Chutney Soca goes to the OvalBy SEETA PERSAD Friday, February 10 2012
click on pic to zoom in
Lalchan Hunter Babwah...
Eighteen chutney stars from TT, Guyana and New York will be battling for the title of the Chutney Soca Monarch tomorrow at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.
This year, promoter of the competition, George Singh has moved the finals to Port-of-Spain, after staging the previous 16 at Skinner’s Park in San Fernando. Singh is promising this show will be the biggest, most spectacular show yet.
Local acts selected for tomorrow’s final include Heeralal Rampartap, Adesh Samaroo, Kenneth Supersad, Hunter, Sally Sagram, Rick Ramoutar, Reshma Ramlal, Omadath Maharaj, Soca Elvis (Michael Salloum), Nigel Salickram, Artie Butkoon and Veeshal KI Persad.
Guyanese chutney acts include Haresh Singh, Fiona Singh and Terry Gajraj. New York-based Ian “Ragga” Joseph and Sassy Ramoutar were also chosen to face defending champion Rikki Jai in the competition.
Music will be provided by Rishi Mahato and the Indosaf Melobugz Orchestra.
This year the women of Chutney Soca are making a strong challenge for the title, which has never been won by a women. Artie has been making waves with her tune, “Mousie Break Away,” while “Put Some Love On Me” by Sally Sagram has been in demand.
Newcomer Reshma Ramlal is seeing success with “Pani Awe Laa – Water Hose.” Sassy Ramoutar’s place in the final with “Juggle Yuh Belly” was cemented because of heavy text voting from the USA.
Among the men, former monarch Heeralal Rampartap has been spicing up the south-based calypso tent Kaiso Showcase with his song “Jealous Man.” He also has proven he has the recipe success, having taken the Chutney Soca crown on four occasions.
But the crowd favourite going into the finals has to be young KI Persad, whose highly popular “Single Forever” is a hit with chutney and soca lovers, and has taken him to the Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch finals. KI placed third in last year’s Soca Monarch finals.
The winner of tomorrow night competition be determined strictky by text voting. Those viewing the show via the internet from Guyana and the USA are also eligible to vote.
Guest artistes include Destra Garcia who will be part of the opening act; Ravi B and Karma; Anil Bheem and the BMRZ, calypsonian Black Stalin, Ella Andall, JW and Blaze, and Kerwin Du Bois.
During the course of this week Singh gave away 1,000 tickets to people living in south Trinidad to attend the event at the Oval. There is also the “Park and Ride” system in place for those in need of transportation to the Oval.
Showtime is 8 pm.
