Entertainment

Juniors all set for Saturday’s showdown at Botanical

The stage is set and the finalists are gearing up to deliver their most spectacular performances yet as the 2024 Scotiabank Junior Monarch reaches its thrilling finale.

This year’s competition has been a rollercoaster of talent, passion and fierce showmanship which will boil over this Saturday, July 20 at the National Botanical Gardens Ampitheatre. The atmosphere is expected to be charged with excitement and anticipation as the fledging artistes vie for supremacy in the Calypso and Soca categories.

From the very beginning of the Crop Over season, the young entertainers have captivated audiences. First at the two Junior Monarch tents held at the Queen’s Park Steel Shed on June 15 and 22, they wowed the packed audiences with their powerful lyrics, vibrant performances and a level of skill that demonstrated the calypso tradition in Barbados has a bright future.

The semifinals, on Sunday, July 7 at the Graduation Tent at UWI, were nothing short of sensational. In spite of inclement weather that threatened the event, the 26 emerging stars brought the heat as they battled on stage. Each brought their unique flair and energy leaving the judges at the end of the night with the daunting task of selecting the best of the best from a pool of extraordinary talent. The decision though incredibly tough, had to be made and a select few earned their spot in the highly anticipated final.

Reigning calypso monarch Sakarah Sakarah Thomas is hoping to retain her title but she has formidable opposition in Relissa N’kyla Mitcham, Haylei Hailstorm Wise, Trinity Clarke, Eden Potent Murrell, Kadarius King K Allen, Khalijah Khaleesi Kellman and Kenaz Bit Bit Walker. The reserve is Sabiah Gaskin.

With the current soca monarch, Shontae Tae Alleyne-Clarke, choosing not to defend her title, the question arises: who will ascend to this throne? Will it be Israel John Boss Savoury, Jade Leilani Roach, Ranesha Stewart, Kari-Anne Kari Holford-Sam, Jazarie Zarie B Belgrave, Kymani Mr. Showman Devonish, Jayden Inniss, or Sephon Lil Stathis Sealy. The reserve is Joshua Joshua B Blackman.

The National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) Cultural Officer for Musical Education, Kevin Moore, anticipates an intensely competitive final. Reflecting on the contestants’ journey, he believes the months of preparation have fully readied them for the big night.

Their preparation involved receiving invaluable mentorship from seasoned artists in key areas such as performance, vocals, delivery and presentation, as well as their ongoing development throughout the season and the current final stages of rehearsal. Moore praised the contestants for maintaining an exceptional level of artistry.

“I expect all the contestants to bring their A-game. The band will be in fine form and I expect it to be a keenly contested show,” Moore remarked.

Moore explained that the location of the event in the National Botanical Gardens Ampitheatre is advantageous, as it allows the competition to take place in a similar setting even though it was outdoors.

In addition, the seating area for the general public and the stage will both be covered by a huge tent. And while Moore thanked patrons for their continued support of the juniors, he urged them to secure their tickets early before they are sold out.

Admission for the Finals is $10 for children and $25 for adult.

Tickets are available online on TicketPal.com and at the National Cultural Foundation, Lucky Horseshoe Warrens and Worthing, Abbeville Rockley, NU Look and CS Pharmacy Bridgetown, Emerald City Six Roads, Carlton Supermarket Black Rock, A&B Music Supplies Wildey, SmartStore Limegrove and Welches and Ah Touch of Class Lanterns Mall. It’s the Junior Monarch Finals is next Saturday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at the National Botanical Gardens Ampitheatre. (PR)

Entertainment

Spirit of the Nation this weekend November 16

Entertainment

The Richard Stoute Contest Finals Tomorrow November 9 & 10th

The Richard Stoute Contest 2024, co-produced by the National Cultural Foundation, has reached the final turn of the race. Twenty eager competitors are now preparing for the finals of the Over 21 and Teen Talent categories.

The ten Over 21 finalists are Alicia Alleyne, Zoe Armstrong, Kimberly Allen, Shaquan Smith, Amirah Cordice, Shaneka George, Jaleesa Greaves, Jacqueline Stoute, Lisa Hackett and Kenyah Joseph. The ten Teen Talent finalists are Kadarius Allen, Joshua Osbourne, Kayla Alleyne, Jasmine Walkes, Kyrique Alleyne, ZZ Cumberbatch, Kymani Devonish,Roneisha Alleyne, Joshua Osbourne, Jaliah Thompson, and Kenaz Walker.

Simply by making it to this point in the competition, these competitors join a special class of Barbadian entertainers, all of whom experienced the training and development that comes with taking the Richard Stoute stage. Since its inception in 1976, the Richard Stoute Contest has given birth to several Barbadian musical favourites. One of these is 1983 winner of the competition Edwin Yearwood who was referred to then as “the baby of the competition” by journalist Linda Deane. Singing Wildflower and You Are So Beautiful, a tribute to his mum, he won the seventh teen talent competition, beating AndersonArmstrong and Terencia “TC” Coward who would both later become his contemporaries in the soca arena. In a 1983 article about the contest, Linda Deane referred to the three as “the ones with the better chances of success”. TC would place second in that competition. Just three years later, in 1986, now global soca queen Alison Hinds was also a finalist in the Richard Stoute Contest.

Fast forward to the 90’s and many popular names in the Crop Over arena were singing and winning the transformative competition. In its sixteenth year, a twenty-year-old Adrian”AC” Clarke sang his way to the crown with his rendition of Jackie Opel’s Higher and Higher (his first time singing spouge) and Calypso Traveller. The very next year, his future Coalishun bandmate Rupert “Rupee” Clarke won the crown at just eighteen years of age. His winning songs were Frankie Paul’s “Sarah” and Stevie Wonder’s “Lately”, earning him a standing ovation in the Wildey Gymnasium along with a red Suzuki Swift, driving lessons from Cox Driving School and a trip to a Caribbean island of his choice. The 90’S would also see Barbadian balladist Betty B win the 1998 contest while performing artiste Ishiaka McNeil took the1999 crown.

The start of the new millennium was not without its future household names as Barry Chandler, who sang Vehicle and Wildflower(in tribute to his own mother and single mothers) amidst a standing ovation in George Street Auditorium, sang his way to the crown in the year 2000.

There are several more names throughout the years including popular band Spice & Company and 2024 Courtesy Garage Pic O De Crop contenders Darin Holder, Trinity Clarke and Shontae Alleyne-Clarke. Undoubtedly there isevidence that the environment of the Richard Stoute Contest breeds exceptional talent. Speaking about the competition in the year 2000 Barry Chandler spoke about Founder Richard Stoute saying “He not only taught me how to sing my songs properly, he taught me discipline, and I want to thank him for that”.

In a recently held press conference at The National Cultural Foundation NCF Music Officer assigned to the contest, Aisha Butcher, assured Barbadians the NCF will continue to uphold Richard’s legacy and standards while introducing innovations. These innovations include state-of-the art equipment, additional vocal coaches and a separate competition for the Over 21 age group. “We were happy to see that registration doubled this year [for the Over 21 age group] and the quality is on par with prior competitions”, Butcher stated.

The National Cultural Foundation has also introduced The Richard Stoute Award and The Spouge Award as part of their strengthened approach this year. The Richard Stoute Contest 2024 Finals will take place, tomorrow, Saturday November 9th (Over 21s) and Sunday November 10th (Teens) at The Derrick Smith School

and Vocational Centre

Entertainment

Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony This Friday

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment will host the Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony this Friday, November 1, marking the start of the annual community Independence celebrations.

This year’s ceremony will be held under the theme Celebrating Our Communities: Re-engaging, Re-igniting, Re-imagining, and will take place on Friday, November 1, at 5:30 p.m., at National Heroes Square, The City.

Following the Lighting Ceremony, the celebrations will continue with a Bajan Brew at 7:00 p.m., offering an evening filled with spouge, drama, song, and steel pan performances.

The event is free and open to all, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Barbados as we celebrate Independence.

Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and make any necessary transportation arrangements due to expected road closures in the vicinity of Wharf Road and Trafalgar Street. (PR/GIS)