分类： entertainment

The Caribbean nation of Barbados is this week reeling from the loss of one of its most beloved cultural figures, celebrated vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and mentor Mark Lord, who passed away in the early hours of Saturday. Over a 60-plus year career, Lord carved out an unforgettable place in the country’s cultural history, his voice becoming one of the most recognizable and defining sounds of modern Barbados.

In an official statement released following Lord’s death, the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) paid tribute to the late artist, describing his voice as the very essence of Barbados’ national heart and soul. His distinctive rich, smooth vocals carried all the warmth of home, the quiet pride of citizenship, and the unyielding spirit of the Barbadian people, the foundation noted. Through generation-spanning classics including *My Country to Me* and *I Heard a Love Song*, Lord crafted a catalogue of music that still connects with audiences of all ages, serving as a lasting reminder of how song can unite communities, lift up spirits, and preserve a people’s shared cultural identity.

A remarkably gifted artist, Lord mastered a range of roles beyond live performance: he was an accomplished songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, recording engineer and composer. His musical versatility allowed him to move seamlessly between genres, from tender ballads and rhythmic reggae to traditional folk, spirited calypso and rousing gospel. He built a long career performing across Barbados’ hotel entertainment circuit, and headlined dozens of major concerts across the island throughout his career. Even within the competitive calypso space, Lord found success, performing under the stage name Lord Mark at the iconic Battleground Calypso Tent. He earned a spot in the semi-finals of the prestigious Pic-O-De-Crop competition with his acclaimed work *Great Kings of Africa*.

What many remember most fondly about Lord, however, is his commitment to lifting up the next generation of Barbadian talent beyond the spotlight of the stage and recording studio. From his home in Bayville, he quietly dedicated decades to mentoring young aspiring musicians, helping them nurture their craft and find their unique artistic voices. For his decades of unparalleled contributions to Barbados’ cultural landscape, Lord received the high honor of the Pride of Barbados Award during the We Gatherin’ 2025 Honours for the parish of St Michael, a recognition of 60 years spent preserving the nation’s musical heritage and lifting up his local community through his art.

Lord’s death comes as Barbados is already mourning the loss of two other towering national figures: National Hero The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, and legendary Merrymen musician Sir Emile Straker. Today, the nation says, another treasured cultural voice has joined that immortal pantheon of national greats, leaving behind a legacy that will echo through Barbados’ cultural life for generations to come.

The entire NCF community, from its board of management to frontline staff, has extended its deepest heartfelt condolences to Lord’s family, close friends, fellow musicians and the wider Barbadian cultural sector.

“Though the final note of his earthly performance has been sung, Mark Lord’s melody will never fade,” the foundation said. It lives on in every heart touched by his music, every artist he inspired, and every Barbadian who proudly sings *My Country to Me*. May he rest in eternal peace, and may his voice continue to resonate in the great eternal choir, where every song is sung in perfect harmony.”

On a vibrant Friday night, The Concorde Experience played host to one of the season’s most anticipated premium Crop Over celebrations: Soca & Wine: Lux Tropix. Dozens of attendees flooded the Christ Church venue, stepping out in carefully curated outfits that leaned perfectly into the event’s tropical theme—from bold, eye-catching prints and vivid saturated hues to delicate floral-inspired ensembles that turned the entrance into an impromptu fashion showcase. As soon as guests crossed the threshold, it was clear that event organizers Hits and Jams Entertainment, in partnership with Zulu Entertainment, had poured meticulous attention into every detail to craft an elevated, premium experience for attendees.

The entire space was transformed to match the event’s Lux Tropix branding, with custom tropical floral installations paired with glimmering gold decorative accents that set a sophisticated yet playful luxury aesthetic right from the start. To kick off the evening, every guest received a curated welcome bag featuring a branded event cup, a portable handheld fan for warm Caribbean temperatures, and a pair of foldable flats—small, thoughtful touches that signaled the event’s focus on comfort and premium value, all included with general admission. Alongside these welcome gifts, entry also granted guests access to catered food, top-shelf premium drinks, and a full night of curated soca music from a lineup of talented selectors.

One of the first major draws for arriving patrons was the eye-catching branded red carpet and custom tropical-themed photo backdrop, which drew a steady stream of groups of friends, couples, and larger party crews eager to capture memorable shots before heading to the dance floor. Additional branded backdrops for photos lined the venue’s corridors, giving guests no shortage of spots to document their night out. The cohesive tropical luxury design carried through every corner of the unique venue, which is centered around a retired Concorde aircraft, creating a one-of-a-kind, visually striking atmosphere that set the event apart from standard Crop Over celebrations.

Complimentary catered food was available to all guests from 3 p.m., when the event launched, through 8 p.m., stationed at the far end of the venue. Patrons gathered around cozy cocktail tables to catch up with friends, snack on catered offerings, and warm up before the night’s full musical sets got underway. The lineup featured a diverse roster of selectors including DJ Macyy Jadee, Thorny, Gully Ras, Legacy Team, DJ Energy, Pun, Akelo, and Supa Nytro. For guests looking to expand beyond the included catered menu, additional independent food vendors and extra bars were set up across the venue grounds for additional purchase.

Notably, the lineup’s only female DJ, Macyy Jadee, traveled all the way from the United Kingdom to deliver her set to the Crop Over crowd. Throughout the entire evening, the assembled selectors kept energy levels sky-high with a thoughtfully curated blend of timeless classic soca anthems and the hottest contemporary tracks, ensuring the dance floor stayed packed and active long after the sun went down. As the event approached its midnight closing time, the venue hit peak capacity, with a throng of enthusiastic crowd members packing the space in front of the stage, dancing nonstop to the booming soca beats that filled the air. What resulted was a seamless, well-planned celebration that delivered on every promise of its tropical luxury branding.

Fresh off claiming two of soca music’s most prestigious titles, decorated artist Mikey Mercer traded the bright lights of competition stages for a community summer camp classroom on Friday, leveraging his newfound fame to motivate young people to hold fast to their ambitions. Mercer, who just won both the 2026 Power Soca Monarch and Party Monarch crowns in the annual Crop Over festival, made a surprise appearance at the South Stars Community Summer Camp, hosted at Maxwell House on Maxwell Main Road in Christ Church. During his visit, he spoke to dozens of campers about the importance of self-belief, persistence through hardship, and unapologetically pursuing one’s goals.

Mercer opened up about his own experiences facing criticism, noting that too many young people abandon their dreams after facing harsh pushback from others. “Sometimes children can be a little harsh…some people have told me that because of how their dreams were attacked by other people, they shied away from them,” he said. “I am fortunate to do what I love as a job, I think we have to plant that seed of going after your goals and dreams [in children].”

Camp director Tiffany Beckles shared details about the six-week community program, which has drawn roughly 50 children across three age cohorts: 4 to 6 years old, 7 to 9 years old, and 10 to 15 years old. All activities are tailored to fit the developmental needs and personal interests of each group, blending educational workshops and recreational outings to keep young participants engaged throughout the summer break.

So far, the camp’s schedule has included off-site trips to local landmarks and institutions, including the airport fire station, George Washington House, and 13 Acres. Campers have also gotten hands-on experience with STEM-focused activities, attending dedicated robotics and coding sessions. Friday’s packed lineup featured a music video filming project, a robotics demonstration, and Mercer’s talk, plus an additional visit from former Junior Monarch King K. Looking ahead, Beckles said participants are eagerly anticipating an upcoming field trip to the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary.

Beckles added that Mercer’s visit was a standout highlight for campers, noting that so far, the on-site music video project and the fire station trip have emerged as the children’s favorite activities. With the camp scheduled to wrap up its 2026 session on August 21, organizers are putting the final touches on closing events to end the program on a celebratory note. “Our last lap, right now we have a sports day and a fun day for the last lap,” Beckles confirmed. (Photo credits for both Mercer and Beckles: Shamar Blunt)

In a sold-out, five-hour finale held at Barbados’ National Botanical Gardens that drew thousands of calypso music fans, Adrian AC Clarke etched his name deeper into the history of the iconic competition Saturday by securing the 2026 Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Calypso Monarch title. Outperforming 17 fellow competitors with his compelling original track “Legends From The Grave”, Clarke walked away with his fourth championship crown, cementing his status as one of the genre’s most decorated modern performers. As part of his top prize, the winning artist has been offered the choice between a $100 000 lump sum cash award and a brand-new 2026 GAC EMKOO Elite GX motor vehicle, which comes with a complimentary one-year insurance package valued at $5 000. Clarke also took home the official championship trophy and a suite of additional secondary prizes. In a post-victory interview with Barbados TODAY, Clarke shared that he is currently leaning toward selecting the vehicle as his prize. Rounding out the top three positions, competitor Kid Site claimed second place with his entry “Talk Like Mia”, while i-Web secured the third spot with “Colour in B”. Last year’s titleholder, defending monarch Mr Blood, placed fourth with his performance of “Ain’t Leaving”. The high-energy competition drew a capacity crowd, with thousands of patrons packing the grounds of the National Botanical Gardens to watch the final round of performances, which stretched across more than five hours of live music.