Soca Reggae Festival

Soca Reggae Festival
July 10th, 11th and 12th, 2009 at Old Market Square, Downtown Winnipeg


Performers/Bands Please note there are only a limited number of vendor spaces available.	Soca Reggae Festival Entertainment Oscar B Oscar Benjamin aka Oscar B hails from the twin island of Tobago. He was quite active in all major music festivals and talent shows around Trinidad and Tobago, for example, Teen Talent Scouting for Talent and the famous Party Time. He did very for himself by imitating the popular calypsonian Brigo. He later went on to join big bands such as Star Flash, Black Sheep, Blue Ventures. In 1991, he joined the legendary band from Jamaica, Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires. He has served the band for 15 years and is still an active member today but is also privileged in doing his solo acts. Over the 15 years with the band, he has done numerous recordings and albums such as Soca Tattie, Soca Butterfly, Brassline, to name a few. He has also worked with Jamaican Dance hall artistes like Admiral Bailey, Lt. Stitchie and others. He has worked with artistes outside the Caribbean. In 1995, he entered the Soca Monarch where he placed third, tied with Edwin Yearwood from Krossfyre. Oscar B, as he is called in the music industry, has had the opportunity to work with some of the industry's best producers such as Leston Paul, Junior 'Ibo' Joseph, Pelham Goddard, Eddie Bullin. He has also had the opportunity to work with Caribbean Pulse, a reggae group out of L A. Oscar B can safely say that he has recorded over 30 songs in his musical career and will not be stopping anytime soon. He can boast as one of the first artist to blend the dance hall with the soca, with songs like Follow Me by Atlantic and Weakness For Sweetness by Leston Paul, sung by Nataile Burke His main aim is to take the music to the highest level and will love to see the day the soca music becomes main stream, and wins a Grammy De Hunter With his energetic style and pulsating soca rhythmic melodies De Hunter continues to dominate the stage with stunning performances in St.Lucia, Antigua, the French West Indies, the Virgin Islands, London, and the United States. With his energetic style and pulsating soca rhythmic melodies De Hunter continues to dominate the stage with stunning performances in St.Lucia, Antigua, Trinidad, the French West Indies, the Virgin Islands, London, and the United States. Hunter was selected to participate, among giants in the calypso arena in Trinidad, in the soca monarch competition of the world. He is considered to be one of the most up and coming artistes in the Caribbean. Terry Gajraj Terry Gajraj was born in Guyana and now lives in the USA. Gajraj has topped Chutney charts worldwide and his performances has taken him to many countries including Canada, USA, Holland, Surinam, England and the Caribbean Islands. His 1992 album “Guyana Baboo,” remains one of the best selling Indo-Caribbean albums of all times. Terry is also known as the "Guyana Baboo" after his famous 1993 hit. Terry is a versatile singer who sings Chutney, Calypso, Ballads and Reggae. Since his first record “Soca Lambada” was released in 1989, he has gone on to release over 25 more albums and has had number one records on all the charts in the Caribbean, North America and Europe. The 1990's have undoubtedly been his decade, and the new millennium promises even more great things to come. In 2007, Gajraj performed at the 7th annual Bollywood Music Awards, the Indian nation’s equivalent to the Grammys. Stamina & Jah Vibes In 1984, while still in school, Stamina, along with other like minded youths began laying the ground work for the band Jah Vibes. Today the band still exists with Stamina as an integral part of its existence. Stamina feels more fulfillment with a microphone in hand and an audience feasting on his infectious lyrics and electrifying performance. His energetic style and rustic lyrics is always a good infusion to stimulate musical appetites anywhere. To date, Stamina has shared stages with reggae stalwarts like: Buju Banton, Shabba Ranks, Singing Melody, Sugar Minott, The Wailers and many others. Inna Riddim A classic reggae and motown/reggae style band from Winnipeg, Canada. That's right, a bunch of prairie boys laying down the vibe for you. The band has been around for some 20 odd years and continues to dish out a mostly reggae and ska mix. Inna Riddim has evolved considerably since its first gig at an anti- apartheid rally one summer long ago, and has filled out over the years with a range of instrumentation including flute, viola and horns. Compiled over two decades, Inna Riddim's musical repertoire is varied, and includes a cocktail of traditional roots reggae tunes, reggae-fied rock and pop numbers, and several original songs that start with a reggae base and throw in some other flavours to cook up their own unique blend. Mello Man Born Cornelius Hibbert in St. Thomas, Jamaica, Mello Man (aka Mr. Sweet Voice) is one of the most authentic reggae singers in western Canada. The singer-songwriter was recently described as "perhaps the most laid-back star” in Canada. His one more passion in life is to make his fans happy with his infectious music. Today fans throughout Canada know the unique sound of the man known as the " Mellowman ". Mellow has made an indelible imprint on the reggae music-loving audiences through appearances at various venues in the city. He loves to entertain his audiences with his sweet ‘mellow’ voice and is sure to give us many more hits of great sweet soulful reggae music. He was recently on the same show with Sean Paul and Rupee. Mellow has recorded a number of singles and earned the respect, and ear of national and international audiences and professionals in the world of music. He has toured with many major reggae artists, such as Third World, Frankie Paul, and Chevelle Franklin. Mello Man also appeared at the 2000 Montreal Jazz Festival and the 2002 Victoria Ska Festival with JFK and the Conspirators. His songs”Give a Little Love,” “Dreaming” and “African Girl” can be heard on college and urban radio in Winnipeg and he is currently working on his first full-length album called Child of the Universe. To watch a video on Mellowman please click here. Lolita In 2007 Lolita thrilled the audiences at the Soca Reggae Festival with her fire dance under the limbo stick. It was a breathtaking performance as one of the best Caribbean limbo dancers showed her talents to the packed crowds at Old Market Square. Lolita danced her way under a flaming horizontal pole, lowered to the height of two Carib beer bottles. She allowed guests to have the opportunity to participate in the fun on stage. Strong, graceful and extremely limber, she performs in a hypnotically intricate interplay with the drums. She entrances her audiences with amazing artistry as she glides seemingly effortlessly under a flaming limbo pole literally inches off the ground. She is back with us in 2008 and to see her dance the limbo is a performance you won't easily forget. Eggs Band "EGGS" is the hottest young band in Barbados, playing at concerts, weddings, parties, churches and many special venues across the island. They have had rave reviews from audiences that have marveled at the tremendous talent and discipline of this young group. The band has been hosted by Barbados association of Winnipeg Inc. for three consecutive years to perform at their annual "Bajan Night" cultural evening. They have also appeared at the 2007 Soca Reggae Festival where fans were astounded by the young EGGS, who possessed incredible talent. "EGGS" was formed by Akil Walrond the drummer and youngest member of the band. He was 8 years old when he first visited Winnipeg in 2005. EGGS members are aged from 9 to 14 years old. Winston Yearwood (aka Cassius) adds his tremendous talents as a showman and singer together with mentorship to the group. Paradise Band The Paradise band is a local Caribbean band that brings the Caribbean straight to you with hot dance music. If there is a recipe for success in the entertainment industry, then the Paradise band certainly has it. The six piece musical ensemble is highlighted by the awesome musical arrangements of Clyde Heerah who is revered for his surgeon-like guitar melodies and steel drum skills. The band is known as an energetic live act; producing delicious, danceable and irresistibly pulsating rhythms with each trip to the stage. The group’s repertoire is unending. It includes Salsa, Reggae and of course Calypso/Soca which dominates whatever they do. The talent and energy of this exciting band will surely propel them to even higher heights of success in the years to come. Other Performers DJ Vibesman DJ Bunny DJ Snipa Performers Schedule To view the performers schedule, please click here. More to come - major announcements coming soon – keep checking the web page.