Larger Than Life is the theme for this year’s International Soca Monarch competition staged by Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPF).
As usual, the competition takes place in the Lotto Plus Power Soca and Digicel Groovy Soca Monarch categories and the real action starts on Sunday at the semi-finals. This year, the semifinals will be at the Northern Greens, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, a change from the regular venue, Arima Velodrome.
With gates scheduled to be opened at noon, the Digicel Groovy semifinal gets going at 2 pm with Destra opening proceedings.
This category is reflective of the growing improvement of groovy soca songs and among the contestants are several artistes whose songs have been the favourites on the airwaves and in the parties.
Joining former groovy soca winner Biggie Irie and certain to have the judges scratching their heads are Crazy, Tim Tim, Leadpipe & Saddis, Fadda Fox, Benjai, Olatunji, Nadia Batson, Iwer George, Farmer Nappy, Sekon Sta and Ricardo Drue.
The Groovy Soca semifinal will include 47 participants.
The Power Soca category sees the return of KMC in the soca arena and among the 37 contestants in this category are multiple past winner SuperBlue, former champions Iwer George and Shurwayne Winchester, defending Chutney Soca Monarch KI, Grenada soca star Mr Killa, and his compatriots Luney Sparks & Electrify, and Skinny Banton, St Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous and Fya Empress, Destra, Snakey and Blaxx. Making her debut in this competition will be popular comedienne Nikki Crosby, singing under the monicker of Granny. J Angel (Jenelle de Leon) of Slam 100.5FM is also among the Power Soca semifinalists.
CPF CEO Peter Scoon said this week: “This year’s event is larger than life because of many innovations, especially technically. We are also enhancing branding and visibility, placing more emphasis on the artistes, our ambassadors. By going to the Greens for the semi-finals, we are moving to a bigger and better venue, hoping to pull a larger crowd. For the second year, the semi-finals are a cooler event.
“At the end of the day it’s all about the major improvement in the technology and making the artistes feel special. This week, life size standees of artistes will be erected across the country.”
Soca Monarch POSITIONS
Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch
Semi Finals Draw for Positions
1 Destra
2 Leadpipe & Saddis
3 Fadda Fox
4 Fireman Hooper
5 Shal Marshall
6 Blackie
7 Crazy
8 Lil Bitts
9 Kerlz
10 Young Voice
11 Umi and Makamillion
12 Preedy
13 Lyrikal
14 Tim Tim
15 Saucy
16 Sasha
17 Jahmoun
18 Orlando Octave
19 Benjai
20 Chow Chow
21 Ola
22 Ravi B
23 Darnella
24 Nadia
25 Iwer
26 Zan
27 Kitch
28 Shurwayne
29 Erphaan
30 Skinny Fabulous
31 Dev
32 Farmer Nappy
33 Blaxx
34 Tallpree
35 Jo Jo
36 Faith Antoine
37 Biggie Irie
38 Sekon Sta
39 Menace (M1)
40 J Angel
41 Patrice Roberts
42 Chucky
43 Patch
44 Oscor B
45 5 Star Akil
46 Syo
47 Ricardo Drue
Lotto Plus International Power Soca Monarch
Semi Finals Draw for Positions
1 KMC
2 Shal Marshall
3 Preedy
4 Patrice Roberts
5 RKG
6 Sekon Sta
7 Saucy
8 Fireman Hooper
9 Erphaan Alves
10 Mr. Killa
11 Andrew Hitz Phillip
12 J Angel
13 Shurwayne
14 Skinny Fabulous
15 K.I
16 Snakey
17 Iwer King George
18 Ann G/ Myron B
19 Destra
20 Pelf
21 Kitch
22 Blaxx
23 Jaiga
24 Prophet Benjamin
25 Jelani
26 Swappi
27 Skinny Banton
28 Ricardo Drue
29 Fya Empress
30 Granny
31 Luni Spark & Electrify
32 Eddie Charles
33 Squeezy Rankin
34 Super Blue
35 CJ & Ronnie
36 Devon Matthews
37 Nadia Batson.
