Dimanche Gras to celebrate Icons

The show will have two segments -the crowning of the National Calypso Monarch and an international celebration of some of TT’s cultural trailblasers who have excelled in the art form.

Of his plans for the February 26 show at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Wiltshire said: “This year an additional segment, ICONS would be added.

I would not like to give away too much, but I can promise a very exciting, eclectic and engaging show.” As it has been over the last few years, the main part of the show would be the Calypso Monarch final, that is expected to take place between 7 pm and 9.30 pm.

This will be followed by the ICONS’ segment from 9.30 pm to 11.30 pm.

This segment will honour a few of TT’s treasured cultural icons, namely recent winner of the prestigious Victoires de la Musique, (the French equivalent of the Grammy’s) Calypso Rose (Mc Cartha Linda Sandy-Lewis), mas designer extraordinaire Peter Minshall, international soca stars Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez), and pan pioneer Dr Anthony Williams.

Awards will be presented to each of these icons, after which there will be an international celebration of the national stars, beginning with a performance by internationally-acclaimed pannist Robert Greenidge. A host of foreign acts will follow including Rupee (Rupert Clarke) of Barbados, Teddyson John (St Lucia), Terri Lyons (TT), Skinny Fabulous (Gamal Doyle, St Vincent) and Kreesha Turner, Canadian/ Jamaican recording artiste and songwriter.

Each artiste will give a one song cameo performance, and make way for a sub-segment of the ICONS, titled: Seeds Of The Icons.

This segment will see performances by the children and grand children of some of TT’s cultural legends such as the Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts), Ras Shorty I (Garfield Blackman), Merchant (Dennis Franklyn Williams) and SuperBlue (Austin Lyons), with Kernal Roberts, Nailah Blackman, Sekon Sta (Nesta Boxill) and Fay Ann Lyons, each performing one of their respective father’s and grandfather’s classics.

Presented by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), the show will also feature performances by Bunji and Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez, MX Prime (Edghill Thomas), Ravi B (Ravi Bissambhar), Ella Andall and Devon Matthews, Omardath Maharaj and Raymond Ramnarine.

Apart from Greenidge’s performance, steelband music will welcome patrons to the event and the national anthem will be played on the pan.

Also, Wiltshire said, as tradition dictates, the Carnival King and Queen will make their presence felt to ignite the Merry Monarch celebrations.

Asked how he felt about the opportunity to produce the show Wiltshire said: “I am very pleased to be given the opportunity, I have expressed my interest to be considered and tendered for the last four years.” He then promised: “The entire show will run an extremely entertaining four hours, 15 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission.”