News
The Matrixx Wins 2019 Pirates Week Song Competition
The Pirates Week Festival Office along with the Tourism Attraction Board, Ministry of Culture and the Cayman Music and Entertainers Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2019 National Song Competition.
Taking first place and the $5000 cash prize at Saturday’s event (9th November) is The Matrixx with his upbeat song ‘Everyone A Danca’. Andy Blake takes home $3000 for arriving in the second-place spot with his song ‘Sweet, Sweet Cayman’.
To the delight of the audience was a twist of the night, when a third-place tie was announced between established reggae musician Stuart Wilson and newcomers, nine-year-old Kadence Miller-Ebanks and eight-year-old Tayanna Samuels who together win a $2000 cash prize.
Mr. Wilson performed his original song ‘Oh Cayman Isle’, while Kadence and Tayanna performed ‘It’s Pirates Week’.
With 16 participants, Pirates Week General Manager, Melanie McField feel the event is growing exponentially and promoting and encouraging the creation of original works. “This is the second year that the competition has been brought back after a long hiatus and we noted the same this year – the event was met with much enthusiasm by local artists.”
It is heart-warming to see the talents that Cayman has to offer, and we are proud to showcase this talent on the Pirates Week stage. A special thanks to our host Dane Ramoon and judges, Sam Lancaster, Dean Bremmer, Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks and Ben Meade,” she said.
The participants were judged on their song lyrics, musical production, melody, stage presentation and audience interaction.
Cayman Music and Entertainers Association (CMEA) president, Jèan-eric Smith, at the end of the event said “Cayman talent is premium. For me personally, everybody tonight made me super proud! For all the musicians and everyone associated with this production, I must say it was well done.”
The cash prizes for the Pirates Week National Song Competition amounts to CI$10,000; the Ministry of Culture, the Tourism Attraction Board (TAB) and the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association (CMEA) sponsors the $5,000 first, $3,000 second and $2,000 third prizes, respectively.
