Digicel Nelson Bloc back in winners’ row after 10 years

It took ten years, but the drought that kept Digicel Nelson Bloc out of winners row in the Band of the Year competition finally come to an end last Tuesday at Mardi Gras.

With their presentation ‘Soccer: The Game of the People,’ the band, which is celebrating its 32nd anniversary, pulled out all the stops{{more}} to amass 560 points, pushing ahead of runner-up Guinness Y DeLima Hitz FM 103.7 FM Blondie Bird & Friends, which scored 543 points for their presentation ‘Illusion – Never see come see’.

Nelson Bloc’s colourful sections: Canaries – Brazil, La Furia – Spain, Soca Warriors – Trinidad, Super Eagles – Nigeria, Le Azzurri – Italy, The White and Sky Blue – Argentina depicted the uniforms and colours of soccer teams around the world.

The Paul’s Avenue based band, which was launched in 1983, also got the judges’ nod for the Best Use of Colour and second place in the Uptown Competition.

The band’s queen, Petra Pompey, with her portrayal ‘Canaries – Brazil,’ placed second in the Individual of the Band competition.

The presentation ‘Masquerade’ from OT Tyre SVG Players International Mas Band was awarded third place with 514 points, with High Voltage Mas Production coming in 4th with 492 points for their presentation ‘Candy World’. Fifth place was taken by Lime Ahdrenalin Mas Band with 488 points for their presentation ‘An Eastern Travelogue’.

Nelson Bloc, which dominated the Band of the Year competition in the 1990s, last won the competition in 2005 with their presentation ‘You Asked for It’. Before that, they won in 2003, 2002, 2001, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992 and 1991.

Other bands participating in Mardi Gras were Melbourne Artisans – ‘Masorama 45’; Imagination Mas Band – ‘Love Story’; Tribes Mas Band – ‘An Explosion of Colours’; Hairoun Dragons in Association with The News newspaper, CK Greaves and Agricultural Input Warehouse – ‘50th Anniversary Celebrating’; Xtreme Fanatics – ‘We’ve Got The Blues’; Lynx Mas Band – ‘Songs from Machel Montano’; Owen Ralph & the Professionals – ‘Carnival Fete’; and Beautex International – ‘Our Heritage’.

Second place in the Best Use of Colour was awarded to Blondie Bird & Friends, with SVG Players International and High Voltage taking third and fourth place respectively.

The Uptown Competition was won by Blondie Bird & Friends, with SVG Players, Ahdrenalin and Dragons taking third, fourth and fifth places respectively.