The sun is out. The mas camp elves are busy bending wire. The pans are already ringing their merry tunes around the city pan yards.

And the kaiso men and women are honing and massaging their new compositions in the tents in the quest to take the throne from reigning Monarch Macomere Fifi.

Tropical Rhythms tent got off the mark last Saturday night at Howard Johnson, Warden Ave. and Metropolitan Rd. (by Hwy 401). Tropical Rhythms will be operating for the next three Saturdays at 8 p.m. with the grand finale on July 2.

The Professionals will be at their usual spot, Steel Workers Union Hall (25 Cecil St.). Professionals opens this Saturday (June 18) at 8 p.m, and will run every Saturday until July 9.

Kaiso Forum kicks off this Sunday at Tam Heather Tennis & Curling Club (730 Military Trail, Scarborough) at 4 p.m. and every Sunday until July 10.

The 2016 Calypso Monarch Competition will see, for the first time ever, 15 contestants judged on one song – a change from the traditional two songs (from nine singers – eight selected finalists plus the reigning monarch). The move will make for a shorter show and give greater exposure to more artists thus providing greater variety, excitement and entertainment for the audience.

This year’s competition is presented by the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) with support from Toronto Caribbean Carnival on Sunday, July 24 at 5 p.m. at the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre, 4 Credit Union Dr., in East York.

OCPA has been staging Calypso singing competitions going back to 1981. The organizing committee hopes that the changes will encourage singers and arrangers to create innovative styles of Calypso and offer original ideas on interpreting the art form.

They invite all Calypso fans and lovers to come out and enjoy this year’s Calypso Final and help build a bright future for Calypso music. For information contact Dick Lochan, chair, at dicklochan@hotmail.com or 416-284-4021.