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August 4, 2007 - On Friday evening the legendary soca/calypso got off to a slow
start with the original show time of 8:30 extended all the
way to 10pm, at which time the supporting band for the
performers sauntered onto the stage looking a bit lost for a
time, but once under way - patrons were treated to
absolutely masterful performances - more than making up for
the slow beginning.
When Anguilla's Monarch Queen B took to the stage at
10:00pm, the tone for a spectacular evening of Soca-Calypso
was set.
The
Band members, Master of Ceremony and most of the performers
were from Trinidad.
On the line-up were: 1) Sugar Aloes - Trinidad
2) Scrunter - Trinidad
3) The Mighty Sparrow - Trinidad
4) Swallow - Antigua
5) Calypso Rose - Tobago - with ancestral links to Guinea,
Grenada and Barbados
Each performed at a superb standard for 20-30mins with
a total of over 25 songs for a 3.5 - 4 hour period. The
powerful voice of Sugar Aloes resonated throughout the
village. He reminded the audience of how happy he was to be
back in 2007, referring to his unfortunate illness in
Antigua in 2006 on his way back to Trinidad from Anguilla.
The illness required serious surgical procedures performed
by 4 Cuban doctors and he seemed in as fine a condition, if
not better, than he did a year ago. His performance was
briefly interrupted by a call going out for a nurse to
report to the Princess Alexandra Hospital - no further
details were given.
Sparrow was as mighty as
ever and though his movements were slow, his wit, voice and
charm was obvious. His performance drew the first set of
audience members to their feet. A large crowd
was on hand by the time Swallow made it to the stage. He
connected with the mass from the onset and before long,
meandered throughout them. By this time, revelers were on
their feet dancing to Calypso the like of which is seldom
heard today! |
