By Toni Nicholas

Despite not being mentioned anywhere in last week’s budget—except for the vague remarks about CDF by Arsene James—something remarkable is happening to St Lucia’s entertainment industry. I have deliberately said "Entertainment Industry" instead of culture, for the latter when used by politicians usually means La Rose, La Marguerite and rum and pork at JounÈn KwÈyol.

The fact that St Lucia’s music, arts and entertainment has over the past several months found prominence in the local media, the fact that our artistes are receiving recognition on BET and Tempo as well as regularly performing overseas are just a few of the reasons for these observations.

Added to all of this, since last year’s Carnival, the buzz around the biggest local festival has not subsided. This is in part due to the high volume of marketable music produced last year as well as the regional successes of producers Penn and Ace as well as Courtney Louis and the international success of Ricky T. The island’s participation at the International Soca monarch in Trinidad with a record four semi-finalists and one finalist is a statement by itself.

With carnival 2k8 expected to be launched at the end of May, reaching its climax July 15, already there is an eminent threat being posed by Carnival to the local popularity of the Jazz festival which starts this weekend. This, even as the Carnival budget cannot compare to the huge Jazz budget and has far less private sector sponsorship, not too mention enthusiasm. There were those as recent as the eighties who thought that Carnival was dÈclassÈ (and some still do) much like those who thought that steel-pan was for hooligans in the 60’s and 70’s.

But all of this is changing. The excitement and buzz for Carnival 2008 is already here, and I will be the first to admit, that the EC$1 million put into the event last year by the government (not the ministry for tourism as is often misquoted in the media and on the streets) has certainly helped boost the confidence in the players for Carnival.

For the very first time three Carnival bands, Just 4 Fun, XS Energy and Toxik have had their launches in April, three months ahead of St Lucia’s July carnival. For the first time too, no less than a dozen Soca songs have been released to local radio for 2008. Among them Ricky T’s "Party Cyan Done," Ninja Dan’s "I Will Survive," Ashanti’s "Wine Up On It," Mr Brown’s "Pass It," Kerian’s "Useless Tears," and Don Williams "Whatever"

as well as theme songs for Just 4 Fun and Toxik carnival bands. Credit must be given as we talk about the music, to producers Penn and Ace for merging our indigenous sounds and cultural players like Sessene and Athanasius La Borde with the new energy of Ricky T, on the new track.

XS Energy carnival band along with their accompanying band for the road Phaze, launched last Friday at Spinners. The band will be portraying "Games people play." "Just 4 Fun" on the other hand, had a successful launch last Saturday at Indies an event which even saw a guest appearance by Ricky T will The band will be playing "Greek Mythical Gods."

Over the next few weeks the remaining six bands as well as a new band will be launching. Additionally more music will be released for carnival 2k8 ahead of the opening of the Calypso tents and the launch of NG Soca Stage. Expectations are rife, for another bumper carnival season here. Undoubtedly most of the players are rising to the occasion and not letting anything get in the way, not even Jazz.