course, culinary fare. Patrons’ appetites will be satiated by a variety of Brazilian delicacies, in addition to a wide array of local delights. The event will feature performances by Imij and Co, David Rudder, Dil-e-Nadan, Roy Cape All Stars, JMC 3Veni, Black Stalin, St James Tripolians Steel Orchestra and DJ Crosby. Tickets are $950 and are available at Student Advisory Services, UWI St Augustine campus; and, at Pepper Advertising, 37 Picton Street, Newtown. Limited early-bird tickets, priced at $900, are also available at those locations until December 13.
• For more information: 662-2002 ext 82326, or contact Pepper Advertising at 622-6502/2762.
Carnival 2014 Party Picks
JANUARY
Sunday 19
4 pm: Trinity College stages Soca in Moka XV; music by Roy Cape All Stars, Dil-e-Nadan, Bunji Garlin & Asylum Band, Trinity College, Moka, Maraval.
Saturday 25
7 pm: Queen’s Royal College holds Fete Royale, Courtyard, QRC, St Clair.
9 pm: ONE Fete, Queen’s Park Oval, Elizabeth Street, St Clair.
10 pm: Fire Fete, Heatwave, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
9 pm: Woodbrook Secondary School Alumni holds Bring the Happiness Back all-inclusive, school compound, French Street, Woodbrook.
FEBRUARY
Saturday 1
4 pm: Annual Hilarians all-inclusive, music by Roy Cape All Stars, Destra & Band, Bunji Garlin & Asylum Band, Dil-e-Nadan, Bishop Anstey High School, Keate Street, Port-of-Spain.
Sunday 2
noon: Brasil—UWI Fete 2014, music by Imij and Co, David Rudder, Dil-e-Nadan, Roy Cape All Stars, JMC 3Veni, Black Stalin, St James Tripolians Steel Orchestra and DJ Crosby, principal’s residence, UWI, St Augustine.
Saturday 15
5 pm: Feting with the Saints, Courtyard, St Mary’s College, Pembroke Street, Port-of-Spain.
10 pm: Steam Cooler Fete, O2 Park, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas.
Friday 21
10 pm: Army Fete, Heatwave, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Sunday 23
5 pm: St Anthony’s College all-inclusive, at college, Morne Coco Coco Road, Westmoorings.
Wednesday 26
9 pm: TUCO holds Entertainers Fete (Calypsonians Welfare Fund-raiser), The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Thursday 27
11 am: Escape to Playa del Este, Salybia.
Friday 28
9 pm: Rise Cooler Fete, Queen’s Park Oval, Woodbrook.
9 pm: Blue Range Cooler Fete, Blue Range, Diego Martin.
MARCH
Saturday 1
4 pm: DPS Promotions holds Swades all-inclusive fete, Cumuto, Wallerfield.
4 pm: Lions Class is Class C2K14 Carnival Dance, Lions Cultural Centre, Port-of-Spain.
5 pm: Ultimate ONE all-inclusive fete, Valsayn South, Valsayn.
9 pm: Caesar’s Army AMBush; (venue to be announced)
9 pm: Licensing Dept holds The People’s Fete, Licensing Compound, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.
9 pm: Triniposse Fete, Bowen Marines, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas;
11.55 pm: Island Style Insomnia, 02 Park, Western Main Road, Chaguaramas.
Sunday 2
3 am: D’Original Breakfast Party, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin.
3 am: Misty Ridge Shades Breakfast Fete, Hadeed Ranch, Santa Cruz;
4 am: Sunny Side Up Breakfast Party, Palm Avenue, Petit Valley.
4 am: Breakfast on D’Avenue, Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook.
10 am: Sanctuary, Windsor Road, Valsayn.
2 pm: Brian Lara all-inclusive, Chancellor Road, Port-of-Spain.
4 pm: Moka Sunday 2013, St Andrew’s Golf Course, Maraval.
4 pm: TASA Is Just a Fete, Car park, Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
Fantastic Friday in Top 20
The National Action Cultural Committee (NACC) has announced the Top 20 calypsoes for 2013 as adjudicated by its panel of judges. The Top 20 calypsoes were selected by a panel of judges from amongst an initial crop of 40 songs. Notably absent from the 40 were Bunji Garlin’s Differentology and Blaxx’s Leh Go. Making it among the Top 20 calypsoes for the year are SuperBlue’s Road March winner Fantastic Friday; Travel Woes, one of the songs that earned Pink Panther the National Calypso Monarch title; Bear With Me, the Independence Monarch winning selection by Roderick Gordon (Chucky); and, Politics Does Spoil De Lime, Young Kings Monarch Stephen Marcelle’s winning song. NACC will stage the Top 20 calypsoes of 2013 gala on January 12, at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. The calypsoes, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:
Able/Disable—Hamidullah
Bear With Me—Roderick Gordon (Chucky)
Failure Is Not an Option—Singing Sandra
Fantastic Friday—SuperBlue
For A Crown—Dillon Thomas
I Pay Honour—Cindy Alleyne
Live Life Like You Playing Mas—
David Rudder/Kes
More Questions—Bro Valentino
More Than An Oil Drum—Joanne Foster
No Moral Authority—Alana Sinette
None of the Above—Eunice Peters
Old Man’s Lament—Heather Mac Intosh
One More Recruit—Ezekiel Yorke
Political Sin-Phony—Kurt Allen
Politics Does Spoil De Lime—
Stephen Marcelle
Prodigal Son—Chalkdust
Tainted Legacy—Helon Francis
The Partnership—Karene Asche
Travel Woes—Pink Panther
With You I Belong—Roslyn Reid