Two Caribbean entertainers are in Belize tonight for weekend concerts. Arriving on the American Airlines flight alongside Lord Laro this afternoon was Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano and his band Xtatic Limited. Montano will perform in a free concert on Saturday at UNICEF's non-violence XChange Festival in the Bliss parking lot. Montano, who is known for his energy charged Soca hits "mad bull fever" and "big truck," says this time around he'll be partying with a purpose.
Machel Montano,
"We will be giving our full normal performance. Xtatic is a very energetic band, singing a lot of soca music but we're going to mix it with a lot of stuff because our music has been created from dancehall, reggae, and soca as the foundation. We going to give a normal performance but really and truly we coming here to draw attention to the Xchange Program.
This show is going to be a free concert and this is what we're encouraging but as this goes along, we want this to become an event that encourages youths to go out in their community and make money, or empower themselves, make themselves made without being a bandit or thief or somebody who would do something illegal."
Keith Swift,
What message do you hope your participation sends?
Machel Montano,
"I sat down with UNICEF and Island people and said we want the youths to be empowered in a different way. We don't want them to think its only bling bling and rims and cars and girls that make you a made man."
Keith Swift,
Will it still be the energetic Machel Montano that people are used to? The 'big truck' and 'mad bull fever'?
Machel Montano,
"Definitely, all our song is positive and big truck is a celebration so we will definitely be giving it like that."
You can catch Machel Montano and Xtatic along with a full lineup of Belizean stars in the Bliss parking lot beginning at 9 am on Saturday. Entrance is free but only if you bring positive vibes and no violence.
