Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Toronto’s Youngest DJ to Showcase Talents at Twilight Family Restaurant and Bar on Sunday, October 6th On Sunday, October 6th, Toronto’s youngest DJ - DJ Tyson -is set to showcase his remarkable skills and talent at Twilight Family Restaurant and Bar. The event is part of an ongoing effort by a dedicated team working to foster a sense of belonging, pride, and recognition for young talent in the community. "We're working diligently to show these young people that someone cares, that they are worthy of being recognized on a big stage," said the event organizer. "It takes courage to keep this going for six years without any backing from groups or organizations, but we're doing it for the future leaders of tomorrow." The event is entirely community-funded, and organizers are asking for public support to continue this mission. Whether attending in person or making a donation, all contributions will go directly to support the youth. "Even if you can't ...

Table Talk. Hip Vodka and much much more. Yvette Martin is back in Toronto changing the entertainment world.   By Stephen Weir   Sitting around Yvette Martin’s kitchen table in her home northwest of Toronto shooting the breeze with a local reggae star the talk is  dope .  Even more so than one might expect because thousands of Jamaicans are  watching and hanging on to every word Martin says in her new weekly radio and TV show. Producer. Actress. Playwright. Friend to the music world. Yvette Martin hosts this new radio and television weekly morning show on the Caribbean World Channel (CWCTV) in Jamaica that all takes place around her Canadian kitchen table. Visiting reggae stars. Actresses. New songs dropping every week. Often it is just interesting stories from one of the hardest working music producers this side of the US border.  Her busy busy life, even during the lockdown is all fodder for her new issues based Caribbean World Channel show  Table Ta...

Joel and the Chutney Soca Monarch coming to Toronto By Stephen Weir Joel Davis at Harbourfront  There will be a Soca Monarch contest held during Toronto’s Caribana weekend, and this year it comes with a healthy dose of T&T Chutney! Shortly after it was learned that there would not be a Toronto Caribbean Calypso Monarch contest this year because of a lack of contestants, a Trinidad based company announced it is working with Canadian publisher / promoter Amit Gossai, to bring the Chutney Soca Monarch (CSM) to Toronto. Chutney Soca deal signed “The Chutney Soca competition in Trinidad gets 5,000 to 10,000 spectators. This is our first year in Canada and I am hopeful that we will get 4,000 to 5,000 through the door,” Mr. Gossai told Carib 101.   “ We are in the process of nailing down a location – once the deal has been signed, I can’t say where it will be, but, I will tell you it will be held in Woodbridge, 3pm to 9pm on August 4th. “   “ Sout...

--> City already looking forward to 2019 By Stephen Weir  Photos by Craigg Slowly While Torontonians have already put away their costumes for another year, in Niagara Falls, last weekend close to 10,000 tourists and locals alike had some Caribana schooling. This is the third year that the Niagara Caribbean Festival has been held in Niagara Falls.   Some of Toronto’s top Mas Models joined the musical group Kobo Town, Connector, the P.K. Hummingbird Steel Orchestra and a fleet of food trucks to hold a carnival pop-up in the Queen Victoria Park directly opposite the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls . This is the third year that the Caribbean Community Engagement group –   in partnership with the Niagara Parks Commission – has held the   Caribana inspired festival. The CEE is headed up by Yvette Martin, a longtime Ontario stage manager for theatre, festivals (including Caribana) and concerts across the country. “Tourists from ...

Old Time Blocko Brings Out the Calypso in Toronto By Stephen Weir for Tomorrow's Caribbean Camera Connector is no dummy; he knows that it pays to have a sense of humour to be a Calypso singer these days. When the 2016 Calypso Monarch was asked to pose for a fun picture with a member of the audience at a new weekly Blocko, he said he knew someone just stupid enough to help him out. He was right; a blond haired mannequin in the Epic Carnival costume showroom was an excellent m odel for this Caribbean Camera photographer. The Toronto singer came by the Epic Carnival mas camp at the Tam Heather Curling Club in Scarborough last Friday to perform at their new Friday night Blocko parties. It was perfect weather for a fete that was held both inside and outside the large sports building for the new series. He sang, danced and performed to about 100 people (and costumed mannequins) both inside the hall and outside looking in from the parking lot. “It was a bit of old time Carnival sin...

.  The Dress :  Joel Was Man Enough To Wear It ... A nd Has Tara's Crown To Prove It. .... from Facebook  Tara Banks and Joel Davis at the Calypso Monarch contest in Toronto Last night's Calypso Monarch competition had an ending that made one cross dresser happy and had the competition's most winning singer losing to her imitator! Connector / Macomere CeeCee (Joel Davis) is Toronto’s New 2016 Calypso Monarch! He was the most popular choice at the competition, beating perennial winner Macomere Fifi (Tara Woods) with his winning composition entitled “The Dress”. He beat o ut 12 contestants on Sunday night at the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre. Macomere CeeCee Joel Davis, who had hinted earlier in the year he may not compete made it into the finals by coming up with a good song, innovative lyrics and a willingness to appear on stage in drag. This is not the first time that a Calypso singer has dressed as the opposite gender, but, Conne...