Courtesy Overtime Media
MM has 10 Road March titles and 5 International Power Soca and 2 Groovy Soca Monarch titles
Bunji Garlin holds 2 Road March titles and 4 Power Soca Monarch titles
Fay Ann Lyons holds the distinction of being the first and only female winner of both the Power and Groovy Soca Monarch titles and won 3 Road March titles
Kes won both the Power Soca Monarch and the Road March titles in 2020 in collaboration with Neil Iwer George.
Machel Montano has been a dominating force and a global icon leading the charge for Soca music since the mid-90s. His creative prowess, attention to detail, professionalism, drive and dedication to his craft has revolutionized the industry and indeed, brought the Caribbean region together over time through music and culture. At 50 years young, he remains a vibrant force in the music industry and returns to the Carnival stage for the first time in two years this Friday night for a mega-tastic concert performance in the southland. All roads lead to the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, where the MM maestro will share his extensive catalogue and the Lollabee concert stage with friends, famalay and the next generation of Soca/steam stars.
Bunji Garlin stopped competing in the International Soca Monarch contest many years ago, but after winning or having been a collaborator on two of the past five Road March titles (minus the covid years), it’s clear that the “Viking of Soca” is highly favored by the people. Last weekend at Soaka Til Sunrise, the freestyling wonder cleverly remixed his “Carry It” song with road contending lyrics, giving it a whole new meaning that may yet propel it firmly into the coveted space. On Thursday February 20th, Garlin will host a “Hard Fete” at Sound Forge in St James and by then, we may have a clearer picture of the Road March Race, but Garlin’s fans have been waiting for a full show like this for a long time so we can surely expect a rammed out venue full of XVibes! Let’s not forget, Garlin’s better half and riding partner, Fay Ann Lyons, who supports him 100% and contributes toward his sanity, clarity, focus, legacy and enterprises, not to mention her world famous home cooking and motherly duties. Together, the pair have been resolute in their commitment to each other and stand as a shining example of the Soca Power Couple (or the Power Soca Couple, however you chooae to phrase it)
Kees Dieffenthaller and Kes The Band continue to make waves while taking their own unique blend of Soca across the globe, but their home base in T&T has been meticulously built and curated now for 20 years with their signature event (once dubbed Tuesday On The Rocks) now renamed, evolved and expanded into the IzWe Festival. Via this annual vehicle, Kes keeps driving forward in their own lane – paving the way and providing a stage for young and upcoming acts, giving local entrepreneurs, designers and creatives a space and an opportunity to be seen and heard by thousands in the Carnival space and leaving lasting impressions with their fans here at home to be witnessed by those abroad.
On Tuesday February 7th, Kes The Band presents IzWe – Full Circle: a celebration of their 20th anniversary in Soca.
