Dimanche Gras Produces new champions

All eyes were on the Victoria Park on Sunday July 6th, as a new calypso Monarch, Panorama Champions and King and Queen of the bands were crowned as Vincy Mas 2008 climaxed.

Diehard fans of the key components of the festival stayed up to the end of one of the longest nights of the festival until all winners were announced.

At the end of it all Monique Hector- stage name Princess Monique was crowned Queen of Calypso, dethroning Vibrating Scakes and out singing nine other competitors to ascend to the throne.
Performing “Who’s Laughing Now” in the first round followed by “Beyond Party Lines” in the second, and accompanied with highly effective visual aids, Hector the current calypso queen of Trinidad and Tobago was followed by three former kings in the second third and fourth positions.

Errol ‘De man Age Rose’ with his songs “I Aint Selling Out” and “The Man is me Friend” placed second, followed by Elvis ‘Abijah’ Abbey in third place with his songs “Chatoyer Picknee” and “Jumbie Police”.
Fourth place was adjudged to Glenroy ‘Sulle’ Caesar who sang “Negative Vibes” and “Crown of Thorns”.

The first event of the night saw Sea Operations Starlift Steel Orchestra retaining their Senior Panorama title after one year’s absence from the competition.

Starlift relieved last year’s winners Digicel Rhythmix of the title of top pan side in the country, by playing a cover of Errol Peters’ “Vincy Mas”.
The song was also arranged by Peters.
The pan side, captained by Kennedy Taylor also paid tribute to Andrew ‘Trumpet’ Johnson who passed away last year.
Second was the National Lotteries Authories Sion Hill Euphonium, who played “Doh Rub Up On Me So” by De Rebels Band, with Potential Steel Orchestra placing third with their rendition of “Carnival” by Winston Soso.

The other two sides in the competition were Digicel Rhythmix and Elite Steel Orchestra.
In the King and Queen of the bands contest, Blondie Bird and Friends took both crowns with their presentation of Party In Space.
Atiba Lockhart portraying Jupiter and Simone Richardson playing Galaxy on Fire claimed the crowns for Bird and Friends.
Second place in the Queen competition was Shaunelle Mackenzie and Jenilee Glasgow third, and in the Kings competition Gordon Boucher placed second and Andrew Sutherland third.