The year 2020 has truly been an unprecedented one in so many ways, no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but, as the saying goes, “the show must go on” so far as the ACASA UK Calypso and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions are concerned. The ACASA ABC London Calypso Tent took an unfamiliar form as Notting Hill Carnival Limited (NHCL), the subsidiary of Carnival Village Trust (CVT) facilitated an “Access All Areas” virtual offering instead of the parade that has graced the streets for over 50 years.
The ACASA Calypso Monarch competition, usually held on the Thursday before Notting Hill Carnival, took an unfamiliar form and delivery mechanism this year. Artistes were pre-recorded and filmed at world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London, backed by the ACASA All-Stars Band, and backing vocals provided by the Divettes. The performances were streamed online, on Saturday 29th August evening with MCs Coco P and Giselle. Audiences were able to cast their votes via the NHCL App in addition to the three Judges for each competition.