分类： Entertainment

On the night of July 24th into the early hours of the 25th, something unforgettable happened at Antigua and Barbuda’s 2025 Carnival. It wasn’t just a show. It was a movement in the making.

Invasion: Battle of the Bands. And if that night was any indication, this event is on its way to becoming a staple in our Carnival calendar for years to come.

The energy was electric. From the first soundcheck to the final beat, the air pulsed with anticipation, pride, and pure talent.

Young bands from across Antigua and Barbuda took the stage, hungry, creative, and ready to make their mark.

And make their mark they did. The Battle wasn’t just a musical showdown; it was a cultural celebration of rhythm, resistance, growth, and the undeniable heartbeat of a nation: our music.

What struck me most was the sheer depth of talent on display. These weren’t just bands playing to impress a crowd. They were telling our story, echoing our past, celebrating our present, and boldly setting the tone for our musical future.

If there was ever any doubt about whether the soul of Antiguan and Barbudan music would continue to thrive, this show ended the conversation.

Our sound, our passion, our legacy, all alive and well, beating strong in the hands of our youth.

And among the bands that performed that night, one stood head and shoulders above the rest: New Gen Band.

Their performance was nothing short of exceptional, polished, energetic, emotionally resonant, and sonically commanding.

They didn’t just perform; they dominated.

The crowd’s reaction said it all. If you closed your eyes for just a moment, you could be forgiven for thinking you were at a full-blown New Gen Band show.

That’s how powerful their presence was. It was their night.

From the musical arrangement to stage presence and overall command of the platform, New Gen Band delivered an experience that went beyond competition.

They reminded us of what it means to blend tradition with innovation, to respect our roots while daring to dream bigger. Their performance was a masterclass in what the future of Antiguan and Barbudan music should look and sound like, confident, relevant, and unapologetically Caribbean.

But this night wasn’t just about competition. It was about discovery, celebration, and legacy. The sounds from the early 1990s echoed through the microphone, some blending seamlessly with fresh lyrics.

It was both a teaching moment and a learning experience. For artists and audience alike. It told us where we’ve been and hinted at where we’re going.

As someone who has lived, loved, and danced through many a Carnival, I can confidently say that Invasion: Battle of the Bands was one of the most enjoyable, meaningful events I’ve ever attended. It was more than amazing. It was necessary. And its success speaks volumes.

With that said, I am already looking forward to Invasion: Battle of the Bands 2026. If this year is anything to go by, then next year promises to be even more powerful, more competitive, and more unforgettable.

The music of Antigua and Barbuda is alive. It’s not just surviving, it’s thriving. And thanks to platforms like this, it is guaranteed a future filled with promise, power, and purpose.

To the organizers, the bands, and most importantly, the people, thank you for showing us what is possible when we invest in our youth, our culture, and our music.

Long live the sound of Antigua and Barbuda. Long live the spirit of Carnival. And long live the New Gen Band, may your light continue to blaze bright.

Antigua’s rising Soca sensation, Young Lyrics, is having another breakout carnival season, and his momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The artist, known for his infectious energy and crowd-moving anthems, has been a standout figure on the local scene and is now making waves beyond the shores of his homeland.

On Friday, July 25, Young Lyrics will make a quick but powerful stop in Montserrat for a highly anticipated performance marking another regional booking on his growing résumé. The artist was booked as part of a special summer event on the Emerald Isle, a nod to his increasing regional popularity and the magnetic pull of his carnival hits.

“It’s important for me to represent Antigua wherever I go,” Young Lyrics said ahead of the trip. “Even if it’s just for a night, I want Montserrat to feel the full energy of what we’re doing at home. But trust, I’ll be right back in time to mash up the road for the opening of our carnival.”

Indeed, the timing couldn’t be tighter. The moment his Montserrat performance wraps up, Young Lyrics plans to head straight back to Antigua, ensuring he doesn’t miss a beat of his homeland’s Carnival Opening Day on Saturday, July 26. His dedication to both his craft and his country is earning him high praise from fans and industry insiders alike.

Already one of the most talked-about names in this year’s carnival season, Young Lyrics continues to wave Antigua’s flag high literally and musically. His hit singles such as “A Plus Whine” are dominating local airwaves and playlists, and his dynamic performances are delighting crowds wherever he goes.

With regional bookings on the rise and a strong homegrown fanbase behind him, it’s clear that Young Lyrics isn’t just having a good season he’s cementing his status as one of Antigua’s premier cultural ambassadors.

As the carnival vibes heat up, all eyes are on Young Lyrics as he enters the finals of Antigua’s Groovy Party Monarch competition, where he’s expected to bring the same high-energy performance style that’s made him a standout all season.

One thing’s for sure: wherever Young Lyrics goes, he’s taking Antigua with him.

The 40-year biography of Machel Montano, titled _King of Soca_ written by his mother, Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, continues to shine, collecting accolades and admiration across the globe. The most recent recognition comes in **June 2025**, with multiple wins from the **International Book Awards**.

**Latest Wins at the 2025 International Book Awards:**

• Biography: General
• Novelty & Gift Book
• Performing Arts: Film, Theater, Dance, Music

In addition, _King of Soca_ was named a **finalist** in the following categories:

• Nonfiction: Cross-Genre
• Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
• Photography

Earlier this year, the book also earned a **Silver ADDY** at the 2025 **Caribbean Advertising Federation Awards**, where the _King of Soca 50 Celebration Slipcase + Pack_ was honored in the **Packaging – Single Unit** category. This special collector’s edition commemorated Machel’s golden milestone — his **50th birthday** in November 2024 — and formed part of the celebratory promotional campaign from Xtatik Limited.

**Accolades from the 2024 American Legacy Book Awards**

Marking another key moment, _King of Soca_ also secured a major win in the **Best Interior Design: Nonfiction** category at the **2024 American Legacy Book Awards**. The book was also a **finalist** in:

• Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
• Biography
• Performing Arts: Film, Theater, Dance, Music
• Nonfiction: Cross-Genre

Hosted by **American Book Fest**, this competitive award program sees thousands of entries globally, with winners and finalists selected from a base of over **500 titles** across 100+ categories.

**Previous Major Wins (2023)**

• **Best of Print** & **Overall Best in Show** – 2023 ADDY Awards
• **Gold ADDY** – Book Design
• **Silver ADDY** – Publication Cover Design
• **International Book Awards 2023** – Winner: Best Interior Design (Nonfiction)

Additional 2023 finalist placements included:

• Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
• Biography
• Performing Arts (Film, Theater, Dance, Music)
• Nonfiction: Cross-Genre

These wins are not just ours—they belong to everyone who contributed to telling this iconic Caribbean story.

**The Journey Continues…**

The _King of Soca_ promotion and celebrations are ongoing, with book launches and readings planned throughout the region and in locations with strong Caribbean Diaspora communities. Upcoming tour stops include **Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada**, **Toronto and Turks and Caicos** with additional destinations in development.

This project has been a true team effort. We extend heartfelt thanks to **Praktis Design** for transforming our vision into vibrant, award-winning visuals, and to our print partner, **The Office Authority**, for faithfully reproducing every design detail to perfection.

Our first regional stop is: **Antigua and Barbuda**. EESM Publishing, in collaboration with **The University of the West Indies, Five Islands Campus** and **Royalton Chic Antigua**, will host the _King of Soca_ Book Launch for this island!

This will be happening Wednesday, July 30th, 2025, from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM at the Royalton Chic Antigua.

This event is open to all interested parties as we celebrate the life and legacy of the legendary **Machel Montano**, through the pages of _King of Soca_, written by his mother and former manager, **Elizabeth “Lady” Montano**.

Some of the event highlights include: book signing with the author, books will also be available for purchase on-site and this is definitely going to be a space for fans, readers, and curious minds to connect and be inspired.

Whether you’re a die-hard Machel Montano fan, an avid reader, or someone looking for a story of perseverance, creativity, and Caribbean excellence — this event is for you.

_Our Caribbean stories must be told._

If you wish to read it beforehand, you can get your copy online now at [**www.machelmontano.com**](http://www.machelmontano.com/) and come prepared with your notes and reflections!

Let’s read, celebrate, and share in this extraordinary success story.

Queen Singing Althea is getting a boost on her road to the 2025 Calypso Monarch Competition, thanks to a timely donation from the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU).

The veteran calypsonian and finalist in this year’s competition received a cheque for $2,500 on Wednesday, as she ramps up preparations for the highly anticipated event.

Queen Althea, who is also a proud member of the ABWU, expressed her gratitude for the support.

“I want to say a big thank you to the Antigua & Barbuda Workers’ Union. I think it’s a good thing and I hope that they really keep it up,” Althea said.

Deputy General Secretary of the ABWU, Chester Hughes, reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to uplifting its members and supporting national culture.

“The union has always supported culture and the art form in the past, and we felt that it is now time for us to return to that area. So she [Queen Althea] is the first in this return to supporting the art form,” Hughes explained.

Queen Singing Althea will take the stage with her competition piece titled _“It Tek Nine Judges”_ on Friday, 1 August.

Antigua and Barbuda came alive this week as Trinidadian TikTok star Certified Sampson, real name Jamel Sampson, arrived ahead of Carnival. With more than 1.2 million followers, he is known for his humorous skits and strong Caribbean identity, generating excitement among fans and content creators across the islands.

As Antigua and Barbuda ignites its 68th Carnival, the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival, the air thrums with more than just anticipation. It vibrates with a legacy.

For four extraordinary decades, one band has been the relentless engine, the defining soundtrack and the unquenchable spirit of this national celebration: Burning Flames.

As they mark their 40th anniversary, it’s not just a milestone for a band; it’s a national moment of recognition for our most iconic cultural architects.

Their entry into the Carnival arena in 1984 saw the creative fire of brothers Toriano ‘Onyan’, Clarence ‘Oungku’, and David ‘Bubai’ Edwards, joined by nephew Rhone ‘Fox’ Watkins.

Burning Flames didn’t merely play music, they forged Antigua and Barbuda’s sonic identity on the anvil of Carnival.

Their journey parallels our nation’s own vibrant ascent, mirroring our status as the Caribbean’s second fastest growing economy, our enviable happiness index and our burgeoning global profile.

Just as our twin-island nation shines brightly, so too does Burning Flames stand tall among the constellation of regional soca stars, not as a newcomer but as a foundational pillar.

Their dominance is etched in their energy, creative arrangements, sing along lyrics and the sweat of revellers. Nineteen Road March titles and hot and cold familial relations.

Let that resonate. Nineteen times their anthems ruled the streets, dictating the movement of thousands of revelers, their rhythms syncing with the nation’s collective pulse.

This isn’t just a record; it is a monument to unparalleled popularity and an almost supernatural connection with the Antiguan soul.

Songs like “Workey,” “Iron Band, “Stylie Tight,” “Swinging Engine,” “Wet dem Dung”, Carnival Train” and “Rudeness Mek Me” are more than hits; they are chapters in our national story, instantly transporting any Antiguan anywhere in the world back to the heat and joy of Antigua’s Carnival celebration.

Their impact transcends trophies. Burning Flames distilled pure Antiguan joy into music. Their signature sound driven by that infectious, instantly recognizable “rhythm box” became our national heartbeat.

It is a sonic fingerprint, relentlessly imitated across the region yet never truly duplicated. This unique propulsion isn’t just music; it is happy music.

It is the undeniable ingredient in the recipe for Antiguan happiness that resonates globally. It fuels our celebrations, soothes our stresses and embodies the irrepressible spirit that makes us who we are; a nation known for its warmth, resilience and capacity for pure, unadulterated revelry.

Their contribution to national morale, cultural pride and yes, our happiness index, is worthy of academic review and is immeasurable.

For forty years, Onyan, Oungku, Bubai and Fox have been more than bandmates; they have been our unwavering musical standard bearers. They carried the flag of Antiguan soca to every corner of the globe, making us proud on every continent.

They didn’t just participate in Carnival, they defined it, evolving alongside the festival while always remaining its authentic and fiery core. They transformed Lions Den into their kingdom year after year.

As they celebrate four decades of setting our souls alight, mere applause feels insufficient. We owe them a debt etched in rhythm and gratitude.

They have cemented Antigua and Barbuda’s place in the pantheon of soca greatness. How do we repay forty years of anthems, nineteen Road March crowns and the immeasurable national pride?

We show up. We shake our waists, “Dance Nasty” and raise our voices in collective appreciation.

The moment is now and on Tuesday, July 30th, at Carnival City, the Fabulous Four, Oungku, Onyan, Bubai and Fox will ignite the stage for their 40th Anniversary Celebration Jam.

They will face worthy challengers in the Original WCK and 17 Plus, promising a musical clash for the ages. This isn’t just another fete; it is a national thank you card written in soca.

Let us fill Carnival City to its brim. Let us move as one massive, grateful nation to the rhythm that has defined our greatest summer moments for forty years. Let our presence be a roaring testament to their legacy, our appreciation as loud as their legendary music.

For forty years, they have burned for us. On July 30th, let Antigua and Barbuda burn bright for them. Support the icons. Celebrate the legacy. Jam with the Flames.

We can and we absolutely should. The heartbeat of our Carnival deserves nothing less.