BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Carnival season has just begun and the Grand Masters Band is well on its way with preparations for Sugar Mas 42.
SKNVibes spoke with the Band's Manager, Wingrove Hicks, who stated that while the band got off to a late start it is presently gearing up for the recording of its Carnival album.
"Preparations are going smoothly. We are off to a not too early start but we will catch up and we will be on time. We are now in the process of preparing for our Carnival recording."
He disclosed that the band is expecting to release the much-anticipated album in early December.
When asked about competing for the annual Road March title, Hicks confidently said that there is not a year that the Band does not participate, adding that it is always hopeful of winning.
"We always compete! There is never a year where we did not compete. And we are always confident, win or lose, we never shy away. Once we are competing we are always confident."
Hicks informed that the band had done a number of travelling throughout the year to neighbouring islands to perform at their Carnivals. Those islands include St. Martin, Anguilla, Statia and Saba.
He also informed that they had travelled to Miami to play for that city’s Carnival festivity as well.
Hicks said now that the Calypso Tents have been launched, the band would not be doing any more travelling for the year because it would be focusing on playing in the Proud Sounds Tent.
The Band Manager said that Grand Masters would be playing for the Radio 107 J'Ouvert Troupe and the Banker's Mas Camp on Parade Day and Last Lap.
He stated that the Grand Masters Band did not release any album or singles during the year, but indicated that they did release a few beats which served as a sneak preview of what the fans could expect on the upcoming release of its Carnival album.
Hicks indicated that fans should be on the lookout for an album that would be deemed astonishing.
"They could expect an extraordinary, great Carnival album. They can expect a whole lot from the Grand Masters' spicy, hot, up-tempered Carnival music," he said.
Hicks said that the band would be "coming strong" for this Carnival season and he is confident that it would be victorious.
