Piton Soca Starz 2013 Is Here!

The fourth annual Piton Soca Starz was officially launched here on Wednesday April 10 with a press brief held at the WLBL offices, Vide Boutielle. The event was attended by past Piton Soca Starz, judges, the host for this year’s event, WLBL personnel and the media.

Speaking about plans for Piton Soca Starz 2013, brand manager Rohan Lovence said that it was indeed with heightened anticipation that he was looking forward to the event, as he indicated that his audience would too, when he explained some of the new and exciting elements this year.

Piton Soca Starz started here in 2010 as an initiative of WLBL, brewers of Piton Beer and forms part of activities for Saint Lucia carnival. Today the event is a major highlight on the calendar of activities for carnival.

“Piton Soca Starz which we are here today to launch the 2013 edition, is a music talent search which seeks to scout and discover emerging talent in the genre of Soca during Saint Lucia’s Carnival season,” Lovence noted. “And whilst many of our Carnival events are Castries based, this event traverses the entire island in search of the next big Soca star and also offers persons the opportunity to be exposed to some of our more established acts who perform on the Piton Soca Starz train at various venues,” he pointed out. He went on to note the fact that the three winners of the event thus far have hailed from different parts of the island, to underscore his point.

The first event in 2010 was won by Mongstar out of Castries, now a major Soca artiste here, Sergia from Micoud in 2011 and J Budz from Soufriere won in 2012.

The winner of Piton Soca Starz 2013 it was disclosed on Wednesday, will receive more than EC$10,000 in cash and prizes. “The champion will also have the option to choose a recording studio of his or her choice with which to record a song which will be paid for by Piton as well as an accompanying music video,” the Piton brand manager said.

This year, organizers of Piton Soca Starz will also be seeking to engage as many producers and songwriters here as a means of using the events platform to scout for emerging talent in the genre of Soca. Some of these individuals will also be utilized to mentor the performers through various workshops to be held ahead of the finals. The various stages of the event will also seek to engage the “live” audience even more this year, affording them greater opportunities to win prizes at each stop.

Piton Soca Starz which kicks off earlier this year will see the first event being staged on Friday April 12 at Triple D’s on Jeremie Street in Castries from 7 PM. It will be hosted by popular female Soca performer Q-Pid and will feature performances by Soca Psycho, Mongstar and Ambi.

The event then heads down to Soufriere, Club Whispers on Wednesday April 17, Anchors Bar in Piaye Friday April 19, Gros Islet Friday April 26 and Dennery Fish Fry Saturday April 27.

The event will break during Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts and resume Friday May 17 at Richards Bar in Augier, Saturday May 18, Raymond’s Dennery Valley, Wednesday May 29th JJ’s Back in time Marigot and Friday May 31, Caribbean Cocktails Castries.

Piton Soca Starz will continue in June with the first of two semifinals on Friday June 7, WLBL car park Vieux fort and the second on Friday June 14 Piton Party in De Yard, CSA grounds Sans Souci.

The Grande finals of Piton Soca Starz 2013 will be held on Saturday June 29, at Fond D’or, Dennery and will feature a “live” band, guest performers and an international Soca act.

Piton Soca Starz this year be recorded for broadcast by Choice TV and brought to the homes of the thousands who have made it a hit show on television as well.

Interested performers can still register for the competition at www.pitonbeer.com or the Piton Soca Starz Facebook page. Entry forms can also be collected at WLBL offices Vieux Fort and Castries and at the various venues where Piton Soca Starz will be held.