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The DC Caribbean Carnival is more than just the 11 a.m. Saturday parade down Georgia Avenue and the two concerts in Banneker Park on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from noon till 7. It is also the late night concerts and dj’d parties going on from, well, Thursday night through Monday morning. WPFW 89.3 DJ Tony Carr (whose fine show is on Sunday night/Monday morning 12 to 2 a.m.) has most of the events on his dccaribbeanconnection website. Here are a few I recommend:
Saturday night brings a Jamaican dancehall host, Beenie Man, along with mostly soca artists to the DC Star Club. Performers include Fayann Lyons and her husband, rough-voiced Bunji Garlin, Hunter Patch, rising star Benjai, the always catchy Destra Garcia (pictured), and Trini Jacobs at the DC Star Club, 2135 Queens Chapel Road NE.
The Promoter for Saturday night’s Machel Montano gig is billing him as “The Biggest Soca Artist in the World.” That is not mere hype. I hope that his wonderful band Xtatik (also now known as HD) will be with him. They wowed me several years ago at the Crossroads with their ability to play frenetic soca, r’n’b, reggae, and rock as the charismatic Montano prowled the stage dispensing vocals that worked well with every style. With the right marketing, he could have appeal beyond the Caribbean community. He will joined by NY and DC djs from 10PM – 4AM at Zanzibar on the Waterfront, 700 Water Street SW, Washington DC, 202-536-4004.