Night of Pan was excellent
The annual night of pan held on Monday December 17, 2012 despite a disappointing turn out could still be hailed as excellent and well organized. The event has featured on the festival calendar since 2004 and is organized by the Director of Culture, Herman “Cupid” Francis.
Before curtains on the show, the audience was thrilled and entertained by guests Hellsgate Steel orchestra out of Antigua, the Volpanix steel orchestra; the three primary schools, Brades, Look Out, and St. Augustine, the Montserrat Secondary school and a newly formed group, Genesis, all performed creditably.
Unlike last year when the heavens opened and dumped water on the show, a clear night almost rain free saw a wide range of musical renditions, from calypso, reggae, soca, Christmas and more from fledgling and expert steel pan playing, all in Night of Pan.
see photos of night of pan on our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151220162400852.453252.203080105851&type=3
The First ever Soca Frenzy Concert in Montserrat
Ten Soca artistes from across the Caribbean performed at a first ever Soca Frenzy Concert on Saturday, December 22, 2012, special as part of Montserrat’s 50th festival celebrations.
It has been dubbed the largest event of the season so far.
Soca Frenzy Radio and PSV Events organised the line-up for the night: Local artist TTrevvel soca Animal, Dr Lumba, Black Jaguar, Soca Diva Jadine, Claudette Peters and Tian Winter from Antigua; David Rudder from Trinidad and Tobago; Edwin Yearwood and Lil Rick from Barbados; and Skinny Fabulous from St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
The concert got off to a late start at about 11pm and kept going steadily with various artistes arriving on stage about every half hour, with DJs kept the crowd entertained in preparation as the preparation for the artistes to make their appearances. The last Artiste to grace the stage was Skinny Fabulous who did so at 5.30 a.m.
A satisfied audience had for their MC the popular Basil “Tarm,Dick and Harry”Chambers.
Chrystal Beckles of Barbados takes Regional Female Calypso Crown
Chrystal Beckles of Barbados
– Chrystal Beckles of Barbados reportedly reigned supreme over a group of talented female calypsonians to take the 2nd Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso title which featured on the calendar of festival celebration events, as one of the major events of Montserrat’s Festival 50 calendar which runs until January 1, 2013.
Beckles performed sixth in each round singing two songs she wrote and arranged herself. In the first round she powerfully delivered Fly on the Wall and in the second, Forgive de Caribbean.
Beckles was visible shocked when her name was called ahead of Montserrat’s former female calypso monarch Silvina “Khandie” Malone who was first runner-up and Shereena “Shea Shea” Richardson who was third.
The other performers were last year’s champ Menell of St. Lucia, Singing Althea of Antigua & Barbuda, and Shaunelle McKenzie of St. Vincent & Grenadiines.
see pictures on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151227532455852.454438.203080105851&type=3
