Models going through their paces during the choreographed costume segment of Jamaica Carnival 2001's first Blow-out Fete, held at the Marketplace, this year's mas camp. - Winston SillBy Justin Whyte, Entertainment Editor
LAST SUNDAY night Jamaica Carnival 2001 staged its first Blowout Fete, at its new Mas Camp known as Carnival City at Marketplace, Constant Spring Road, Kingston witnessed by a huge crowd.
The venue houses the Jamaica Carnival headquarters, D'Masqueraders, Good Year Socarobics and Jamaica Junior Carnival. Costumes shops and Carnival head office will be located there and existing restaurants, pharmacy and about 20 variety stores are being encouraged to stay open during the Carnival activities. Ample parking facilities are also in place.
On Sunday night entry and exit to and from the courtyard was smooth while the ticket booth is strategically placed and food and drink areas conveniently positioned.
The soca agony began 7:30 p.m. and continued until close to 1:00 a.m. The thirsty soca fans were refreshed with a hail of current and old favourites, with accompanying 'attitudes'.
Shouts of satisfaction greeted succeeding presentations by Byron Lee and The Drago-naires with Leon Caldero, Cedric Poitier, Oscar Benjamin and Audra at the controls.
Soca enthusiasts littered every available space and 'wined' to teasing, pulsating soca rhythms sending their torsos into gleeful motion as B&D, with Byron Lee at the mixing board, turned up the heat.
Patrons responded to the dictates of the front-line singers. The night's activities were further enhanced by the inclusion of a socarobics session to get the crowd loosened up.
All hell broke loose when the signature pulsating heavy bassline of B&D erupted in the place. It beckoned the soca fans to get in line and have a grand time.
Those without partners, hugged their rag also called a paddle, jumped and allowed their imagination to run wild.
Meanwhile, some who were out of breath and thirsty headed to the bar for a cold drink.
Seven creative costumes were presented in a new and innovative movement format. However, the show could have been tighter.
The costume sections include Centurions straight from the Roman Empire - warrior costumes of red, bronze and gold; Merry Mocha-fun at heart bronze and white; Venus Rising, tribute to the Grecian goddess of love; Las Vegas, an elaborate array of green and orange beads; Sambistas depicting the Brazillian hinterlands - greens, golds and masquerade skintone; Nirvana blue and silver colours suggesting tranquility, and Primal Instinct - a reminder of jungle kings and queens - leopard prints and jewelled rods.
As usual, Carnival emcee Norma Brown-Bell was good at keeping the momentum of the show going. However, Carnival is no place for the 'More fire' motto as Leon Caldero tried to introduce. But the 'rubber man' Leon Caldero kept the girls swooning and calling for more.
Attempts were also made to fuse soca with other musical forms, but by the response of the crowd, the organisers should be convinced that patrons only wanted soca music.
