Countdown to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2010

Posted by Marlene Roberts in Entertainment, Featured, Interesting News, Music News | 3 comments

We’ve received hints that Trinidad Carnival 2010 is approaching with the many band launches and Soca Releases. The Mayhem began with the release of the still conquering “Bubble-Up” Riddim featuring the HD Family followed by the many band launches from Tribe to Island People Mas, Dream Team, Spice Mas and more recently Brian Mc Farlane’s stunning display in Tobago. The HD camp made another strategic move by Launching the HD Family at the Zen Nightclub with highlights of the show being the comeback of General Grant alongside Farmer Nappy again on the Bubble-up Riddim and the “Guest Appearance” by Machel MontanoHD himself.

You feel Carnival even more when you see a live band on stage, then you begin to eagerly anticipate the season’s approach. Incidentally, this was the highlight of Benjamin’s Glow at Point Fortin. The band Caribbean Traffik Jam was the feature entertainment for the night. Amidst the White Decor including the White snow effect on the floor, we can say that Caribbean Traffic Jam did nothing less of blow everyone into a heavenly euphoria.

In their first local performance in Trinidad since Carnival 2009, they left everyone wanting more. Coming on stage just about 2.30am the established members Edwin Charles and Sean Caruth took to stage alongside the latest additions Abbyshi Jackson and Sharlene Samuel and immediately began their energetic performance.

Eddie and Sean lead with the popular soca “Not Drunk”, “Jammin”, with Sharlene coming in with “Bacchanal” and “Work it”. This was followed by Abbyshi and Eddie on the Bubble up Riddim where Eddie decided to put a twist to the intoxicating Riddim by welcoming a dance competition called the Bubble-up Wine with the eager contestants fighting to win the new dance for the new Riddim and I think we now have a Bubble Up Wine.

When Eddie and Sean decided to drop party classics as “Party Animal” he made even me forget that I was at work at the event. They continued to whip the crowd into a frenzy while the Brass, Drums, Bass and the Frontline crew themselves just showed to the crowd why they had staying power in the industry.

But we had to stop to catch our breaths when Sean and Abbyjai went into the reggae renditions, like Busy Signal and Jah Cure and Neo’s Ms Independent where I was serenaded by Sean from backstage.

But Traffik was not yet done with the crowd, the Old School session began with favourites like “Celebration Time” and “Shadow”. Eddie did the trick by having the crowd reminiscing on partying at Iwer’s Property and Skinner’s Park when “Traffik used to mash up de fete” and telling the crowd to “raise yuh hand an break away” and the crowd obliged and all rags and even shirts were in the air.

With their final soca act “Dead or Alive” Traffik has the staying endurance to deliver to the crowd and still have the crowd whipped up. Finally Eddie and Sean with the always favourite laveway “thief ah cock” and “Coal Pot”

As I greeted the still energetic band as they exited the stage the Band leader Andy Joseph showed his pleasure at the performance and crowd reception by saying simply “Traffik is Reloading and the Winery is coming”.

Photography by: Johan Grosberg