Several days ahead of the mega Hits and Jams concert yesterday after much hype soca sensation Machel Montano arrived in Guyana to enjoy the nation’s many mash festivities.
The concert is sponsored by Ansa Mcal’s Stag Beer and will feature Machel as eel as artistes the likes of Patrice Roberts, Zan and Farmer Nappy backed by the HD band. Machael who will be enjoying his first Mashramani experience this year said that the other HD band artistes are completing Trinidad Carnival commitments and will be arriving in Guyana on Monday.
“I’ve performed in Guyana before but this time it’s even more special because this time while I did not perform at carnival because of other commitments I’m here in Guyana for Mashramani; and I’m bringing a new show, new songs and a new album and I’m here to a good time so come out and support,” the artistes told reporters at the Hits and Jams TV station.
The artistes recently collaborated with Mainstream artistes Janet Jackson and Pit Bull said aside from coming to give Guyanese a good time as he had prophesied that eh would return added that he came early because he is a man of his word and his word is good.
Having performed as the curtain raiser for Beyonce on Thursday night in Trinidad the artistes said the experience was fulfilling and has built on his quest to take Caribbean music especially soc to the main stream music arena.
As part of his welcome to Guyana the artiste was presented with a basket of sunshine snacks by the Guyana representative and it was also announced that he recently became the endorser for the product and will be using this deal to also influence children for positivism.
Being dubbed a possibly the best soca artistes for his ever building hype and energising music he said he does not feel pressured by the demand for his music and the creation of an even better product every time.
To him what has kept soca back is the fact that the music is often produced with a focus on the Caribbean music demands but said if that is to change it will mean that he will have to focus on meeting the needs of the international market.
The artistes yesterday visited the Carib mash camp and also made appearances at several Ansa Mcal sponsored parties where he signed autographs, gave away free tickets and socialised. On Mash Day Montano will be observing the float parade and soaking up Guyana’s Mashramani showcase before hitting the stage at the Georgetown Cricket Club Bourda for the ‘Machel for Mash concert’.
Come out and party offerings to Guyana the group has staged a Mash launch and two successful parties at the GMR&SC. Now on Monday the group says all roads lead to the Pulse Night Club, Pier Street Kitty where an ‘All White Edition party’ dubbed ‘Acceleration’ would be staged.
On Monday night Machel will be appearing at the Hits and Jams all white glow party too.
The Hits and Jams 2010 Mash offerings began with the Mash Crank up on January 30 that featured Jamaican artistes Charlie Black and Mad Do. The following weekend they hoisted the Soca Jeans party and last week they offered partying fans the ‘Outrageous in colour party.
On Mash Night all the stops will be pulled out for soca fans to experience a most memorable full soca fete where in addition to Machel artiest such as Zan, Patrice Roberts, Farmer Nappy, Guyana’s soca sensation Jumo, Jory, Vanilla, B52 and Spiderman. In addition Guyana’s Heat Wave band will offer the musical accompaniment for several new front line artists including Soca monarch 2007, Malo.
Machel arrived in Guyana fresh out of the Beyonce ‘I am’ show titled ‘boy meets girl’ in the Queen’s Park Savannah,’ Trinidad.
Montano thrills at Beyonce show
Reports out of Trinidad are that Thursday evening the soca superstar took to the stage for his opening act performance at 18:00hrs with a grand fanfare that included an intro featuring Optimus Prime and ending with Destra Garcia joining him on stage to sing ‘Is Carnival’.
It was the first time in three years that the two soca stars had performed together on stage.
After the introduction, the band then struck up the music for ‘No Behaviour’, as the HD Dancers took the stage. Then Montano appeared dressed in a silver outfit.
With the crowd screaming, Montano sang, ‘I Missed You’. He then moved into ‘The Road’ followed by ‘Doh Hold Me Back’.
By this time, more people were getting into the groove and the band moved into ‘Fly Away’. Next up was ‘Slow Wine’, opening the way for Patrice Roberts to enter and exit within one minute.
Montano took the focus again to do some new music as well, including ‘Pepper’ with Serani’s vocals superimposed, followed by ‘Ramajay’. Jamaican dancehall artiste Busy Signal then joined Montano with dancers to perform ‘Whoii Gyul Whoii’.
‘I can’t remember when last I’ve felt so happy. I took time off to reflect. You are no longer just fans, you are my family. This next song is for Haiti. Haiti will rise again,’ Montano told the crowd.
Montano then sat at a piano to sing ‘I Love You’, which he originally did in tribute to producer Shel Shoc, who died last year. Joining him on vocals was Umi Marcano.
Next was ‘Too Young To Soca’ alongside Timell Rivas, followed by ‘Real Unity’ with Pranava. From there it was pure pace, beginning with ‘One More Time’ and continuing with ‘Dance With You’, ‘Congoman’, ‘Is Carnival’ and more.