Calypso legends and soca stars make up the star-studded cast for this year’s Calypso Spektakula, which premieres next Wednesday at NAPA, Port-of-Spain, from 7 pm.
Calypso Spektakula director Frank Martineau said this year’s 46th anniversary edition will also be staged at SAPA in San Fernando on January 27 and the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, on February 2.
It will include performances by icons of the artform, including 92-year-old Lord Nelson, nine-time National Calypso Monarch Chalkdust and Road March champs Crazy, Poser and Iwer George.
Although he is mourning the recent death of his wife, Chalkdust is keen to perform for his fans, who have supported him for over half a century.
He is also part of the cast at the Kalypso Revue Tent this season.
Also mourning a loss but preparing to grace the stage is Toco diva Patrice Roberts. whose fiancé, soca star Ricardo Drue died last month.
Other members of the cast include chutney soca star Rikki Jai, now based in the United States, who has returned to T&T for performances.
Iwer George, who has announced his retirement from performing soca, is expected to raise the ceiling with a spectacular performance.
Much-in-demand soca stars on the billing include Nadia Batson, Ronnie McIntosh, C2K24 party king Mical Teja and Olatunji.
Mical Teja’s 2024 songs have been on heavy rotation on the airwaves since Christmas and his DNA is the tune of choice for many of the large conventional steelbands competing in this year’s National Panorama competition.
His Hall of Fame was very popular last yea and his December release, Run Away, is making in-roads.
Like Mical, Olatunji is also big for the 2024 Carnival season with The Inventor. His Engine Room was the Calypso of the Year last year.
Martineau has promised total entertainment from beginning to end as patrons relive the glory days of the iconic Calypso Spektakula tent.
Tickets for Calypso Spektakula’24 are on sale at NAPA and SAPA box offices and other venues across the country.
