A Team ready for Carnival action

THE A Team musical ensemble is headlining the Miami Broward One Carnival concert today, and continues to ride a tidal wave of success following several years of growth, sacrifice, networking and a series of scintillating performances across the diaspora.

This weekend, the band represented soca music alongside noteworthy collaborators such as Voice (Aaron St Louis), Skinny Fabulous (Gamal Doyle), Machel Montano and Afrobeat superstar Burna Boy at the 'Tipsy Music Festival', Bayfront Park, downtown Miami, on Friday night, before rocking alongside soca queen and recent Nicki Minaj/Skeng (Likkle Miss Fine Nine Remix) collaborator Patrice Roberts at One Fete on Saturday night.

Band manager Zarin Morean was thankful and expressed great excitement about recent developments and future possibilities while speaking to the Kitcharee on Friday morning, ahead of their big show alongside Burna Boy.

He said: 'The interest in our music and culture is at an all-time high right now, so the team has been rehearsing non-stop to be fully prepared for the Tobago Music, Art, and Culture Festival (TOMAC)-performing alongside Burna Boy again on our sister isle, as well as several events for Tobago Carnival, and then we have the World Creole Festival in Dominica and so much more coming up.

'We keep working to improve our image and sound and feel like the hard work is finally paying off now, so we're extremely grateful to all the promoters and the artistes who believe in us and continue to give us the opportunity to showcase our talent and the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago.'

Morean echoed the popular sentiment that Trinidad Carnival 2023 will be monumental in terms of attendance and global interest, and advised all industry stakeholders to be prepared.

'We have to be ready to put our best feet forward,' he said, 'individually and collectively we all have to represent the genre of soca and the growing brand that is Trinidad and Tobago to the world at large. We have so many talented artistes and musicians, designers, producers, creatives....

'So much to offer to the world and to the entertainment industry, and with the launch of Tobago Carnival, the countdown has begun, and we as a nation have to really present the greatest show on earth come February because the world is watching and has been waiting for all the magic and the music that we have to offer.'

The Miami Broward One Carnival mas parade takes place today at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Expo Centre in Kendall, following scores of parties, fetes and other events staged by local promoters such as Scorch, Kairi People, TriniJungleJuice, Private Ryan, Vale Vibe, International Stephen, Tribe and others.

While preparing for the busy weekend ahead, Morean also revealed a new addition to the band's dynamic young front line, even as he praised their lead female vocalist, Kerlene 'Kerlz' Joseph, who recently released a music video for her new single, 'Come Closer'.

'We are so proud of Kerlz and all the work she has put in and really pushing all our support behind her new song, which is gaining traction and popularity as we perform it during our combination sets ,and I will give you a little scoop because we just brought Ricardo Drue on board as one of our frontline vocalists as well, so we're really evolving productively and positively as we prepare for an amazing Carnival season and beyond!'

Formed by veteran entertainer Eddie Charles in 2013, the A Team Band has provided musical support for an impressive cross-section of artistes across all demographics and genres and for a variety of local, regional and international events. For more information, log on to the band's Facebook Page or follow @ateamband on IG.

-courtesy Overtime Media

The A Team Band is set to headline the Miami Broward One Carnival concert today.