THE DUST has not quite settled on Sunday’s Soca Royale show at Bushy Park, but artistes are already asking for changes.
Calls to make the Sweet Soca competition a night-time event similar to the Party Monarch surfaced again recently, when event coordinator with the National Cultural Foundation, Aja, added his voice to the request previously made by artistes.
This time at least two of the finalists in this year’s competition are calling for more prominence to be given to the competition by making it the last event on the day’s card.
Based on the number of groovy songs being produced in recent years and the calibre of songs making it to the finals this year, Biggie Irie and De Big Show tent-mate Mr Dale want a change in plan, which would see the Party Monarch competition preceding the Sweet Soca competition.
Speaking to the DAILY NATION after the competition on Sunday, Mr Dale predicted that based on the quality of songs in the finals the result would be close, and it was. A mere two points separated Sweet Soca Monarch Blood from Biggie Irie.
Mr Dale felt the competition element of Soca Royale should start after sunset. He also said that given the trend in recent years, groovy soca should be given more prominence in the festival.
“I’m thinking that there’s a swing towards the slower tempo and now with the more bashment kinda vibe . . . it lends itself to makingthe ragga soca dominant,” Mr Dale said.
Biggie Irie, who went on to place second and take the $14 000 prize, concurred.
