King for an afternoon

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Superstar Machel Montano performing at a rare afternoon costume launch.

Machel Montano on College Street

By Stephen Weir   The Atlantic Mas camp, with the help of Soca superstar singer Machel Montano, has saved the best for last!  Bandleader Akil Heywood says that their third annual costume launch will be held at the Rebel Nightclub (Polson Pier) the afternoon of May 19^th.

“Not everyone wants to stay up until 3am in the morning at a costume launch.  We are holding a launch in the afternoon, with Machel Montano performing on stage at the Rebel nightclub. The Rebel nightclub is one of Toronto’s largest and most popular concert destinations,” said Mr. Heywood.

“We are calling the launch an ‘Invitation to Dance’ with a theme we call Semba,” he continued.  “ It is the Victoria Day long weekend, the perfect way to spend holiday Saturday.”

Getting the Trinidad based performer known as the Soca King, to perform at a costume launch is no mean feat. Machel Montano signed on to help, thanks in a round-about way to the singer Drake.

“Machel has performed at Drake’s Ovo concerts in the past,” Mr. Heywood told the Camera. As a longtime associate of the singer Drake, the Atlantic Mas bandleader was introduced to Machel.

“ I spent two weeks in Trinidad and ended up hanging out with Machel. I talked about Atlantic and he signed up immediately,” he said. “Machel will have his own section in our camp, will perform at the costume launch and of course will be on one of our trucks on the parade route.”
Atlantic Mas expects that Machel Montano’s participation will help them sell a 1,000 costumes and vault them into the forefront of the competing bands at this year’s August 4^th Toronto Caribbean Carnival parade.

Both Picture s– Machel Montano at Caribbean Tales Film Festival. September. College Street, Toronto. Photo by Stephen Weir