As the 2006 carnival season bears down in Jamaica, organisers and patrons alike are busy making last minute preparations, in anticipation of another year of excitement.
Bacchanal Jamaica, which officially launched their 'Lost Empires' Carnival 2006 on January 17th, still maintains their regular features and are working on upgrading other vital aspects to the season."They are doing over the website, so hopefully that will be back up next week and people can get to view the different costumes online. Also, we will be having a soft opening on February 17 at the Mass Camp," said Breanna Rae of Bacchanal Jamaica.
So, fans can again gear up for their regular activities like Mas Camp fetes (starting Friday February 17), Soca'cise (commencing Monday February 20) held every Monday and Wednesday until April 10, Beach J'ouvert (April 15) and the Road Parade (April 23) are just some of the highlights for the season.
The Jamaica Carnival group, have also said that much of the activities this season will be similar to that of last year, but according to Byron Lee, they might be off to a late start because of his celebrated 50 years in the business.
"It's going to be a little late because of the tribute (50 years celebrations), but we are going to use the same format of bringing carnival to the country areas, St. Thomas, May Pen, Junction, everywhere and we going to have the road march as usual, a big show at the stadium, affordable costumes and so on," Byron Lee said.
BYRON LEE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN MUSIC
In looking at the preparations celebrating his 50 years in the business, Lee said it was very hectic, because they have been rehearsing several times a week in order to get things as close to perfect as possible, as they will be producing a DVD from the live show.
"Imagine I wait 50 years to make my first DVD, we pick people who started with us, and are still in the music business to perform with us...Sparrow, Arrow, Oscar B, Pluto, Tony Gregory, Marcia Griffiths, Ernie Smith, Admiral Bailey, The Merry Men (from Barbados)," Lee said.
The DVD will be shot from the live show, which will be held on Saturday, January 28, "that's my tribute show. We take the stage at midnight and we will bring on our 12 invitees," he added.
An excited Byron Lee says, "it has been a good 50 years, I've lived by the passion, commitment and discipline, one without the other cannot work, and after 50 years, I am proud to have used my profession to bring so much joy and happiness to people all over the world, especially being a Caribbean man born in Jamaica. I am very excited because after 50 years, looking back, you just have to shake your head. People will get a chance to see the musical memories of Byron Lee."
JAMAICAN CARNIVAL ABROAD
According to Lee, "promoters will be coming from Cayman, Toronto, Bahamas and Miami Carnival, and they want us to bring the Jamaica Carnival there, to merge with them under the banner of Byron Lee 50th Anniversary, so it will have more of an international appeal this year."
