Category Archives: Culture

Montserrat Festival 50 honours key figures in its cultural history

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LITTLE BAY, Montserrat – More than 50 people were honoured last evening at the final event on the Montserrat Festival 50 calendar. The festival committee paid tribute to past queens, calypsonians and community

leaders and organisations who supported the annual celebration which turned 50 in 2012.

The red carpet affair organised by Yvette-Ryan and her team was hosted by Shirley Osborne, daughter of the late chief minister Dr. John A. Osborne and George “JGP” Piper, radio personality on the Caribbean SuperStation. Continue reading →

Arlene Ponteen wins Montserrat Festival 50 House Raffle

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House Raffle Dec 26LOOKOUT, Montserrat – Arlene Ponteen of Barzey’s Montserrat is now a homeowner after winning the Festival 50 House Raffle which was drawn on December 26, 2012.

The drawing which took place live on ZJB Radio Montserrat from the home in Lookout was the culmination of a two-year promotion which saw entries from the UK, USA, and Canada and the Caribbean. Continue reading →

Cupid crowned Calypso Monarch for Montserrat’s Festival 50

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Cupid performs Shortly After Takeoff at the Calypso Finals on December 30, 2012.

Cupid performs Shortly After Takeoff at the Calypso Finals on December 30, 2012.

ESTIVAL CITY, Montserrat – Herman ‘Cupid’ Francis added a fourth calypso monarch crown to his credit after delivering two incredible performances at the 50th cultural festival celebrations Calypso Finals on Montserrat last night.

Cupid, who also serves as the Head of the Department of Culture and one of the island’s leading song writers and music instructors also nabbed four of the eight special prizes along with the EC$15,000 cash prize for the winner. Continue reading →

Chrystal Beckles of Barbados takes Regional Female Calypso Crown

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Chrystal Beckles of Barbados performs after winning the 2nd Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso Competition on Friday, December 22, 2012 at Festival City, Montserrat. (A Wayne Fenton Photo)

Chrystal Beckles of Barbados performs after winning the 2nd Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso Competition on Friday, December 22, 2012 at Festival City, Montserrat. (A Wayne Fenton Photo)

FESTIVAL CITY, Montserrat – Chrystal Beckles of Barbados reigned supreme over a group of talented female calypsonians to take the 2nd Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso title.

The competition was one of the major events on Montserrat’s Festival 50 calendar which runs until January 1, 2013.

Beckles performed sixth in each round singing two songs she wrote and arranged herself. In the first round she powerfully delivered Fly on the Wall and in the second, Forgive de Caribbean. Continue reading →

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Video: Backstage with Sharlene Lindsay

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Backstage with Sharlene Lindsay gives you the up close interviews with the calypsonians performing in the Festival 2012 eliminations. Get a taste of the music and find out what else we can look forward to as Festival 50 gets on the way.
Features music by King Kenzie, Crusa, One Note and Shwaniyah.
A production of ZJB Radio Montserrat and the Broadcasting Division of the Government of Montserrat. The writers, performers and musicians exert their rights as owners of the music presented in this production

First place in the Intermediate Category Jameina St. Hill performs I am Not Ashamed during the Church of God of Prophecy's 5th Annual Song Fest on December 7, 2012 at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.

Coordinator of Culture lauds COGOP Songfest Competition

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LITTLE BAY, Montserrat – Coordinator of Culture Herman ‘Cupid’ Francis is lauding the talent and creativity displayed at the recent Songfest organised by the Church of God of Prophecy, calling the standard “very high.”
Songfest is the church’s annual original composition show now in its fifth year. Nineteen young people competed in the event held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre on Friday, December 7, 2012.
Mr. Francis was one of the judges for the evening and spoke on behalf of the group who assessed the participants in three categories. Continue reading →

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Live Stream Shows for Festival 50

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  1. Calypso Eliminations – December 8, 2012 (Now available on Demand for US$9.99)
  2. Calypso Semi-Finals – December 14, 2012 (US$9.99)
  3.  Opening Ceremony – December 15, 2012 – 4PM (FREE)
  4. Nite of Pan – December 17 – 7pm – Until (US$4.99)
  5. Teen Pageant – December 20 – 7pm – Until (US$ 9.99)
  6. Regional Female Calypso – December 21 – 7pm – Until (US$ 15.00)
  7. Soca Frenzy – December 22 – 8pm– Until (US$ 6.99)
  8. Soca Monarch – December 26 – 8pm – Until (US$9.99)
  9. Soca International – December 27 – 8pm – Until (US$ 15.00)
  10. Legends of Calypso – December 28 – 8pm – Until (US$9.99)
  11. Queen Pageant – December 29 – 8pm – Until (US$9.99)
  12. Calypso Finals – December 30 – 8pm – Until (US$ 9.99)
  13. Festival Day – December 31 – 1pm – Until (FREE)
  14. Street Parade and Closing – January 1 – 2pm – Until (FREE)

Click on Watch to view the events. Credit cards and Pay Pal payments are available.

Dec 2012 -Talypso on iPad

Electronic judging system launched at Montserrat Festival 50 Calypso Eliminations

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LITTLE BAY, Montserrat – A new electronic judging system was launched on Saturday, December 8, at the Calypso Eliminations, which was the first major event on the Montserrat Festival 50 calendar.
The calypso eliminations saw 32 artists competing, some veterans and many newcomers with the judging made easier with Talypso, a web based software created to provide instantaneous updates once scores are entered.
Talypso, which is a merger of the words tallying and calypso, was created by Chairman of the Calypso Sub-Committee Dennison Daley and his business partner Manish Valechha. Continue reading →

Order of Calypsonians Competing in Tonight’s Eliminations

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32 calypsonians compete tonight to make the cut for the semi-finals next week. Here is the running order. First performer is up at 8pm. Music provided by DJ Moto from 6pm and Basil Chambers will host and do introductions at around 7:45pm.

Click on Watch Festival 50 Shows for Pay-Per-View from 7pm. Continue reading →