Review of Launch of Carnival and Line Jam

Carnival is now into full swing following its launch on Sunday at Pointe Seraphine.
It was the first time the shopping complex had been used to launch Saint Lucia Carnival and the venue proved more than adequate. The wide open space only really had one issue and that was parking. Organizers really should have informed the public they would not be able to park in the complex's parking lot ahead of the event when a road block and police officers did their dirty work. But that annoyance aside, the venue was excellently laid out and the show moved along very well at a tight clip. The talent on the day was another story with the National Queen contestants speaking while their mikes were being adjusted - a complete no-no that resulted in the stage personnel who did the adjusting sharing air time with the contestants on all video recordings of the event. I have to say also that the Anse-la-Raye and Canaries Queen contestants made a much better impression than the National Queen contestants - most of whom I regret to say I honestly don't even remember days after the show. Same goes for the soca artistes - without consummate performers like Ricky T and Alpha who did not perform due to performance fee issues - the crowd took a while to warm up giving a lackluster reception to Nicole David and Teddyson John with more of the same to Superman HD who had to use last year's hit Defence to really move them before HP joined him and all three - Superman, HP and Teddyson ended the show with a move into the crowd while performing HP's Doggy Style off the 758 Road Rage riddim. But hats off has to go to Hayle Harvey and the Tourist Board team who moved the show along and DJ Shortman and Ratley who spun soca tunes of yesteryear and 2011 for the crowd that took a while to build but came together nicely at the end of the show.

Of course the Mas Action Carnival Band hosted its Line Jam on Whit Monday as has become tradition. And while the arrest and subsequent charging of a soca star over "using obscenities in public" may have threatened to overshadow the event - it didn't since it happened when the truck was already half way through town and the revelers were not aware of it. The Line Jam featured a number of artistes on the truck including Mongster, Ambi, Ricky T, Illah Man, Nicole David and Teddyson John in the early hours. Ratley was also on the turntables as early contenders for the 2011 Road March title from Crocodile to HP moved the crowd. It was also good to hear songs from all artistes and producers for a welcome change.