Caribbean Queens of Soca—Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson, Destra Garcia, Terri Lyons, Nailah Blackman and Allison Hinds—will be celebrated by YES Promotions at two events. The first will be at the Sundar Popo Auditorium, Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), on January 31, and the second at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, Northern Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on February 1, at 7 pm.
YES Productions said they’ve billed these shows as very special productions, as they celebrate their headline act Patrice Roberts, who celebrates 30 years as a professional artiste. The events will also feature two of 2024’s hottest artistes Olatunji and Mical Teja, who will serenade the queens.
Getting to know the queens:
The Toco lass Roberts, who is a cousin to internationally-renowned Bunji Garlin, has been capturing the hearts of music lovers at home and abroad from a very tender age. At age nine, she was crowned winner of the 1995 Sangre Grande Junior Calypso Monarch; in 2001, she won the National Junior Soca Monarch, National Library Calypso Monarch and National Junior Calypso Monarch titles, repeating the latter in 2002. After being a runner-up in the International Soca Monarch Competition in 2003, she teamed up with Machel Montano to win the 2006 Road March title with Band of the Year. One of Robert,s biggest hits, Mind My Business, which soared internationally, was adopted by rap/hip hop sensation Nicki Minaj.
Destra Garcia, also known as the Queen of Bacchanal, was born literally in the bowels of culture as her birthplace is next to the original Desperados panyard, up Laventille Hill. Doors to the big stage were opened for Garcia when, at the age of 21, Dr Roy Cape invited her to front for his All Stars band, following which she had a meteoric rise in soca, both as a composer and artiste. Despite Garcia having never won a major calypso title, she’s respected and adored as an icon of the art form.
Nadia Batson has been a professional artiste for almost 20 years. She was a songwriter, producer and background singer, before opting to step out into the limelight as a solo singer. Starting with Kes The Band in 2005, and touring the Caribbean and North America, in 2011, Nadia formed her own band, SASS Nation, now renowned as the only established female soca band on the planet. Nadia has had several hit songs including So Long, Fatt, and Catching Feelings. For 2024, Nadia’s much-in-demand single, Market, is ruling the airwaves.
Terri Lyons, former Calypso Monarch stepped into the 2024 Carnival season continuing her winning ways. She retained the title of Regional Calypso Queen of Queens in December of last year.
Called the Princess of Soca, Nailah Blackman was BET’s 2018 Best New International Act nominee; Jamaica’s Your View Best New Soca Artiste awardee; and International Soca Awards Groovy Soca Female of the Year. Blackman’s 2024 Jam of the Year and Take Yuh Time are currently sparking the airwaves.
Barbados Queen of Soca, Allison Hinds, famed for her Roll It Gal (2005), is Barbados’ first female and two-time Road March winner (1996,’97), and was also the first female to win the Party Monarch (1997). For 2024, Hinds brings Fine Wine.