There are just 19 days left for the start of the Carnival 2015 fete season. Next year’s first blowout will be the annual New Year’s Day Dutch Backyard Lime, hosted by Yorke Inc at the Anne Avenue residence of Gerard Yorke in Diego Martin. DJs for the evening include Howie T, King Int’l, CG, Duane and Mystic Sounds.
After a day’s rest on the first Friday of 2015, probably a day at the beach, the Carnival fetes really get going on Saturday 3 with Tribe Ice being at the carpark of the Queen’s Park Oval, Elizabeth Street, Woodbrook. On Sunday 4, Trinity College will hold its much-loved Soka in Moka, at the college, in Maraval.
Making a welcome return to the Carnival fete schedule is Queen’s Royal College’s Outta de Blue, but in new clothes next year. To be held on January 10 at the QRC Grounds, St Clair, this remodelled party is now called Fete Royal and its line-up of top-notch performers includes Olatunji, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons & The Asylum Band, Kes the Band, Karma, DJs Jus’ Jase and Barry Perryman. The fun begins at 5 pm.
On Sunday, January 25 expect much excitement in the East, at Trinity College East, Trincity, when Yorke Inc holds itsMasquerade all-inclusive from 5pm. This promises to be a monster of a jam with music by Roy Cape All Stars, featuring Blaxx; Dil-e-Nadan, featuring Raymond Ramnarine; Asylum Vikings, featuring featuring Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons; Olatunji; Benjai; Bajan Road March duo Leadpipe and Saddis; Pt Fortin Rhythm Section; Tassa; DJs Private Ryan, Kabuki and King Int'l; plus emcees Alicia D Dutchess and CG.
Yorke Inc will be back at its again on Saturday, February 7 when the outfit teams up with the Mendez Drive Posse for their annual Carnival semi-inclusive house party at 2 Mendez Drive, Diego Martin from 10 pm. House DJs for the night are Richard Simply Smooth, Kabuki and CG, Bad Lad from New York, and Howie T, with several guest artistes including Olatunji and Iwer George.
Yorke Inc close off the season with two fantastic events on Carnival weekend. On Carnival Saturday, February 14, Valentine's Day, along with The Ultimate One Generation, the group presents the Ultimate One All Inclusive 'J'aime Carnaval' from 5pm, at Aruac Road, Valsayn South. All the stops have been pulled out for this one and music will be by Asylum Vikings, with Fay Ann and Bunji; Karma with Ravi B; Roy Cape All Stars with Blaxx; Olatunji; Iwer; Benjai; Bajan Road March Duo Leadpipe; Saddis and more. Thrown in for measure will be a Rhythm Section, DJs Joy Juice, Alicia D Dutchess and Excalibar; and, emcee Joel Simmons
On Carnival Sunday night the Signature Midnight Boat Cruise aboard the Harbour Master. Boarding at 11pm, sailing is at midnight to 3am in preparation for J'ouvert. A shuttle service will be in attendance and the carnival seasons top DJs and soca artistes will be featured.
Pan Trinbago Launches Panorama 2015
There can be no Carnival without pan and Pan Trinbago kicks of the 2015 National Panorama competition with a public launch this monthend. The Launch will take place at The Car Park, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, on Sunday, December 28, from 4 pm to midnight.
Several of the country’s top steel orchestras will be in attendance.
Said a Pan Trinbago executive member: “Every participant in the steelband Panorama has dreams of reaching or achieving excellence and the charisma of the music created by the steelbands performing on the Panorama stage throw their audiences into a state of ecstasy. Hence the theme ‘Reaching For The Stars…. Pan In Ecstasy’ for next year’s competition.
Entertainment on the evening will be provided by Roy Cape All Stars, featuring Blaxx, and steel orchestras Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, SupaNovas, Massy Trinidad All Stars, bp Renegades, Pan Jammers, Pan Elders and Fusion Steel.
Admission is $100 and patrons are asked to walk their coolers.
This event heralds the “start of Carnival 2015,” said the official. Approximately three weeks after the launch, the first competition – Northern Region National Single Pan Preliminaries – takes place at the Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, on Friday, January 16, from 6 pm, leading up to the National Semi-Finals on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday February 01, respectively, at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Then it’s on to the Grand Finals of both categories. The Single Pan and Small Conventional Band Finals will once again be held in the South, at Skinner Park, on Thursday, February12 at 6 pm while the Medium and Large Conventional Band Finals take place at the Queen’s Park Savannah, on Saturday, February 14, from 7 pm. It being Valentine’s Day, Pan Trinbago will be giving complimentary wine and chocolate to early bird patrons.
St James celebrates pan
Come Saturday, December 20, three legendary St James steelbands will be honoured by the Afrikan Kultural Association and St James United International, in conjunction with St James Tripolians. The bands are North Stars, winner of the 1964 National Panorama title, under arranger Anthony Williams ORTT; West Side Symphony, winner of the 1964 Steelband Music Festival, under the baton of Herman “Rock” Johnson; and, Crossfire, led by Roy “Scorpion” Hunte, winner of the first Independence Steelband Festival (1964), under the direction of Kenrick Desmond George.
The evening’s programme also includes the launch of Dr Hugh Skinner’s book – Trini Smart Man. The book is described as a historical novel abour Skinner growing up in St James, and includes a bit about Sango, the origins of the steelband, Josay and things of St James.
The double celebration will be held at Tripolians pan theatre, located at Terre Brulee, Fort George Road, St James.
Carnival 2015 Events
JANUARY
Thursday 1: Calypsonians Welfare Fund-raiser;
Thursday 1: Yorke Inc New Year's Day Dutch Backyard Lime, music by DJs Howie T, King Int'l, CG, Duane and Mystic Sounds. Anne Avenue, Diego Martin;
Saturday 3: Tribe Ice, carpark, Queen’s Park Oval, Elizabeth Street, Woodbrook;
Sunday 4: Trinity College Soka in Moka, Trinity College, Moka, Maraval;
Saturday 10: Queen’s Royal College’s Fete Royal, music by Olatunji, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons & The Asylum Band, Kes the Band, Karma, DJs Jus’ Jase and Barry Perryman, QRC Grounds, Hayes Street, St Clair;
Saturday 10: Stumped;
Thursday 15: Pan Trinbago (Tobago Region) National Single Pan preliminary, Buccoo Integral Facility, Buccoo, Tobago;
Friday 16: Pan Trinbago (South/Central Region) National Single Pan preliminary, Petrotrin Sports Club Carpark, Pointe-a-Pierre;
Saturday 17: Pan Trinbago (East Region) National Single Pan preliminary, Velodrome, Arima;
Sunday 18: Pan Trinbago (Tobago Region) National Small & Medium Conventional Orchestras preliminaries, Carnival City (next to Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago;
Friday 23: Pan Trinbago (South/Central Region) National Small & Medium Conventional Orchestras preliminaries, Skinner Park, San Fernando;
Friday 23: National Stickfighting preliminary, Biche;
Saturday 24: Pan Trinbago (East Region) National Small & Medium Conventional Orchestras preliminaries, Velodrome, Arima;
Saturday 24: Blue Flame;
Sunday 25: Pan Trinbago (North Region) National Small & Medium Conventional Orchestras preliminaries, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain;
Monday 26: Launch of Carnival Village, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain;
Friday 30: National Stickfighting preliminary, Cedros;
Saturday 31: Chutney Soca Monarch Final, Skinner Park, San Fernando;
Saturday 31: Pan Trinbago National Single Pan and Small & Medium Conventional Orchestras Panorama semi-finals, Queen’s Park Savannah;
FEBRUARY
Sunday 1: Pan Trinbago National Medium & Large Conventional Orchestras Panorama semi-finals, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Monday 2: National Extempore preliminary, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Wednesday 4: National Stickfighting semi-final, Couva;
Wednesday 4: Live at the Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain;
Thursday 5 (7 pm): National King & Queen of Carnival preliminaries, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Friday 6: Traditional Carnival Characters Festival, Woodford Square to Queen’s Park Savannah;
Saturday 7: Red Cross Kiddies Carnival, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Saturday 7: Kaiso Fiesta—National Calypso Monarch semi-final, Skinner Park, San Fernando;
Sunday 8 (9 am): Republic Bank Junior Masquerade Individuals/Categories. Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook;
Sunday 8: Pan Trinbago National Junior Panorama Finals, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Sunday 8: National Juniors King & Queen of Carnival preliminaries, Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook;
Sunday 8: Kairi People presents Different all-inclusive, music by Bunji Garlin, Far Ann, Benjai and more.
Sunday 8: Tribe Soleil;
Monday 9: National Junior Calypso Monarch Finals, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Monday 9: Arima Panorama Finals, Princess Royal Basketball Court, Arima;
Tuesday 10: Rapso Explosion, Nalis, Port-of-Spain;
Tuesday 10 (7 pm): National King & Queen of Carnival semi-finals, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Tuesday 10: Tobago House of Assembly Pan Champs Finals, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago;
Wednesday 11 (7 pm): Masquerade Traditional Individuals Competitions, Victoria Square, Port-of-Spain;
Wednesday 11: National Stickfighting Finals, Skinner Park;
Thursday 12 (7 pm): Masquerade Conventional Individuals and Individual of the Year competitions, Victoria Square;
Thursday 12: Escape to Playa del Este, Salybia;
Thursday 12: Pan Trinbago National Small & Single Pan Panorama Finals, Skinner Park;
Thursday 12: Tuco Terrific Thursday Kaisorama, Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa), Port-of-Spain;
Thursday 12: Tribe Ignite;
Friday 13: Re-enactment of Camboulay Riots, Piccadilly Greens, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain;
Friday 13: Dragon Festival, cnr George & Prince Streets, Port-of-Spain;
Friday 13: Tuco Fantastic Friday—International Groovy & Power Soca Monarch Finals, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Friday 13 (7 pm): NCBA Big Friday—National King & Queen of Carnival Finals, Queen’s Park Savannah.
Saturday 14: NCBA Junior Parade of the Bands, Adam Smith Square, Woodbrook;
Saturday 14: Pan Trinbago National Medium & Large Panorama Finals, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Saturday 14: Randy Glasgow Productions stages Sunbern Festival 1, Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre;
Sunday 15 (4 am): Kairi People presents Breakfast is...,music by Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann, Blaxx and more.
Sunday 15 (8 am): NCBA Nostalgia Masquerade Parade, Piccadilly Greens to Adam Smith Square;
Sunday 15 (2 pm): Different Promotions presents Mimosa, music by Destra & Bakanal, Ravi B & Karma, DJ Duane & Gailann and more, Marcano’s residence, 39 Windsor Road, Valsayn;
Sunday 15: Dimanche Gras, Queen’s Park Savannah;
Monday 16: J’Ouvert & Parade of the Bands/Pan Trinbago Steelband competitions, nationwide;
Tuesday 17; Parade of the Bands/Pan Trinbago Steelband competitions, nationwide
