Six former monarchs in Chutney Soca semis

Five-time winner, Heeralal Rampartap will go up against his rival Rooplal Girdharie who won the competition on six occasions. One time winner Kenneth Salick will face former chutney queen Drupatee Ramgoonai and Adesh Samaroo who won the National Chutney Foundation title in 2006.

Other artistes vying for a spot in the finals are: Artie Butkoon, Asha Kamachee, Chris Garcia, Edward Ramdass, Gregory Ayeun, Veeshal KI Persad, Kenneth Supersad, Lal Bharat, Lalchan Babwah (Hunter), Ian Joseph, Leon Coldero, Melanie Alicia Bartoo, Michael Salloum (Soca Elvis), Mohip Poonwassie, Moses Charles, Nathaniel Jude, Nathaniel Ramoutar, Neeshan “Hitman” Prabhoo, Neval Bissambhar, Nigel Salickram, Nisha Baksh-Lutchmedial, Nishard Mayhro, O’Neil Bhajman, Omadath Maraj, Oscar B, Rachel Ramkissoon (Summer D), Raj Singh, Rajin Dhanraj, Ravi Babooram, Reshma Maharaj, Reshma Ramlal, Rick Ramoutar, Rishi Ramkissoon, Sally Sagram, Sassy Ramoutar, Suresh Maraj, Sina Wayne SW Storm, and Veekash Sahadeo. They will be to singing to live music from the back up band Melobugz led by Rishi Mahatoo.

According to promoter of CSM George Singh, the show will feature many surprise guest performances and will pave the way for the grand final, to be held on February 11 at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. Twelve artistes will move on to the final, with three more coming in from Guyana. The winner of this year’s competition will be determined by text voting.

Among the foreign artistes contracted to perform at the competition are Jay Sean and Jamaica’s Laza Morgan. Going with the theme “One,” which signifies one Caribbean people and one such competition in Carnival, Singh says the move from the traditional Skinner’s Park venue to the Oval is an attempt to put more chutney presence in Carnival.

“We enjoyed 15 years in Skinner’s Park San Fernando and this show has outgrown that venue,” Singh said.

He expressed satisfaction in the quality of compositions that were presented to him by artistes. “Artistes adhered to the rules of the competition of no more borrowed melodies from the Bollywood industry and no more “rum songs”,” he said, adding that artistes submitted compositions that carried more positive lyrics this year.