Soca giants come in for Carnival
OVER 20 of the hottest soca singers and bands have been booked to perform in Jamaica for the 2001 Carnival Season, some on a cost-sharing concept.
Both Jamaica Carnival and Bacchanal Jamaica have identified the most popular soca acts to entertain at Carnival events up to the end of April. Some performers will move between both mas camps. In addition others will perform exclusively at Jamaica Carnival's 'Calypso Tent' and 'Chukka Cove' and some will be exclusive to Bacchanal Jamaica's events.
"Sparrow, TC and Sanelle Dempster are exclusive to us because they are available only at the times they will be performing," said Andrea Gordon, assistant to Byron Lee, organiser of Jamaica Carnival.
The three artistes will perform at Soca Calypso Tent on Thursday, April 19, while TC and Sanelle Dempster are booked for Chukka Cove on Sunday, April 15.
The J'ouvert bands Jokers Wild and Raiders; mas bands Oakridge and Revellers and party promoters, Frenchmen, all fall under the Bacchanal Jamaica umbrella. All five will be bringing in another set of artistes to perform at their Carnival events.
David Goldson of Raiders told Showtime that Surface and KMC would only perform at Raiders' event, 'Heat In De Street' on Friday, April 20 at the Bacchanal Jamaica Mas Camp, Oxford Road, New Kingston.
In addition, Rupee is to be brought in exclusively to perform at several Bacchanal J'ouvert events.
A spokesman for Jokers Wild told Showtime that the J'ouvert band will have exclusive rights to Alison Hinds and Square One. Meanwhile, Joker Wild will also be bringing in Bunji Garlin for its J'ouvert at Liguanea Park, New Kingston on Friday, April 20. However, he said other Carnival groups were now negotiating with Bunji Garlin to perform at their events.
The band Xtatik that will be in the island for Bacchanal Jamaica's 'Beach J'ouvert' at James Bond Beach, Oracabessa, Saturday, April 14 and Jamaica Carnival's Chukka Cove Fete, April 15.
And Michael Ammar Jnr., a director of Bacchanal Jamaica, said his camp was the first to book Tricia Lee Kelshall and Iwer George for the Carnival Season. He also said the artistes were free to perform at other Carnival events. In fact, Iwer George is to join several other acts for Jamaica Carnival's Soca Calypso Tent on Thursday, April 19, but Tricia Lee has so far not signed to any other Carnival camp.
Other artistes
Among other artistes and bands to be featured on Carnival events are: Chinese Laundry, Surface, Machel Montano, Xtatik and Peter C. Lewis, Krosfyah, Sparrow, Charlie's Roots, David Rudder, KV Charles, Leon Coldero, Admiral Bailey, Ken Boothe, Oscar B and Beenie Man.
Here's how the arrangements are made for the sharing of soca acts during the island's Carnival Season:
Andrea Gordon, assistant to Byron Lee, organiser of Jamaica Carnival explained that an artiste, who has a commitment to a particular Carnival camp, decides whether he will make himself available to other camps while on the island. On being approached by another Carnival group, the artiste will advise of the dates and times he has already confirmed, but makes himself available for other bookings.
The camps who want to book the performer would then liaise with each other and work out the details on sharing costs of airfare, hotel accommodation, transportation and per diem. Performance fees would be paid separately.
Miss Gordon said sharing acts was "economically convenient" to cover expenses .
"Economics doesn't leave room for exclusivity. We usually bring in artistes that are resaleable... that everybody knows and will want to have on their shows. That will subsidise the cost for us," she said.
According to Mr. Ammar Jnr: "Unlike non-Carnival events, there will be no overlapping of soca artistes; no artiste has more than one engagement per night. We don't mind the artiste performing at other events that are not produced by Bacchanal Jamaica; our exclusivity comes with the production itself and what it offers".
