Calgary Soca

2011 has been a great year for Soca music; so much so that we found it a bit of a challenge to fit the " Best of the year " into a 1hr show.  After going over all the music that was played for the year, as well as each of our individual choices, it was inevitable that we were not going to agree on EVERYTHING that was chosen.  To simplify, we gathered together the most requested songs , the Soca Monarch Winners from as many islands as we could squeeze in, and the songs that were played the most for Carnivals around the world .  (A couple of our personal choices may still have slipped in) We played the show in no particular order, but if one song had to get Track-of-the-Year , it would have to be a crowd favourite that reached further than just local Caribbean Carnivals.  With a Soul Train Award nomination each for 'Best Caribbean Performance' alongside the likes of Rihanna, the field got narrowed to Machel Montano - Bend Over and Kes the Band - Wotless . Who

He recently played alongside DJ Becks at the Soca Gives Back event. Now we say "Thank you" to DJ Marvin Culture for another Parang Soca mix to add to the collection. All the best to all CalgarySoca.com visitors and your families for the Christmas. Press play and enjoy. MARVIN (DJ CULTURE) PARANG SOCA MIX VOL 1 by Marvin Culture

Since our Christmas party, a few people have been asking me for a special Christmas mix . Toronto's D'Bandit already put out a fantastic compilation with pretty much EVERY PARANG SOCA song we could think of! Why recreate the wheel, when honestly this is the mix we're already playing for the season. DOWNLOAD HERE .  Honestly, you're not ready for Christmas without it.

For our Christmas show we were still buzzing from the party that happened the previous Friday at Soho.  Drew had promised to play more Parang Soca than he got to play in the fete, so he delivered a nice mix with Scrunter, Crazy and, Baron   plus debuted the brand new ' Coca Cola' riddim featuring Umi, Benjai and Lil' Bits . Special guest DJ Becks (aka 'Icepick') took over the 2nd half of the show.  He cut his chops on the Airwaves in St.Vincent and didn't disappoint as he delivered a riddim heavy mix . ...Oh yeah, and Anthony reached late :) Download mp3   Drew's Christmas Mix Scrunter - Homemade Wine Scrunter - That Eh Working Here Tonight Crazy - Muchacha Scrunter - Merry Christmas Baron - Santa Claus is Coming to Town Lil'Bitts - Ketchin' It (Coca Coca Riddim)* Umi Marcano - Sweetest Wine (Coca Cola Riddim)* Devon Matthews - All Night (Coca Cola Riddim)* Benjai - True Story (Coca Cola Riddim)* Machel Montan

Its been quite a year for us here at CalgarySoca.com. Since we've started this project in early summer of this year, we've seen support grow week after week, so we decided to throw a Christmas party for all the Soca music lovers we knew in the city. Thank you to everyone who came out and made the fete one to remember. Big thanks to the staff at Soho Bar & Grill , " Prodigal Son " from the Black Squad for the added music, the entire CalgarySoca team, and Watermark productions for the vid.

To say that the " Antilles Riddim " has caused a stir for the Calgary Soca crowd would be an understatement. First Machel gave us the "Vibes Cyah Done" video and now Kerwin Dubois delivers the official video for his jam on the riddim, " Bacchanalist ."

With 2 days to our Christmas Party , CJSW let us play another extra long set of music this week. We had a chance to fill some requests in the first hour, play some favourites and a couple new jams. Hour 2 was full Christmas mode with more heat and new tracks including Bunji Garlin , Iwer George and a new Machel Montano HD on the Burdz Riddim . Hour 1: Download mp3 . Kimba Sorzano - Over You Krosfyah - Sweatin' Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Soca Tatie Blaxx & Alternative Quartet - Sexual* Destra - Keep on Wukin' Kenny J - De Paint Brush Red Plastic Bag - Ragga Ragga Machel Montano ft. Kerwin Dubois - Bubblenut Hunter ft. Kes - Jep Sting Naina Da Spirits - Ginger Beer Jams Inches ft. Shurwayne Winchester - Jiggle it Patrice Roberts - Slow Wine Kes the Band - Wotless Cassie - Town Ting Farmer Nappy - Surrender Patrice Roberts - Freak* Raymond & Dil E Nadan ft Nadia Batson - Hard Pong Orlando Octave - Sawmill (Wuk it Up Riddim) Makamillion with Y

We here at CalgarySoca have been playing all of the songs on the Antilles riddim since its release, and now Machel Montano HD has released the official video for his track, "Vibes Cyah Done".  Set in the future, it has an aged Montano reminiscing about his career as a Soca artist.  Check it out for yourself:

Join the CalgarySoca festivities happening Friday December 16th 2011.  We take over Soho Bar and Grill (801 6St. SW Calgary) for a night of Soca and Parang in the Club!   Music by CalgarySoca's Drew Atlas , which means you'll get Christmas Classics all the way up to the brand new Soca hits.   The bar will even be serving Carib beer, Johnny Walker Scotch , and Rum Cream .  Don't miss this one.  For Tickets call : Wolston: 403-701-8041 Drew: 403-800-0101 (ext 1)

Still need to brush up on your 'wining' skills?  Finish off the year with your hips moving in the right direction.  This time however you'll have to go to Edmonton to learn.  Calgary's Sabrina Naz takes the " Riddim Steez " to 11805 - 94St.  NE Edmonton, AB Saturday December 10th & Sunday December 11th 2011. $20 per class or $80 for the entire weekend.  For more info: contact Sabrina via Facebook

As Christmas comes closer, more and more new Soca releases are showing up to get us ready for Carnival 2k12.   This week we heard from the ladies of SASS , a triple threat from Kerwin Dubois , some crossover Chutney , Soca Christmas Carols , more riddims, and a new track from Shadow .  All this new music and we weren't certain which was the nicest!  Carrie had two contenders for track-of-the week, Drew picked two more, and sure enough, Anthony liked another two. Download mp3 Busy Signal - Caribbean Jab* Jadel - On Meh* MX Prime - Act Out (Real Groove Riddim) * Nadia Batson & SASS - Rich & Famous (Real Groove Riddim) * Omadath Maraj - Winning & Jooking* Ragga & Kavita - Talawa* Patrice Roberts - Slow Wine J-Wyze - Nah Wuk* Brother B - Neighbor Ways* Kerwin Dubois & Patrice Roberts - I am Soca Destra & Kerwin Dubois - Baddist Kerwin Dubois & Bunji Garlin - Runaway* Megan Walrond - It Hurtin'* Terri Lyons - Cyah Stop M

Download mp3 Scrappy - Slow Wine* Second Imij - Golo Golo Adrian Dutchin - I am a Guyanese* Rupee - I am A Bajan David Rudder - Trini To Da Bone Mr. Dale - Created 4 Carnival (Body Move Riddim) Patrice Roberts - Give Him (Body Move Riddim) Tian Winter -  It's your Wine (Body Move Riddim) Kes the Band - Coming Over Blaxx ft. Ricochae - Handle It* Bunji Garlin - Tun up (X6 Riddim)* Kerwin Dubois - Put me Out Farmmer Nappy - Surrender Iwer George & KMC - No Chorus (Soca Strings Riddim) Maximus Dan - Something Wicked (Soca Strings Riddim) Blaxx ft. Roy Cape All Stars - Hit Mih* Supper Jigga TC - Action* Faye Ann Lyons & Baron - All Over Machel Montano - Mr.Fete* Voice - Alien* Machel Montano - Advantage (* = New this week)