KEVON FELMINE
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
The 30 artistes who are one step closer to winning $500,000 in Southex Events Management Company’s Chutney Soca Monarch (CSM) competition were announced yesterday.
Judges completed assessments of songs submitted by close to 80 artistes on Saturday and released the names of those heading to the next round of the competition at the Screamers Restaurant and Lounge in South Haven, Debe, on January 27. Among them are familiar artistes like Kerron Tyron “Wackerman” Williams, Rick Ramoutar, Kenneth Supersad and the current Queen of Chutney Soca Ramrajie Prabhoo.
The semifinalists must thrill the judges and audience to make the top ten for the grand final at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on February 4.
The second and third-place prizes are $100,000 and $75,000, respectively, while the other finalists will receive $35,000 for their participation.
The finals will feature guest performances by top Caribbean entertainers in a special feature titled Legends and Icons. In this segment, the CSM will honour former winners Samraj “Rikki Jai” Jaimungal, Rooplal “Rooplal G” Girdharie, Heeralal Rampartap and Drupatee Ramgoonai. Guyana’s Terry “Terry G” Gajraj and Suriname’s Kries Rhamkhelawan will also be among the honourees and there will be performances by Indo-Caribbean music icons.
CSM will also crown its 2023 Queen of Chutney Soca at the finals.
The semifinalists are:
Ricardo Melville
Daddy Chinee
Narindra Raghubir
Rizaan Ali & Darrion Narine – Riz And Theatrics
Kendal Jaggernauth
Stephon Ramberan
Kerron Tyron Williams – Wackerman
Keith Bishop – Keipalo
Shiva Lakhan
Rick Ramoutar
Joanne Gibson – Queen Voice
Camille Alana Ranjitman – Ranji Baby
Neeshan Sultan
Katelin Sultan
Mario Jitman
Kenneth Supersad
Devanand Gattoo
Ramrajie Prabhoo
Edward Ramdass
Vishnu Ramberan – Vee Ram
Ricky Khandoo
O’Neil Bhajman
Kenneth Salick
Prince Navin Prabhoo
Nigel Gobin
Jairam Dindial
Shazeena Ramsumair - Shazzie
Neval Chatelal
Nihchal Seepersad & Darrion Narine
Avinash Sookraj
