Street Party on road Carnival Monday

After a successful 2017 mas band, We the People, internationally renowned trumpeter Etienne Charles and his friends launched his 2018 Carnival Monday evening band Street Party.

The launch was held at the Courtyard, Government Campus Plaza on Richmond Street, Port of Spain on Saturday.

Charles and Friends brought out the who’s who on the party circuit as the likes of Hasely Crawford, NAAA’s Ephraim Serette, Olympic Committee’s Brian Lewis, former Miss Universe Janelle Penny Commissiong, Speaker of the House Bridgid Annisette-George, former minister Mariano Browne among others were seen enjoying themselves.

Street Party features four sections, all T-shirts with a bright trumpet on the front and Etienne and Friends Brass Mas written on the back. Masqueraders will also have a matching hat and draw bag. The colours are fluorescent and come in pink, orange, green and white.

Registration for the band kicked off at the launch and the organisers were very surprised at the numbers.

Music was supplied by Brimblers Steel Orchestra and Charles and friends which included Leston Paul, Rodney Alexander, Dean Williams and Tamba Gwindi. Vocals were performed by Roger George and Lima Calbio both out of Florida USA. The band provided soca music from the 70s, 80s and 90s to the delight of the audience as the party people danced and sang.

David Rudder was a special guest and delighted the audience. He changed the lyrics in Rally Round the West Indies to lyrics about Trinidadians helping their brothers and sisters in Dominica, Barbuda and other parts of the Caribbean which were devastated by hurricanes recently. The audience lapped up the new lyrics showing Rudder great appreciation for the gesture.

Charles says the reason behind his band is for masqueraders to remain true to the Carnival in its finest traditions supported by live music.

Part proceeds from Saturday’s launch will go towards a hurricane relief fund.