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Reggae/Dancehall Concert
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 8:00pm to 2:00am
Clarence Derby Entertainment will put the Dancehall King Beenie Man on stage with Jah Cure and Busy Signal. Oh what a night this will be!

Grand Carnival Parade
Date: Thursday, April 29, 10:00am
The Grand Parade will feature four local troupes GEBE Survivors, Bacchanal Productions, Rio Productions and Lambert, along with groups from Curaçao, Aruba, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Kitts and Antigua. It will commence from the entrance of St. Johns Estate, following the route down L.B. Scott Road, unto Bush Road, over the Prins Bernard Bridge unto Walter Nisbeth Road making a right turn by the old Van Dorp unto Percy M. Labega Street, then left unto Long Wall Road towards Front Street. Thereafter up Front Street unto Emmaplein, W.G. Buncamper Road and back unto Walter Nisbeth Road to the Festival Village on Soualiga Boulevard.

Second Day Parade
Date: Friday, April 30, 1:00pm
On the second parade day, the troupes will line up along Walter Nisbeth Road in the vicinity of the Post Office and make their way along Walter Nisbeth Road to the old Van Dorp making a left turn unto Percy M. Labega Street, then left unto Long Wall Road towards Front Street. Thereafter up Front Street unto Emmaplein, W.G. Buncamper Road and back unto Walter Nisbeth Road to the Festival Village on Soualiga Boulevard.

Latin Concert
Date: Saturday, May 1, 8:00pm to 3:00am
Chuchi Promotion is back! After a year off, Francois “Cuchi” Hunt has once again regained control of the Latin Night. Expected to appear are El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Cherito & The New York Band and reggeaton sensation Miguelito who will be back by popular demand.

Closing Jump-Up/Burning of King Momo
Date: Sunday, May 2, 8:00pm
The jump-up will commence at John Cooper/Jose Lake Sr. Ball Park on L.B. Scott Road and follow the route down L.B. Scott Road, Bush Road over Prins Bernard Bridge unto Walter Nisbeth Road to the Festival Village on Soualiga Boulevard. King Momo will be burnt at 12:00 midnight concluding the 2010 Carnival season.

http://www.thedailyherald.com/supplements/out-and-about

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Latin Night Musical Explosion at The Village! St Maarten Carnival 2010
Saturday May 1st, at 8:00 pm.

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
Luis Miguel del Amargue
Control Band
Miguelito
Cherito & The New York Band

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The eighth edition of Fish Day with a packed agenda of activities and entertainment will take place at the Pinel Island embarkation area on Sunday, May 2, from 10:00am until 9:00 pm, organizers announced at a press conference Tuesday. A truly traditional local event that draws thousands from both sides of the island, Fish Day is one of the most important cultural events on the Collectivité’s annual calendar.

This year the theme is “From the Sea to the Pot.” New sponsor Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco is providing 30,000 biodegradable cups to the vendors to serve mixed drinks and beers. “Fishing is a centuriesold tradition handed down from generation to generation and represents a valuable asset to our local economy,” noted Territorial Councillor Carenne Mills in her introduction.

“Fish Day is a special occasion to highlight the profession and the product from the sea. It is much appreciated by tourists and our own inhabitants, and has become a must for families who enjoy the festive and convivial atmosphere. Today it has grown to attract some 10,000 visitors.” People come and go throughout the day, browsing up to 80 stands that include arts and crafts, jewelry, cakes, and confections, and sampling delicious local dishes from 45 food stands with emphasis on fresh seafood, while enjoying live entertainment from the main stage.

Activities include a fish pot exhibition, fishing competitions, traditional boat races, various games organized for children, and cockfighting. Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs Director Thierry Gombs noted the area set aside for the Fish Day village had increased in size this year. “We also aim to ascertain exactly how many people are coming to Fish Day so there will be a welcome stand at the entrance with someone tagging you as you come in,” explained Gombs. “There will be students taking information such as where you are from, Dutch side or French side, whether you are a tourist or local, etc.” The opening ceremony will include an address by an elected official and benediction by Johnny Gibbons, followed by the laying of a wreath in the sea to honor past fishermen.

Gunslingers band will perform from 10:30 to 11:30am, followed by Rhythm Boys for the following hour. At 12:00 noon there will be a rendition of the St. Martin Song, an official speech will be made, and after that blowing of the conch shell. At 12:20pm there will be a parade by the New Generation Status Brass Band. Entertainment from the main stage begins at 12:30pm with dance performances by Grain D’Or, V.I.D. Dancers, and Afro Latin Move. Singers include Blunty, Nicolio and Rickolio, Velly, Crom Ex, and Oswald. The fishing competition and sales of fresh fish begin at 1:00pm.

From 1:30pm onwards there will be performances by Jolly Boys, Creole Stars, Prince and Majestic Band, M. Ruffy and Pure Band until 6:00pm. On stage from 6:00 to 7:00pm will be Sister Marlene, Sensual Riddim Junior Lion, and Red Eye Crew, and dancing by Honey Dance, Mysterious Crew, and Afro Latin Move. Closing off the day from 7:00 to 9:00pm will be Respekt Band with King Timo and Pinky. The always entertaining Ricky the Phox is the emcee for the event. Entry to the event is free. Parking is organized outside the Fish Day village on land loaned to the organizers for the day. There also will be a shuttle service to take visitors into the village.

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Live Concert!
Beenie Man, Busy Signal & Jah Cure live at the Festival Village, St Maarten
April 28th, 2010

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Pre-Jump Up Jam
Tuesday, April 27

At the Clem Lebaga Square

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The word comes from the French saying “jour ouvert” or morning open and in the Caribbean it is considered the largest street party for any carnival celebration. But in St. Maarten it has the unique twist as it centres on “the Great Salt Pond.” Traditionally the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation hosts specific soca and calypso related events on stage at Carnival Village with the intention of “warming up” revellers for the round the pond jam. What is also true for this time of year is that revellers generally start lining the streets by the hundreds around 3:00am, some of whom would have just awoken from their sleep in preparation for the event.

On Wednesday, April 28, at 4:00 am, King Melody, winner of the 2008 Heineken Green Synergy competition, and local artist and radio personality Versatile will perform their new single “Jouvert Morning.” The early morning show will be in the Laser101 parking lot.

Inspiration for this year’s Carnival anthem comes from the sheer need to celebrate the festive Carnival season. Ramon Wilson, a great supporter of the youths and owner of Country Sounds Studio, gave the two young artists the opportunity to experiment musically in his studio, which helped them bring the song to life.

4m Band winners of the Band-o-rama St.Maarten Carnival 2010 will be on the road. 4M band members earned an early lead in the race to their second Band-of-the-Year title. The band announced last week that it hoped to claim the title en route to their fifth anniversary next year. Also on the road will be the Youth Waves, Entyce Band and direct from Trinidad the hottest soca diva Fayann Lyons jamming with Bunji Garlin.

Excerpts taken from articles on www.morebacchanal.com and www.thedailyherald.com

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Hot Ice Promotions will present the best of soca live and direct with headliner Fay Ann Lyons of Trinidad and Tobago in its Caribbean Soca Explosion 2010 in the village tonight, in what it expects will be one of the best shows in the village for this year’s Carnival season in St Maarten.

With a solid line-up and artistes arriving on the island by mid-day, organisers say, “the show is definitely on.” Also featured will be ragga soca artiste Bunji Garlin with Asylum Family out of Trinidad, bouyon veterans WCK of Dominica, soca classi Jam Band out of St. Thomas, new sensation Pantha Vibes International of Anguilla and local acts Nuff Respect Band and Shadow Man.

Tickets priced at US $25 are still available in advance and can be purchased at the Festival Village ticket booth today from 12:00 noon. Tickets can also be purchased at booth 32 (NBA), Van Dorp, Fun Miles, Majestic Fashions on Back Street, and Adolphus Richardson Office Supplies and Technology Store on W.J.A. Nisbeth Road (the Pondfill).

Headliner Fay Ann is the 2003, 2008 and 2009 Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Road March Champion, 2009 International Soca Monarch and International Groovy Soca Monarch champion. She is now the youngest solo artist (male or female) still actively recording, with multiple Carnival Road March wins.

Bunji Garlin, married to fellow soca artist Fay Ann, has won Trinidad’s Soca Monarch competition on several occasions. His tune “Brrt” is featured on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack.
WCK (Windward Caribbean Kulture) Band, back in the arena after a hiatus, will be releasing a new album this year, so introduction of some of its new material can be expected along with a recap from its vault of music which remains popular to this day.

Jam Band, one of Antigua’s most renowned bands on the scene for quite some years, will bring the energy with old and new school, while Pantha Vibes is expected to bring the “vibes” with its hit tracks such as “Around the World.”

Local soca veteran Nuff Respect Band will represent St. Maarten, while Shadow Man will encourage patrons to “Follow the White Line.”

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St Maarten Superhost & Mr. Friendly wishes one and all Happy Carnival!

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St. Maarten’s District Band is the official band of the night, their 2010 CD is on sale now. Entitled “Hold Yuh Balance”, the nine-track album is the second from the young District Band dubbed the island’s next-generation jam band.
Unity is one of the songs on the album. “We strongly believe that you cannot give up on the youth of this island, give us a chance to make a change and encourage us when we do well,” the band said.

Rival dance groups Krump Souljahs, H.O.T. and Essentrik join forces tonight for Carnival’s talent showcase Youth Extravaganza. All of the Above performances is just one of 15 acts featuring St. Maarten’s youngest dancers, singers and rappers.
“Returning performers include the ladies of X-Clamation, solo rapper Renel “Entry/En3” Blondell and rap group Platinum Boyz. Other acts are first-timers A’maze, Dirty South Boyz, Baby Rebelz, Cryptic C, 682 Crew, TRB, Galaxy Starz, Lil Terror, Keyah Arrindell and Baby Thug.

Rap trio The Lockdown Crew is a main act at the event after a 15-minute, pre-performance by H.O.T., a team that has finished in the top-three of every local dance competition in the last two years.
“You can expect local talent with international stage presence,” said one of the members of Lockdown Crew, urging the island to show up in large numbers to support young people. “Youth Extravaganza is one of those nights directly pertaining to the locals, especially the youths of St. Maarten.”

Youth Extravaganza is one of most-anticipated events of any St. Maarten Carnival. Tickets cost $10. They are available at the festival village in advance. The price is the same at the gate. The show starts at 8:00 p.m.

Excerpts taken from articles on www.morebacchanal.com

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