Barrie Caribfest 2009

Hi readers,

Barrie's Caribfest takes place this coming weekend so if you're in the mood for another jump up then this is the place to be. A lot of the Toronto mas bands take part in this parade so its another opportunity to use your costume. Check with the mascamps to see who will be attending. Hopefully you didn't jump and wine too hard at Caribana and your costume is still intact :-p

Maxwell's BLACKsummer's Night Tour.....Toronto stop

Maxwell fans take note......The BLACKsummer's Night North American tour will commence right here in the T-Dot on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 14, 2009 at 12:00 p.m.

2009 NORTH AMERICAN FALL TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
Maxwell will return to the road in late September for a series of select North American concert dates, his first since wrapping a sold-out summer tour in early August. Maxwell's highly anticipated autumn tour kicks off at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on September 25th. Go to MUSZE.com for a full tour date listing.

JERKFEST 2009

Oh gosh....so much happening this weekend. Everything but Hamilton Carnival but that's another story. Anyway, so after you get your Greek on why not get your Jerk on too???

JERKFEST 2009 takes place this Saturday and Sunday (August 8 and 9, 2009) at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. Admission is free and the gates open on:

Saturday @ 11:00AM - 9:00P.M.
Sunday @ 11:00AM - 7:00P.M.

What is JerkFest?
JerkFest is an annual festival which takes place around the second weekend in August every year. JerkFest celebrates the world renown jerk cuisine. Its a fusion of jerk food, pulsating music, family friendly entertainment and good vibes - all under the throbbing Toronto sun.

Visit the website for more info: http://www.jerkfestival.ca

Sykotik Mas

One of the bands featured on the Cariwest website is called Sykotik Mas. This band is actually based in Calgary but they will be making the trip to Edmonton for Cariwest. They have their own website which features their 2009 presentation "FORBIDDEN TINGZ" comprised of 3 sections: SPICY GOLD, EARTHLY PLEASURE and BLUE PASSION.

Check out their website or facebook page and maybe if you're taking a trip out west you can contact them to play mas: http://www.sykotikmas.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=53588525825&ref=ts

The Cariwest website also lists 3 other mas bands taking part in the Parade this Saturday:

"Osmond Edwards & Associates" - Theme: From Heaven to Hell Contact for Costumes: Osmond Edwards @ 780 461-1949 or 780 934 5450à

Trinidad & Tobago Association - Edmonton Theme: Phantom Fantasy Contact: Frank at 780 455 5310 or 780 463 7214

Robert Norman and Friends Theme: Cry Freedom

Contacts: Jenny Walker at (780) 463-2743 or Cell (780)299-2445

Jackie Reese at (780) 940 3961

Cariwest - Hottest Fest in de West!

This weekend Cariwest will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. Big up to all the West Indians out in Edmonton. I hope you guys have beautiful weather for the festivities!!

Here's some info about Cariwest taken from their website:

Cariwest brings the spirit of Caribbean Carnival to the Festival City of Edmonton, Alberta. The festival is 3 days of fun filled activities! Along with our Colourful Costume Extravaganza, you will also enjoy the sweet sounds of a steel pan, savour the flavour of West Indian Cuisine, and 'jump up' in the streets of Edmonton as you dance alongside the Mas band parade, with Calypso music resonating through your soul! Click here for our schedule of events.

Visit our Caribbean Village, located in Sir Winston Churchill Square for food, drinks, hanging out with friends while enjoying the fabulous entertainment we have planned for you and your families.

This year (2009) Cariwest celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Come celebrate with us! Do you want to play mas with us?

Cariwest (cariwest@shaw.ca) #1A 10575 114 Street NW Edmonton AB T5H 3J7 ph 780-421-7800

Join our Facebook group at "Cariwest - Western Carnival Development Association"

Taste of the Danforth

The Taste of the Danforth begins this Friday so go get your Greek on!!

Event times are as follows:

Friday, August 7, 2009 - 6-11pm

Saturday, August 8, 2009 - noon-11pm

Sunday, August 9, 2009 - noon - 8pm

Sidenote: The cast of Secrets of a Black Boy will be at the Broadview Stage each day of the festival.

Check out the link for more info: http://www.dine.to/tasteofthedanforth.php

2009 Caribana - Band of the Year

Congratulations to Carnival Nationz!!! The band looked absolutely BEAUTIFUL on the road and I had an amazing time. Big up to all the LYCHEE CREW and to Ayanna (the SOCACIZE Queen) for creating such a great routine to start the show. A special shout out to fellow blogger THE SWEET 7......it was such a pleasure to meet you on the road!!! I can't wait for next year......

2009 Scotiabank Caribana™ Band of the Year (Category A)
RANK – THEME – MAS BAND (BANDLEADER) – SCORE

1st	IN FULL BLOOM – Carnival Nationz (Marcus Eustace, Bryce Aguiton & Dwayne Pitt) – 447
2nd	A TRIBUTE TO HAROLD SALDENAH – THE GOLDEN YEARS – Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah) – 445
3rd	BRAZIL – BACHANNAL IN RIO – Toronto Revellers (Jamaal Magloire) – 433
4th	BIRDS OF PARADISE – Tribal Knights (Dexter Seusahai) – 420
5th	THE GANGES MEETS THE NILE – Callaloo (Marlon Singh) – 411
6th	INTO D WILD – Mas Toronto (Errol & Alicia Achue) – 403
7th	DIS IS AFRICA – Nip Davis & SCSC (Selwyn “Nip” Davis) – 397
8th	ALL ABOARD – Jessie Matthews & All Ah We Toronto (Cy & Jessie Matthews) – 359

2009 Scotiabank Caribana™ Band of the Year (Category B&C)

RANK – THEME – MAS BAND (BANDLEADER) – SCORE

1st	SAFARI – All Spice Carnival (Curtis Eustace & Andre DeFreitas) – 420
2nd	GEM STONES – Connections – TCC (Mervyn Skeete) – 415
3rd	MAS HYSTERIA – Doldron, Doldron & Associates (Courtney Doldron) – 413
4th	A TASTE OF BRAZIL – Fantazia International (Will Morton) – 406
5th	DRAGON MASTERS OF THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE – Pleasure Players (Whitfield Balasco) – 383
6th	20TEN – A TRIBUTE TO THE OLYMPICS – Borokeete Nex Generation (Anthony Joseph) – 381
7th	COME DANCE WITH ME – All d’Friendz (Sherry Lee Kam) – 356

Judging Criteria:
Each band must portray a theme suitable of the Carnival masquerade tradition, and a panel of volunteer judges will adjudicate each band based on the following criteria: Visual Impact (max. 20 marks); Authenticity (10); Creativity (20); Mas on the Move (10); Clarity of Theme (10); Presentation (20); and Craftsmanship (10) for a total of 100 marks. The order of merit is determined by discarding the highest and lowest score per participant. The judges’ decision is final, and is announced at the end of the parade.

NOTES:
Traditionally, there are 16 competing mas band spots per year that are hotly contested. They are been divided into three (3) categories:

Category “A” Bands: - Mas Bands #1 – #8

Composed of the top six (6) adjudicated “A” bands from the previous year plus the top two (2) adjudicated “B” bands from the previous year for a total of 8 bands. Inclusion determined by marks awarded. Size of band not a determining factor.

Category “B” Bands: - Mas Bands #9 – #14

Composed of the seventh- and eighth-placed Category “A” bands from the previous year, plus the 11th- through to 14th-placed Category “B” bands from the previous year for a total of six bands. Inclusion determined by marks awarded only. Size of band not a determining factor.

Category “C” Bands: - Mas Bands #15 & #16

Composed of two new, or returning mas bands (after said returning band sits out one year of competition). Any of these bands can advance from Category “C” to Category “A” in one year.

For 2009, instead of having 16 competing mas bands, there were only 15 competing mas bands comprising: eight (8) competing “A” bands; five (5) competing “B” bands; and two (2) new competing “C” bands. All mas and steel bands made it onto the parade route.