Carnival City turns into one big soca session tonight, Thursday December 26, for the Soca Monarch competition from 8pm.
More than 20 artists are competing in the show. Some familiar faces from the calypso competition are also in the lineup. These include Destiny Weekes and King Nattie-Negus. However, as per the new rules, they cannot sing the same song that they did in the previous competition.
The Montserrat Arts Council said this rule, was necessary to improve creativity and fairness in the competitions.
Making a comeback to the soca competition after a 16-year absence is popular morning radio host and master of ceremonies, Basil ChambersHD. Performing this year as Uncle Bas, he said that his colleague Little Lenny set the challenge on live radio for one more. “He said many of the young ones who listen to me and see me hosting events have never see me perform. I also decided to do it for Kehli, my youngest daughter who has never seen me in this light.”
Basil has won the soca monarch title three times. Some of his popular tracks are Pay Attention, Bolt, Pappyshow Yourself and Walk with Your Flags.
Uncle Bas will compete in the Jumpy section in position 12. His song, Clear De Way was an idea he came up with and wrote. The music arrangement was done by Trevor TC Cassell and Geffen ‘Mr. Woo Master’ Gerald engineered the track.
Keithroy “The Voice/De Bear” Morson did not compete in this year’s calypso competition. However, he will make an appearance in both categories of the soca monarch.
The artists competing in the Groovy Soca Monarch segment are listed below in appearance order. Their performance name and song are also included.
Groovy Soca Monarch Line-Up
- Destiny Weekes – Destiny – New Whine
- Kevin Farrell – King Nattie-Negus – Chant fu festival
- Samran Woodley – Nyne – Dear Badmind
- Keithroy Morson – The Voice/De Bear – Just Like Dat
- Lloyd Cameron – Wrangla – Good is Coming
- Maggie Destouche – Maggie D – No Promises
- Anthonet Ashton – Hon-E – Happy Single
- Imran James – Beng – Sugar Wine
- Alvin Duberry – Dardo – Bad Company
- Brian Charles – I-Cultural – Empress
- Sanjarion Prince – Sanjarion – Enjoy Life
- Appiland Destouche – Di Spirit – Soak
The artists competing in the Jumpy Soca Monarch segment are listed below in appearance order. Their performance name and song are also included.
Jumpy Soca Monarch Line-Up
- Samran Woodley – Nyne – Greatness
- Kenville Winspere, Dyvaun Sweeney – Lyrikal Tool & D’Vicious – No Feelings
- Kenneth Greenaway – Yogi Laser – Soca
- Keithroy Morson – The Voice/De Bear – A Peeping
- Appiland Destouche – Di Spirit – Long Time
- Imran James – Beng – Buss a Whine
- Stephaun Harris, Jordesh George – Shella & Big Gee – Stress Free
- Shaquille White – Vybz It – Love for Soca
- Anthonet Ashton – Hon-E – Boss Chick
- Sanjarion Prince – Sanjarion – Wuk Up
- Nyah Andrew – Slippery – De Cow Just Let Go
- Basil Chambers – BasHD – Clear de Way
- Brian Charles – I-Cultural – Clean it Up
The competition is slated to begin at 8pm in Carnival City. It can also be streamed online at bakanal.tv.
