Machel live at Hilton poolside for "Flavour & Flora" whilst "On My Way" cover performed at Mille Fleurs for Paparazzi band launch
Calypso King and Soca Legend, Dr Machel Montano managed to star at primetime in two separate and distinctly different events happening around the world's largest roundabout in Trinidad this past weekend. This phenomenon occured as the veteran performer delivered a mesmerizing acoustic set live onstage at the Hilton Trinidad hotel poolside for Caribbean Airlines' "Flavour and Flora" culinary experience, whilst a cover version of Montano's 2015 release, "On My Way" was performed by a duet to commence the grand costume presentation at Paparazzi Carnival's 2025 band launch held just around the Queen's Park Savannah at Mille Fleurs.
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Paparazzi Carnival launched their 2025 presentation, Canvas - Rhythm & Art at Mille Fleurs
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Meanwhile, up at the Hilton Trinidad poolside, Calypso/Soca King, Machel Montano held court onstage with a special acoustic performance at "Flavour & Flora"
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Models showcase costumes from the section entitled, "Luminescence" designed by Kalestery Victory for Trinidad Carnival Diary
Hot food on a Humid night!
It was another hot and humid evening in Port of Spain last Saturday as a mature audience assembled at the Hilton to enjoy a dizzying myriad of delectable dishes prepared by acclaimed chefs from around the Caribbean region. Designed to become an annual Destination event which will attract tourists from around the globe, the inaugural "Flavour and Flora" culinary experience earned rave reviews from attendees and was a hit with patrons soaking up the decor, mood lighting, tranquil ambience and abundance of food and mouth-watering delights.
Meanwhile, patience was wearing thin on the Western side of the savannah closer to Hayes Court as an energetic group of Carnival-enthusiasts gathered at Mille Fleurs for a promised 9 pm showing of costumes. In true 'Trinidad time' style, 6the presentation did not actually commence until 10.30 pm when the lights were finally dimmed and the MC announced that the moment had finally arrived - much to the assembly's delight.
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Jamaican Jerk Chicken in Hot Honey Rum Sauce with red-bean studded provision cakes and Sauteed Ackee Festivals as created by Chef Moses Ruben of Melange Company Limited
Screams all around the QPS
Catcalls, shrieks, screams and applause accompanied all shapes, sizes and hues of models strutting and showcasing bejeweled bikinis and feathered backpacks across the front porch of the French Provincial-designed, National Trust protected heritage site building...
Similar sounds echoed throughout the Trinidad Hilton property as Montano gracefully performed some of his classic compositions seldom heard in this time and accompanied by an acoustic band of musicians including bassist, Damien Neblett, keyboardist extraordinaire, Bayete Williams and Siparia-born percussionist, singer and songwriter, Sheena "Ajibola" Richardson, among others.
Sprinkled with just the right amount of cheekiness and spice, Montano's acoustic set elicited smiles, waves, sparked couples dancing and individual pensive recollections of treasured Carnival memories all in a whirlwind of sated digestive emotion that almost came to an anti-climatic conclusion as time expired on the event's license.
With the crowd campaigning and clamoring for one more song, Montano opted to ask the police officer in charge on duty, who was already onstage by then to allow him to "finish his set properly" and delivered a segway into Michael Jackson's classic Free Willy The Movie soundtrack hit, "Will You Be There", which he then synced into a final chorus of last year's Road March contender and Carnival favorite, "Like Yuhself".
Check out our video of the moment below...
The Paparazzi faithful definitely did like themselves with complimentary beverages and samples all night long coupled with the energetic explosion of costumes finally revealed for their 2025 theme: "Canvas - Rhythm and Art". With the Soca Legend performing live just minutes away, Paparazzi Carnival employed a good few of his songs as they revealed nine sections inspired by legendary artworks and designed by creators such as Fareid Carvalho, Atiba Borde and Alejandro Gomez and featuring section names like "Mamzelle", "Sitar" and "Luminescence", among others.
These costumes can be examined virtually via the band's website at paparazzicarnival.com or in person at their 60 Roberts Street, Woodbrook mas camp, but Dr Montano may already have left our shores as he continues to showcase Caribbean music and culture around the globe and prepares for upcoming shows in Barbados (Tipsy Music Fest), Toronto (SOS Fest 10th Anniversary), London (Tipsy Dreamland) and live at The Apollo in New York on August 30.
~CHECK OUT OUR CAROUSEL BELOW FOR MORE IMAGES FROM THESE TWO EVENTS~