The band that will replace Nigerian group, Flavour, at this year’s 18th Annual World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) is speaking out.
This year is the second time in a row that the band was selected at the last minute to perform at the festival but manager, Keith Goddard, told DNO, they are doing it all for the fans.
“We have to look at the bigger picture and the bigger picture is pleasing our fans,” he said. “What you don’t want is to disappoint your fan base, but you want to please them … at the end of the day people want to enjoy themselves.”
Citing Ebola fears the government recently decided to axe Nigerian group, Flavour, from the festival. The Dominica Festival Committee (DFC), then announced that WCK would be the replacement.
Goddard said although the offer to perform came at a short notice, the band still accepted it and is ready to present a spontaneous performance.
“Two years in a row we have been selected to perform at short notice,” he said. “I feel happy for the fans. We look forward to give the fans a spontaneous performance on the night of the show. We are always ready.”
He stated that members of WCK do not play music for themselves but for the fans.
“We are playing it for our people, we are playing it for our fan base and at the end of the day you have to make people happy,” he noted.
He said the band staged some performances recently in Guadeloupe, which he said was amazing.
“At the recent tour in Guadeloupe, we were amazed with the response and not only from the event but we did some scouting around like clubs, different stores and so on, and noticed that there is a heavy presence of Bouyon music in the Guadeloupe market,” he said.
Goddard urged band members and artistes in Dominica to “stick to what is ours.”
“I am not saying that people cannot go out there and experience Jazz, Reggae,” he explained. “But I guess the people are interested in that genre which is Bouyon, cadence or what is our own. The foundation of Cadence is also part of Bouyon and we need to start investing in Bouyon music and Cadence music. Revive the Cadence genre.”
He revealed that the band is expected to release new songs next week.
“We are releasing some new stuff soon,” he stated. “We got a little setback, it was supposed to be out this week but because of the storm in Guadeloupe, we got setback for about four days. So hopefully we are looking at next week.”
He also had a message for fans during the festive season.
“When we go out to party the main focus is to have a good time and to socialize with our friends, families and let’s keep it as that,” he said. “Situations will happen but we have to learn to put our differences aside and let’s have a good time.”
Meanwhile, he warned the Dominican public to be mindful of the Ebola Virus Disease which has already caused thousands of deaths in West Africa.
“We just have to be careful, we are partying, we can’t do the same thing that we normally do all the time, so we just have to be mindful and be aware that it can be around us and you don’t have any idea when,” he warned.
The WCK Band will perform on night two at the WCMF.
The event will be staged at the Windsor Park Stadium from October 24 to 26.
In case yall forget its just business.All shall eat.It doh hve after refuse in dat.I for one applaud the WCK for taking the gig..Jump high jump dem still make their money…Yall want premium performance well pay for it..U can’t expect cheap quality music..allu believe is allu alone that frustrated.Give dem man a chance and stop being overly critical cuz the other bands producing the same crap and getting paid at the end of the day….Dominica is too choo too flam…when u up u up and when u down u down and thats where they want u stay…
Oh please WCK!!! Dominicans all know you don’t support the Divine Party but you want to be part of our festival. Why don’t you go and play in Marigot Fisheries Complex for your masters on the OTHER SIDE??? When you openly admit that Labor is the true party of God and the Ordained party to rule Dominica for life, we will begin opening a spot for you guys every festival. Until then, enjoy the crumbs that we give you now and shut up!
why creole in park didnot go till Friday since it is not on the same weekend d with world creole music fest?
ha ha
i’m sorry but with a population of 70K, and a nation of people as opinionated as we are, and no government investment that really exploits our home grown talent, and artist that can’t really sing or write for a wider audience…bouyon music isn’t going much further then it already is for a very very very long time… until the soca hub of the world truely endorses it…D.a does have some of the best musicians though
It is a creole music festival…..this band that initiated ‘booyon’ music has played nothing over the last twenty years. It certainly abandon all cadence music.
Still missing Jeff Jo….
Keith, you did the right thing. I always love WCK and when the band leader can speak like this it gives me great hope and love for OUR music. When I get back into promotion again you all will be touring North Ameriaca again. I JUST LOVE WCK!!
The Dominican band ( WCK ) that will replace Nigerian group, Flavour, at this year’s 18th Annual World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) is speaking out. This year is the second time in a row that the band was selected at the last minute to perform at the festival but manager, Keith Goddard, told DNO, they are doing it all for the fans. Good job, but realize that to have you 2nd aint all gravy…
We happy you looking at the bigger picture, which is picture is pleasing your fans. You don’t want to disappoint your fan base. you want to please them … at the end of the day people want to enjoy themselves.”
AFTER REFUSE………NO SHAME!!!!!
WCK will always reign they are the band of the pass and the band for the future. Remember the bible said the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first. Good luck guys waiting to see you all.
Keith i have always have great respect for you,The original members turned their backs on the band and you kept it going,rather the festival committee intvited the original members to play @ the festival,the new vocalist sounds terrible.It would be nice to see you guys get back as the original members and do a world tour and forget the differences.What yiu guys haven’t figured out is you all have made a big impact in the caribbeaan and north america and the fan base has stayed the same.Bury the hatchet get back together and do a world tour.Maybe you guys should have a chat with Chubby and and his brother.
I think you don’t no what you talking about you could have said no,but your making it look like is fan’s your doing it for!! NO ITS MONEY!! WCK need to step aside reformat your group, sound,vocals, apearance ,and your level of tolerance cause it seems to me maybe you have forgotten what your.fans want.
Charge WCMF much more money.our local bands and artists should be the highlight of our festival.stupes
the Nigerian band was simply a political sacrifice
So go meet them…, some people just lack common sense. Did u not hear the reason. Caution for d ebola virus. Do u have the necessary treatment to cure people in dominica? If u have nothing to say zip up cause u are not making any sense, even though i respect people opinion, this is one i will not give a time of day..
Well to be honest I love bouyon music. But right now I believe that WCK needs to step up. I am really tired of hearing these old school tracks. As a bouyon fan I want to hear some new tracks. I believe that Clint sucks. His voice sounds old school. Delly is the man for the band. DFC is pure nonsense. I cant believe is only last minute you guys always playing WCK. Bouyon music is our culture and I believe they should not be left out. Big up WCK
kieth u are killing the ban let them man do what they want so w c k can get back all dem fans u killing de ban we not old school again we need new things and u should be ashamed of that last moment thing get real bossssssss u to old school sell the ban if u cant do the work
Keithy boy, you are extremely diplomatic. We all know business is business and money is what pays the bills so don’t be ashamed. Saying is for the fans will send a mixed signal though, since many fans are not in support of the ‘after refuse’ treatment.
They say they are rotating the bands, let’s see if DFC will have the guts to rotate Triple Kay next year.
a very good one .it is all about the fans our elderly folks use to say, late invitation is for dogs not literal dogs. thats a figure of speech.
he once said wck is de same no matter who come or who go.but nothing has yet to come close to de original. u should know was there through it all.
ck is should just retire… Triple started from scratch and took over, smfh
should charge double or the exact figure the african band was charging….
@youth… Doc u sure u know what u talking about you sure u read properly and understand wat was said who is belly aching? And I don’t agree tht wck music is full of violence u got the wrong band..
Keith nonsense you talking about for the fans. Is it for the fans they are paying you? So tell me why didn’t the fans speak out about the band non- inclusion in this festival initially eh? Why? Its for the DAMN MONEY boss period. Keith and WCK have no shame to accept to play after back to back rejections from DFC, but again the band needs the money. But we are warning you all don’t come and play like all you played at the Cadence competition eh! because its the same fans that will boo all you away off stage.
You have a problem, if you have one with Keith don’t hide behind a name such as cohosh put your real name there so he can respond to you
WCk had a choice either to say yes or no. They have chosen to accept so what are they belly aching about. They are not playing for their fan base but for their money. They could have said last minute we are not interested. As a youth
to speak the truth most repeat most of their music is just to incite violence, donot take them they complain, take them same thing so how can we please them.
WCK i am surprised at the performance that you guys put up at the Cadence Lypso and for a competition it showed that if you all practiced prior to the event then the band need a serious manager. The lead singers sounded like they were forcing to bring out their voice, could hardly understand anything they were singing. The notes from the band members instruments sounded even poorer not even a sharp ending to a sound. Dress code alas. I came out in support of the band and was beyond disappointment. Serenade on the other hand blew the crow away, you could see they put their all into that competition and am sorry they are not in the lineup for the Festival they would have done justice if they were in the fest line up. On point on point on point with their vocals, presentation and great keynotes from the band members, well rehearsed and priceless.
While serenade had a better performance than the rest. It is not right to praise their vocals. As someone who has an ear for good vocals i am sorry to disappoint you but Lloydie the lead singer for serenade was flat for almost every song. He is an energeetic performer but he needs to learn to lock the key.
Same can be said for the Ecstasy lead singer. The Ecstasy drummer needs to keep timing. For a band on the festival i was rather shocked at the number of times that he lost his timing on the Cadence show
Some thing isn’t transparent to me, why is the second time in a row the band was selected last minute there most be a misunderstanding between wck and wcmf.
Politics
keith oy, I am going to be honest with you, the band only has the name WCK, but that’s it, the ban at present has lost its bouyon flava, its all ping ping pang pang now, pure foolishness, I am not surprised that you guys are being side lined, get back to the time of making real bouyon music, local music, music with sense, then and only then the band will regain its integrity musically, I still listen to the old tunes back in the 90s and 80s, just wish you guys didn’t stray from the real bouyon.
CK should cater more to the wider caribbean and then should not be left to wonder why it is being left out. CK needs to focus less on the local bouyon fans. Balance batty remains the only phenomenal tune that rocked the Caribbean. CK must re-invent itself to capture a truly Caribbean audience.
While I applaud CK accepting to play on, the fears for a band for Nigeria is totally unfounded. Nigeria is completely free of Ebola and politicians should lead in allaying fears than confirming them by dismissing the Nigerian band.
It is best that they did not come to D/ca than D/cans being worried about contracting Ebola if they came. You never know. At least they are complacent about it.
Original WCK in CITP….I in dat.
I hope all you talk about all you books like that…….
DFC has no respect for local performers thats all. Keith thats a great way to put it, but dont worry we understand…. things are hard everywhere in this country, so you got to just swallow bull in order to survive.