10 Things Promoters Got Right This Weekend

I was so ready for this weekend to be horrible. With all of the parties that were cancelled and shut down last year, I was prepared for multiple "Due to circumstances beyond our control" posts. Surprisingly, this was not the case. I saw very few cancellations and they were mostly due to the storm that never came. In fact, I had a lot of fun at the events I attended.  Therefore, I decided to blog about what my fellow party goers said worked well and what they want to see promoters do more often.

Bazodee Movie Review

On July 28th, the much-anticipated film Bazodee premiered at The PlayStation Theater in Manhattan.   Set in Trinidad during Carnival, Bazodee is a story of a young woman, Anita Ponchouri (played by British actress Natalie Perera) who is due to marry the son of a wealthy London businessman but finds herself in an emotional upheaval when she meets a down-on-his-luck musician played by Trinidadian soca superstar, Machel Montano.  The story explores Anita’s internal conflict between duty and passion.  The musical dramedey (thanks for the term Natalie) also showcases West Indian culture and soca music.  

Lyrikal's Album Release Party

On July 21st, the soca community turned out to support Brooklyn's own legend-in-the-making, Lyrikal at his debut album release party.  Carribbean heavyweights Majah Hype and Machel Montano, as well as Brooklyn's own One Voice, Rayzor of the Request Band, Dawg E. Slaughter, turned the low key Suite 36 in midtown Manhattan into the place to be on Thursdaynight.

Bermuda Heroes Weekend 2016

For those of you who did not make it to Bermuda Heroes Weekend, you missed out.  In only its second year, this new carnival has become a can't-miss event for artists, deejays, and now DysChick.

The weekend consists of parties and activities over the span of a four-day weekend promoted by Bermuda Heroes Weekend.   If you are planning to attend next year's event, here are the 5 things you need to know before you go.

Trinidad Carnival 2016

A lot can change in 4 years. That's how long it has been since I've been to Trinidad for Carnival. I had been to Carnivals before, but I remember a palpable excitement in the city.  That same excitement was missing this year.  I landed one week prior to Carnival, but there was no buzz, no cacophony of music in town, and no visible evidence that it was Carnival season.  What could cause this lack of enthusiasm among Trinidadians?

Soca Monarch 2016

The annual soca competition kicked off with a notable absence. Machel Montano, who has won the crown several times before, decided that last year would be his last time in the competition.  This allowed the competition to be anyone's game. During the semi-finals, the artists would have to win over the live crowd with a song and stage show that would propel them to the finals. 20 artists made the cut.

Despite a great lineup and strong performances, there was one clear favorite from the moment the show started.