They don’t all have crowns but the nine calypso finalists picked to wrest the title from reigning monarch De Bear at the Wadadli Beer Calypso Monarch show on Sunday August 5 are all veterans in the business. And they don’t include competition regulars Kaseba, nor King Panman.

The Calypso Monarch Competition is shaping up to be quite an exciting event.

Minister of Culture Eleston “Namba” Adams said he is standing firm on a new $50 registration fee for the Calypso and Party Monarch competitions.

President of the Antigua & Barbuda Calypso Association Adelza “Lypstick” Sheridan has survived to head the organisation after days characterised by tense uncertainty, and during which loomed the prospect of either a vote of no confidence in her, or her carrying out her threat to resign.

One part of Antigua’s legendary calypso triad, Rupert ‘Swallow’ Philo, is among this year’s International Soca Awards (ISA) honorees. He will pick up a Lifetime Achievement Award at the November show. His co-honorees include Arrow, Beckett, and David Rudder.