Alison Hinds heads south

Soca star to perform in St Elizabeth

Leighton Levy, Gleaner writer

The organisers of the South Coast Carnival had promised to be back with a bang, and they seem to be living up to their word. Soca great, Alison Hinds, has been confirmed for the festival set for Roye's Plaza in Junction, St Elizabeth, on April 24.

The singer, who arrived in the island on Saturday for the Montego Bay leg of the All-Island Carnival, says while she will be leaving afterwards for other engagements elsewhere, she will be eager to return for the South Coast Carnival.

"I am looking forward to coming to St Elizabeth and performing," she told The Gleaner.

"Jamaican audiences have been very good to me for many years."

Hinds, known for her seemingly timeless smash hit Roll It, revealed that she plans to perform some of her classic hits as well as some new songs for the thousands expected to gather in Junction to see her perform.

"I am going to do my best to give my best performance," she said. "It's gonna be off the chain."

The carnival, which starts in Junction and then moves on to Clarendon for the May Pen Blow-Out on April 30, has, over the years, been the most successful carnival event staged in south-central Jamaica.

a spectacle

With that in mind, organiser Ray Porter had promised that this year's renewal would be a spectacle. In addition to Hinds, the festival will feature FAME FM's Arif Cooper, DJ Billy, one of the top soca disc jocks on the island, as well as the top jock from Junction, Ricky Reds.

Hinds is no stranger to Jamaica. She has performed here over the years and enjoys a massive fan base. Many who attended the Shaggy benefit concert a couple of years ago would remember the sea of fans waving anything they could get their hands on as the sultry soca star captivated the audience on the lawns of Jamaica House.

She has also worked with a number of Jamaica's most popular reggae-dancehall acts.

Last year, she collaborated with Shaggy, again releasing a song called Can't Let My Luv Go, from her Caribbean Queen album. The album also featured a song called King and Queen with Richie Spice.

As such, anticipation of Hinds' performance is sure to bring the crowds into the new home of the carnival in Junction, Roye's Plaza, a venue that the promoters have promised will be more than adequate to support the large turnout expected.