Machel Montano to receive keys to New York City

SOCA star Machel Montano is set to receive the keys to New York City on August 25 from mayor Eric Adams, in conjunction with the Rise Up NYC concert series and the NGO the Apollo Theater in Harlem, where he landed a residency.

Montano will headline the free concert ceremony and celebration on that day at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York, a statement from Nicole Duke-Westfield said on August 18.

She is the principal consultant of Westfield Communications, a PR and communications company based in Diego Martin.

Montano, the 2024 Calypso Monarch winner, also landed a show at London’s Notting Hill Carnival in the UK.

The announcement came fresh from his sold-out performances at Barbados’s Crop Over celebrations earlier this month.

Montano is set to begin the series of high-profile performances in London and New York City, culminating in a four-night residency at the iconic theatre.

The series starts in the UK on August 23, where Montano will perform for the first time in eight years. He is backed by his full live band and dancers at Tipsy Dreamland during Notting Hill Carnival celebrations inside OVO Arena Wembley.

The statement said, “This is the first all-soca arena show in London featuring an incredible lineup of soca superstars – Bunji Garlin, Alison Hinds, Skinny Fabulous, Fay-Ann Lyons, and Mical Teja.”

From London, Montano heads to the US to get his keys. His Apollo residency takes place over the US Labor Day weekend from August 30-September 2, and will be a historic series of concerts featuring special guests.

The statement quoted Montano as saying, “It has been my lifelong dream to play at the Apollo Theater, one of the most iconic and legendary entertainment venues in the world.

“Its rich history and tradition, not to mention the enduring connections between the Harlem community and the Caribbean, make this an incredible honour for me.”

Montano added that his Apollo residency reflects the continued growth and increased appeal of calypso and soca to play to large audiences and fill major event spaces.

“This will be my first performance at the Apollo. We have performed and sold-out Madison Square Garden in Manhattan and similarly the UBS Arena in Long Island and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn,” he said.

“When I think of the many careers that began on the Apollo stage, how it has welcomed some of the world’s greatest performers, I am very excited to join that great legacy and tradition and showcase our music.”

A special edition collection of memorabilia designed by hip-hop artiste Trinidad James will be available exclusively at the Apollo.

Tickets for the event are available at https://www.apollotheater.org/ or ticketmaster.com.

To close out this residency, on Labor Day (September 2), the soca star is set to perform as a cast member of TUCO’s Calypso Uptown, A Carnival Celebration concert. The show will feature performances by other popular local artistes like Lord Nelson, Rikki Jai, Mical Teja, Gypsy, Farmer Nappy, Lyrikal, Kurt Allen, Crazy, Myron B and more. Majah Hype and Dahved Levy will host it.

Montano said he looks forward to reconnecting with calypso and soca fans in London and New York and being part of the carnival celebrations in both cities.

He added, “The Caribbean and Caribbean people have played an important role in the development of these major cities, and we have gifted our Carnival and cultural expressions to them. I am proud to contribute to this legacy.”