The Original Burning Flames, one of the Caribbean’s most enduring soca bands, will perform at the CARIFESTA XV Soca Super Concert in Barbados on Friday, 22 August.
The event will take place at the Richard Stoute Amphitheatre, National Botanical Gardens, and is part of a series of concerts showcasing Caribbean music and culture.
Formed in 1984 in Potters, Antigua, the band is known for high-energy performances and a string of hit songs that have shaped soca music over the past four decades.
The original line-up included brothers Toriano “King Onyan,” David “Bubb-I,” and Clarence “Oungku” Edwards, along with drummer Rone “Foxx” Watkins. The group initially performed as buskers and later supported Arrow on the internationally known track Hot, Hot, Hot.
The band’s debut single, Stylie Tight, won the Road March in 1985, and they continued to produce hits including Workey Workey (1989) and Chook and Dig (1990).
Over the years, the Original Burning Flames have won 17 Road March titles as a band, with members collectively winning 21 times. They have performed widely across the Caribbean and internationally, including tours in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
After a hiatus, the band reunited in 2015 and has continued to perform at festivals and cultural events. They have received notable recognition, including keys to the city of Atlanta, and maintain a presence at major Caribbean celebrations.
The CARIFESTA XV Soca Super Concert is part of a week-long series at the National Botanical Gardens. Other events include Caribbean Jazz and Worldbeat on 26 August, Reggae on 29 August, and Vintage Kaiso on 30 August.
