THIS MONTH LAST YEAR: January 2016 Entertainment In Review

Today, NATION Online takes a look back at some of the highlights in entertainment for January 2016.

BARBADIANS WELCOMED 2016 with the usual fanfare at the various parties and fetes across the island.

Some opted to go to church, to the beach to watch the fireworks, or dressed casually to attend one of the breakfast fetes to see the sunrise, while others dressed in their finery to say farewell to 2015.

■ Meanwhile, the National Cultural Foundation put out feelers about calypsonians singing one song for the 2016 Crop Over Festival. Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley addressed this early in the new year.

■ Five Barbadians made it to the semi-finals of the International Soca Monarch Competition in Trinidad and Tobago.

Party Monarch winner Peter Ram, Hypasounds, iWeb, Biggie Irie and King Bubba FM made the cut as the 59 were chosen from more than 230 entries. Competitors were judged on melody, arrangement and lyrics. Crowd response would also form part of the criteria for the show.

Hypasounds was the lone Barbadian to advance to the finals with How She Like It, but Peter Ram later gained a wildcard entry from online voting with megahit All Ah We.

■ Organisers of the Naniki Music Festival staged a very successful show, featuring the band Aswad. With original members Drummie Zed and Tony Gad (below) leading the way, the band performed from their hits spanning 40 years. 

■ In January, Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley announced there would be no Christ Church Carnival for 2016. Shooting incident has marred both the Christ Church and St Philip events in 2015.

■ Soca queen Alison Hinds showcased her vocal range with a flawless rendition of the American anthem at a National Basketball Association match between Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The opportunity arose out of a collaboration between Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Brooklyn Nets.

■ A parade through Bridgetown and a concert in Heroes Square marked the official launch of the year-long celebrations for Barbados 50th Anniversary of Independence.

■ Local band NexCyx also announced they were changing their name to 2 Mile Hill and in an interview with the NATION’s Tre Greaves, spoke about their musical journey.