Soca stars JW & Blaze and KES the Band fly Trini colours high

JW & Blaze

Trinidad & Tobago soca stars and popular DJs Jason "JW" Williams and Ancil "Blaze" Isaaz Jr – who were Road March and International Soca Monarch winners at the 2010 Trinidad & Tobago Carnival with their hit "Palance" – have received three nominations for the 30th annual International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA).

Their nominations come in the Best Male Calypso/Soca Entertainer; Best Song; and Best Music Video categories. It comes as no surprise as their stellar 2010 success at Carnival led to international tours with acts such as Trinidad-born hip-hop star Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, Jamaica's Movado, and fellow soca star Machel Montano.

This year's IRAWMA ceremony is scheduled to take place in T&T at the new National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain on 28 May, 2011.

KES the Band

Meanwhile, fellow IRAWMA nominee KES the Band will be headlining a concert on Easter weekend in New York City.

On 24 April, the band will present KES 360, an event showcasing the band's fusion of calypso, soca, rock, pop, soul and house music. Audiences will be treated to the band's hits including "Right Dey", "Thunder", "Where Yuh From", and the 2011 International Groovy Soca Monarch-winning soca anthem, "Wotless".

In recent years, the band has toured extensively, sharing stages with international icons like Maroon 5, John Legend and Rihanna. The band's frontman, Kees Dieffenthaller, guarantees an evening of energy, love, and of course "wotlessness".

The action takes place at Amnesia NYC (609 West 29th Street, Manhattan) from 4pm to 10pm.