Battle For The Crown – The Ultimate Battle For Barbados Calypso Crown

When the first note rings out at the National Botanical Gardens on Friday night, the Pic-O-De-Crop stage will already be crowded with history. 

Five former monarchs, including the defending champion, will be among the 18 calypsonians competing in the Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Finals powered by Q 100.7 FM. They will be joined by some of the competition’s most experienced campaigners and a younger generation eager to establish its place in Barbados’ premier calypso contest. 

Courtesy Garage Pic O De Crop Finalist with their numbers and the grand prize.

The Finals begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 31, at the National Botanical Gardens, Codrington, St Michael. Tickets are $40 in advance and $60 at the door. 

Event producer Adisa “Aja” Andwele believes the strength of this year’s field could allow the competition to build on the standard established in 2025. 

“What makes this year’s Pic-O-De-Crop Finals distinctive is that it comes a year after arguably the best PODC Finals we had over the last four years,” Aja said. “It is my hope, therefore, that the 2026 Finals will continue the momentum from last year, and the line-up suggests that this may be achieved.” 

He described the contest as a “battle royale”, with defending monarch Mr Blood facing former champions iWeb, Adrian Clarke, Kid Site and Quon, as well as long-standing finalists and several performers who previously captured Junior Monarch titles. 

Opening the competition will be 2022 Pic-O-De-Crop monarch Dequon “Quon” Alleyne of House of Soca. Quon will set the tone for the night with “Codes”, taking on the difficult task of making the first major impression in a field stacked with experience. 

Following him in position two will be Jalissa “J. Diamond” Edwards of All Stars with “Teacher’s Tale”. A two-time Richard Stoute Teen Talent winner, J. Diamond will be aiming to replicate that success on one of the biggest stages in local calypso. 

Raheem Taylor of House of Soca will perform “Triggers” from position three, immediately before defending monarch Anderson “Mr Blood” Armstrong enters the competition. 

Defending Monarch Mr Blood with his draw position.

Mr Blood, a two-time Pic-O-De-Crop winner, will defend his title with “Ain’t Leaving”. The song’s title is fitting for a performer intent on extending his reign, but the fourth position means he must establish a standard capable of withstanding another 14 performances. 

Mr Blood will be up against 17, defending his crown.

Tamara “Queen T” Boyce of Shining Stars will follow in position five with “Lacking Intelligence”, while former Junior Monarch and Pic-O-De-Crop finalist Shontae “Tae” Alleyne-Clarke will appear sixth for De Big Show with “Blame Game”. 

Position seven belongs to Ian “Skung Yung” Alleyne, who returns to the competitive stage after also appearing among the finalists in this year’s Sweet Soca competition. Representing De Big Show, he will perform “I Had A Dream”. 

Anique “Niqa” Herbert of All Stars will take the eighth position with “Don’t You Think It’s A Crime”, completing the first section of the draw before one of the competition’s most decorated contenders steps forward. 

Four-time calypso monarch Ian “iWeb” Webster will perform “Colours In B” from position nine. With a record that places him among the most successful performers in the field, iWeb will be attempting to add another title to an already distinguished Pic-O-De-Crop career. 

At number ten will be Chad “Sir Ruel” Bowen of House of Soca with “Home Don’t Feel Like Home”. Sir Ruel first experienced monarch success when he captured the 2008 Junior Calypso Monarch title and will now be seeking the senior crown. 

Few performers in this year’s competition possess more experience than Colin Spencer. The 15-time finalist will appear in position 11 for All Stars, performing “Obedient Colin”. His repeated presence at the Finals has made him one of the competition’s most consistent contenders, but he will be hoping that 2026 is the year persistence is rewarded with the crown. 

Chrystal Holder of De Big Show follows in position 12 with “AI Gine Win De Crown”, before the competition moves into a formidable closing stretch filled with former champions and veteran finalists. 

Four-time monarch David “Kid Site” Piggott will compete from position 13 with “Talk Like Mia”. The House of Soca representative brings one of the strongest Pic-O-De-Crop records into the contest and will be aiming to claim a fifth title. 

Immediately after him will be three-time winner Adrian Clarke. Drawn at number 14, Clarke will represent De Big Show with “Legends From The Grave”. With Kid Site and Clarke appearing consecutively, the second half could reach a critical point as two of the night’s most decorated performers make their bids for another crown. 

Yahandje Daniel of All Stars takes position 15 with “Chain Reaction”. A Richard Stoute Teen Talent winner and the 2022 Junior Calypso Monarch, she is part of a younger group of performers continuing the transition from junior competition to the senior Pic-O-De-Crop stage. 

Billboard Murrell will follow in position 16 with another song titled “Blame Game”. The House of Soca representative is making his sixth appearance in the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals and will be looking to turn that sustained consistency into a breakthrough victory. 

Jamal Slocombe of De Big Show has been handed the penultimate position and will perform “Talk Bout Dat”. 

The responsibility of closing the competition belongs to Ronald “De Announcer” Clarke of Shining Stars. A ten-time finalist, De Announcer will deliver “The People’s King” from position 18, giving him the final opportunity to leave an impression on the judges and the audience. 

The Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Finals will be at the National Botanical Gardens, on Friday, July 31st, starting at 8 pm. (PR)