The Saint Lucian Carnival Season is now open, and of course, carnival is incomplete without the sweet sounds of Soca music. Artists have put pen to paper and been in the studio producing some bangers. 2023 Soca Monarch and Road March King Imran Nerdy debuted his bouyon-inspired track Start D Party and a groovy single titled Money. Other favourites, such as Shemmy J, have released their first song of the season, Flowers, while soca sensation Sedale recently premiered his groovy track Wet Me Down. KB, formally known as P6, also premiered his bouyon/power soca single Mahtay Woolay. The Dennery Se ..read more

Imagine the heart-pounding thrill of the horse racing irish grand national merging with the lively rhythms of Caribbean music. This blend isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem on the surface. Both realms share an intensity, a passion, and, most importantly, a deeply rooted cultural significance that brings people together for unforgettable experiences. When you look at the excitement surrounding an event like the Irish Grand National, it’s easy to see the parallel energy found in Caribbean music festivals. Diving into the history and cultural fusion The Irish Grand National, with its ..read more

An independent, family-run wholesale bakery in Peckham, South London, producing authentic Jamaican patties, has landed a life-changing contract with supermarket Aldi. The supermarket will stock its Flake Bake Beef patty in stores nationwide from 10 April. Paul Williams, (54) and son Mike (33) of Flake Bake, showcased their most popular flavour patty as part of the Channel 4 series ‘Aldi’s Next Big Thing’. On the programme, Mike Williams invited the judges to: “Let a taste of Jamaica seduce your palate!’ However, to win the contract, they needed to create packaging, find a way to increase produ ..read more

Last Thursday, 4 April, all eyes were focused on Saint Lucia at a media launch for the launch of Saint Lucia Carnival 2024. The event featured a welcoming address from Miss Tamara Gibson, chairperson of the Carnival Planning Management Committee (CPMC). She stated that ‘Lucian Carnival continues to grow every year in every way’ and that ‘The event marked the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable Carnival season’. Miss Gibson also announced many exciting additions to this year’s celebrations regarding community carnivals, including a Dennery Segment show and a School’s Panorama Fest ..read more

Long-time soca band sensation Kes the Band released a new album called Man With No Door on Friday 29 March. The sixteen-track Long Play curates some of the band’s most iconic sounds and features collaborations with hard-hitting artists from the Caribbean, such as Shaggy, Queen Omega, Busy Signal and Michael Brun. The band hopes to usher in the next era of soca music that is not predominantly released during carnival season. In an interview with Billboard, Kes emphasised the need for soca to become more prolific. “We as a genre need to diversify all dimensions. Get some more energy outside of j ..read more

When the West Indian community in Preston decided to hold an event to remind them of carnivals back home in the Caribbean, they surely never imagined it would still be going strong half a century later. This year the north-western town is paying tribute to those far-sighted pioneers of 1974 in a unique way – it’s just launched a golden anniversary gin. It’s a pretty special distillation too, as it incorporates Caribbean lime and sorrel – a flavour combination unique to Preston, according to the makers, Wild Fox Distillery. The flavour profile is said to be tangy and slightly floral, somewhat a ..read more

Trinidadian songstress Jadel is taking her listeners on an auditory journey with her new album, Don’t Be Mistaken. The album, a testament to the growth and depth in Jadel’s music and craft, features Demarco, Karlie Redd of Love and Hiphop fame in the USA, and Dancehall sensation Charly Black from Jamaica. Some of her tracks include Shake Up, Up In D Party, Garbage Day, Fire Body, Wa Yuh Doing, Messy, Addictive, and Deserve It All, which is her most-streamed music video to date with 7 million views. In addition, Jadel has released visuals for selected tracks, including Wah Yuh Doin’, Fire Body ..read more

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission is spearheading the debut of the Virgin Islands Music Festival, which is a brand new 3-day music extravaganza providing attendees with a stunning backdrop of the 60 islands, rocks, and cays that make up the Virgin Islands hence the slogan, 60 Beats One Vibe. The Virgin Islands Music Festival is set to showcase an impressive lineup of headlining artists, including Nigerian American actor and singer Rotimi, international soca artist Voice, international dancehall/reggae artist Alkaline, R&B legend Freddie Jackson, and BVI-based i ..read more

An exhibition celebrating the achievements of the African Caribbean community in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, will be held at the St. Albans Museum until 30 June. The display, titled Becoming Us, was launched on 16 February by two organisations: Active Lifestyles and Leeanna’s Wish. The exhibition aims to inspire the next generation to achieve more than their predecessors and encourage an inclusive and diverse appreciation of shared history. Its primary focus is on 1948 – 1971, profoundly exploring themes such as Windrush and Arrival, Working Lives, Overcoming Adversity, African Caribbean Cultur ..read more

Dalgety Herbal Teas, founded by Guyanese entrepreneur Mark Dalgety, is one of five Black-owned businesses that has benefited from free TV advertising as part of Channel 4’s award-winning Black In Business initiative in partnership with Lloyds Bank. The initiative, which aims to address obstacles faced by Black entrepreneurs, provided each of the five businesses with £100,000 worth of airtime and a TV advert. The five business owners also received six months of tailored marketing and business support from Channel 4, Lloyds Bank, and social enterprise DOES. Each 30-second commercial stars the bu ..read more