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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 17, 2014
Mash Chutney Update…
Mash Chutney Competition for January 25 in Region Five -Sixteen vying for coveted crown
AFTER the organizers had fussed a lot and had run around apparently in proverbial circles, word finally came that the Mashramani 2014 Chutney Competitions is ‘ready to go’, and is now slated for January 25, 2014 at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice. The Mashramani Secretariat and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports are feverishly preparing for this annual competition; and it is expected to be most exciting and riveting this year. Word emanating from the Mash Secretariat is that 16 entries have, to date, been received for the competition. However, all competitors will face off on one night, and that event will see a division in the programme, allowing the singers to compete in groups of eight before a Monarch and runner-up are decided. The lineup of artistes for this year’s shindig features some of the more versatile chutney performers, and signals staging of a contest that will be pulsating. As expected, several fresh faces will be debuting during this competition, and they will be coming up against many seasoned campaigners who are determined to walk away with the prestigious crown and title. Below is an outline of the Mash Chutney 2014 contestants and the entries they have submitted for the competition. Young Bill Rogers The sexy siren Lisa Punch sizzled as she teased the audience
Guyanese rock stage at Barbados Music Awards
SEVERAL Guyanese artistes have each made an indelible mark at the annual Barbados Music Awards, now coined the Barbados Music, Fashion and Film Awards. Last weekend, a bevy of exceptional talent from ‘The Land of Many Waters’ hit the stage at the prestigious Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Barbados at what has become a must-see event on the Bajan entertainment calendar. A contingent of Guyanese talent, headlined by Lisa Punch and including Ernesta Nelson and Travis Bowen, created quite a stir at the packed hall of creative arts enthusiasts and practitioners. The Nation newspaper headlined that Lisa was the “Punch Line” at the event, belting out a powerful rendition of Secret Admirer, and serenading the receptive front row attendees as she descended the stairs to establish an intimate connection with her admirers. Ernesta delivered one of her soca hits, to the delight of the receptive audience; and Travis Bowen, the winner of Gold Coast Record Talent Search in Guyana, courtesy Guyana Fashion Week, was a sheer breath of fresh air performing an Enrique Iglesias pop hit. He was received with much enthusiasm, and is now being groomed in Barbados for international work and a record deal. “This is a dream come true for me, and I must say thanks to Guyana Fashion week and Gold Coast Records for this opportunity,” Travis Bowen has declared. In the fashion department, Sonia Noel lived up to her reputation, presenting a stunning lineup of Caribbean signature ensembles and separates that proclaimed Guyana as a signifi-
cant stakeholder in the development of the Caribbean fashion industry. To top it off, she was awarded a Regional Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to fashion in the Caribbean. Her line was highly appreciated, and indeed prompted extensive interest from entrepreneurs in carrying her line at their shops. “It is a great feeling to be appreciated for your work,” Sonia Noel declared. The Barbados Music awards has opened up its ambit to include fashion and film, all part of a regional campaign of integrating the region through the creative industries, and ultimately promoting the Caribbean brand as an alternative on the global agenda. Guyana, truly represented at
this occasion, certainly proved that the talents and creative energies of her sons and daughters are to be reckoned with, and can make a distinctive mark on the international scene. Ronnie Morris, producer of the Awards showcase, is also a Director of Guyana Fashion Week. He was elated at inclusion of Guyanese style, and asserted: “This is just the beginning of remarkable things to come in terms of collaborating with Guyanese artistes.” He also commended Sonia Noel for facilitating the growth of dynamic inter-regional networking endeavours in this hemisphere. Brutal Tracks and Mystic were also in attendance, but Mystic was too unwell and could not perform
Past Chutney Monarchs of our time
Fiona Singh
Defending Champion is Roger Hinds, and his entry is ‘Ge Me Mo Chutney’ Names Song Pooran Seeraj (Pooran) Under the Maaro Steven Ramphal (Steve) Indian Queen Aamir Khan GT and Trini Girls Joel Pharous (Prince JP) Indian Drums Danny Bholaram (Dante) Wedding Crasher Uuvin Sukho (Waterflow) Leh Me Talk to You Bunty Singh Me Wife Quarelling Goonwattie Persaud Boy You are the One for Me (Amrita Singh) Paramdai Willi (Vanita Willi) Tremble It Aamir Khan (2) Leave Me Alone Savitri Li (Lady P) Celebrate Sechitra Singh (Fiona Singh) Blow Harresh Singh Chutney In Guyana Michelle Gobin Young Gal Harvey Gobin Sangina Darling
‘Kes the Band’ to perform at Carib Soca Monarch finals on Feb 15
The talented Travis Bowen thrilled the audience with his melody
The 10th staging of the CARIB Soca Monarch competition is here, and it proudly announces the arrival of MASHRAMANI in Guyana! ANSA McAL is again delighted to kick-off Guyana’s national celebrations by featuring great and talented entertainers who are promising to delight and excite the audience their fiery soca music. ANSA McAL is also delighted to, this year, be sending the reigning Monarch, Jomo Primo, to participate in the Trinidad & Tobago Soca Monarch competition. The quarter-finals of this competition have been KES THE BAND eliminated this year, and the semi-finals will be hosted in Berbice on Saturday, February 8th, whilst the grand finale will be staged the next Saturday, February 15th, 2014. Eighteen fantastic contestants were shortlisted for the semi-finals from 32 entries, while the reigning monarch, Jomo Primo, will head straight to the finals.