When eight-year-old Angelo Gore heard about a competition for a chance to perform with Machel Montano, he began rehearsing immediately. He grabbed a mic, had his family record him, and submitted his entry.
And although he didn’t end up getting enough shares to win, the soca star still gave him a chance to touch two of the Carnival season’s biggest stages and “gih dem performance.”
Montano launched his MM Encore competition in January, where participants had to post a video performing his 2026 Road March contender, Encore. The prize was the opportunity to perform with him at the Monday Madness fete at the Queen’s Park Oval on 9 February. “I came home from a football match and my sister send this competition from Machel... Mommy asked me if I want to do it so I said yes and I only learnt it in about 15 minutes,” he told Guardian Media at his Chase Village home.
In the end, contestant Coryn Clarke was crowned the winner. But Angelo’s video got a lot of love online, so Machel contacted his family to give him a moment in the spotlight.
He said he was not nervous, especially since his family was there to support him with “uncle Machel.” It was at that moment, as the song says, that the dress rehearsal was done and “the real thing start.”
“I (felt) great because it was the first time I was going on a big stage,” Angelo said. “(My family said) I did great... and I gih dem performance. And one of my godmothers and godfathers gave me a trophy.”
He said Encore has a “Soca Monarch energy” and vibe, and that he thinks it’s “definitely coming for the road” this year.
An aspiring soca artiste, the Standard Two Montrose Government Primary School student said he has been singing calypso, soca, and chutney soca since he was two years old.
Some of his other favourite soca artistes are Bunji Garlin, Nailah Blackman, Kes, and Blaka Dan.
Asked what message he has for Machel, he said, “Thank you for the opportunity to sing on stage with you. The contestants were very happy to be on stage with uncle Machel.”
His mother, Laverne Gore, said she is thankful he got the experience, adding that he “transforms” onstage. “I am the proudest mom right now,” she said.
His father, Trevor Gore, said he couldn’t put his feelings into words. “I was stunned. I don’t know where he got the energy from,” he said as he laughed.
Angelo got his own encore during Machel’s free show at the NCC’s Flava Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Friday night. The crowd cheered loudly for him as they waved their rags and flags.
Machel performed several of his hits in front of the massive audience and even included a drone light show. Many eager fans had no choice but to listen to, or try to see, the performance from outside the gates due to overcrowding.
There was also heavy traffic congestion around the area as many events were happening simultaneously, including Hard Fete at the Savannah, Duck Work at NAPA, and Frolic at Queens Hall.
