The JUNO Awards 2020 ceremony , originally scheduled to be held in Saskatoon in mid-March, was cancelled because of the virus lockdown. But on Monday evening 42 awards were presented online. The big winners were singer-songwriter Alessia Cara (3 awards) and Shawn Medes (Single of the Year Award). For the second year in a row, […]
By Stephen Weir As The Wailers’s new song One World, One Prayer keeps climbing the charts, drummer Aston Barrett Jr, spends a lot of his time, holed up in Miami, musing about the meaning of life and waiting for the day when the virus lockdown will be over. Bob Marley and The Wailers recorded, toured […]
The Digital 2020 Toronto Caribbean Carnival kicked off on Canada Day, July 1, and you can take in the celebrations on your phone, tablet or computer during the entire month of July. “We are presenting (on line) a virtual festival that engages Carnival audiences who look forward every year to a summer of parties, music, […]
By Stephen Weir North Toronto students got the online surprise of their lives last Thursday while watching a live YouTube broadcast of the annual graduation Walk of Excellence. Not only did community leaders, entertainers and family members take part in the two-hour social media presentation. So too did the Prime Minister of Canada and the […]
No fewer than 22 calypsonians will be appearing in this year’s Calypsoca Cabaret as part of tbe Festival Management Committee’s (FMC’s) virtual Caribbean Carnival 2020. Pat McNeilly (Panman Pat) chair of the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA), told The Caribbean Camera that among the performers who are registered for the Cabaret are some of […]
By Stephen Weir The Festival Management Committee ( FMC), the organizer of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2020, is reported to be pushing ahead with plans for its “digital jump up” beginning July 3rd with an official City Hall Proclamation of Toronto Caribbean Carnival Month. After the official opening, there will be four weeks of on-line […]
Ask accomplished pannists where they learned to play their instruments and they would tell you that it was in their beloved panyards. But now, at least for one group of would-be pannists, there are no panyards. They are staying at home to master the steel drums., Under the direction of veteran Trinidad-born steelband leader Earl […]
In conversation with Rhoma Spencer In a state of limbo By Stephen Weir Rhoma Spencer is an actor, director, storyteller and broadcast journalist who began her career in her native Trinidad. Up until the virus lockdown, Spencer was one of the busiest live performers – on stage, in TV shows, movies parts, and public events. […]
The theatres were booked, the movies picked and the stars were making plans to come to Toronto to walk the Caribbean Tales Film Festival’s (CTFF’s) red carpet this September.Then, yesterday,the CTFF announced that although the show must go on, it will not be taking place in any bijous in the year of COVID-19. “It is […]
By Stephen Weir Ooh la la costumes. Thundering pans. Sweet calypso. And while they are at it, throw in a few big name soca performers. Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2020 is getting ready to digitally jump up and thumb noses at the Coronavirus come July. While the annual summer festival in downtown Toronto has been cancelled […]
