Machel Montano Tour Dates and Upcoming Concerts

"Born November 24, 1974 in Port of Spain Trinidad, Machel Montano was destined to be great. Through his ever-evolving musical offerings, Machel works on his mission of depositing Soca into the domain of mainstream music. Machel’s career began in 1982 at age seven; at age nine he formed his band, Pranasonic Express. Montano’s debut album “Too Young To Soca”, released in 1985, was an instant hit which earned rave reviews and standing ovations at live performances. In April of 1986, the young performer appeared on the popular television show, Star Search, bringing Soca music to US national television. One of Machel’s earliest and greatest achievements was his May 1984 appearance at Madison Square Garden in the Felt Forum in New York City at the age of 9. He was billed as a support act for the Mighty Sparrow and other top Calypsonians. In 2008, Machel was awarded three titles, including the Bob Marley Award Entertainer of the Year at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) at the historic Apollo Theatre in New York. That year also found Machel receiving an award at the 1st Annual BET J Virtual Awards for Best Caribbean Artiste of the Year. In January 2010, Machel became the first Soca artiste to attain a headlining slot at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. On May 2, 2010 he made history as the only two-time recipient (2008) of The Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year at Martins International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA). In May 2010, Machel, as special guest artiste for the U.S. shows, embarked on a 5-week tour with International Recording Artiste, Pitbull on his Mr. Worldwide Carnival tour. Machel returned to Trinidad and Tobago carnival in 2011 after being absent in 2010. “The Return” concert was a return to the National Stadium to a sold out audience to witness the mother of all Machel Montano events. His return to the competition was spectacular where he emerged the Power Soca Monarch Champion 2k11 and also captured the prize for best presentation. The climax was his victory in the Road March. On the heels of Carnival he returned to Madison Square Garden in March 2011 another sold out event. In 2012, Machel became a Triple Crown Winner, by winning the Groovy Soca Title and International Power Soca Monarch competitions. Carnival 2013 saw Machel Montano successfully defending his 2012 crown in the Power Soca Monarch (joint winner) and Groovy Soca Monarch. Carnival 2014 brought Machel Montano continued success having won the Power Soca Monarch title with the hit “Ministry of Road” and further went on to take “Ministry of Road” all the way to Road March supremacy. “Ministry of Road” yielded even more success for Machel, as after being nominated twice for a Soul Train Award without a win, he brought home the award in November 2014 for Best International performance with “Ministry of Road.” Machel began 2015 with a bang after he successfully defended his Power Soca Monarch title for the fifth time with the infectious song “Like Ah Boss” which also won the coveted Road March title. In 2016, he again won the Road March with his song “Waiting on the Stage” ft. Badjohn Republic. He also performed in front of the biggest audience of his life at Coachella 2016 on the main stage as a guest of Major Lazer - a performance witnessed by over 100,000 live and hundreds of thousands more online. In 2018 and 2019, he won back-to-back Road Marches with “Soca Kingdom”, a collaboration with one of his heroes, Soca legend, Super Blue, and then with “Famalay”, a collaboration with Skinny Fabulous & Bunji Garlin.   In 2018, Machel received an Honourary Doctorate in the Arts from The University of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2021, Machel was inducted in to the Young, Gifted & Black Caribbean Music Entertainment ICON Hall of Fame and received an award from Harvard University’s Caribbean Club for Entertainer of the Year. In 2017, Machel trained at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas, completing their Gracious Living 4-Day Detox and Therahealing Basic and Advanced DNA Training. Machel has only been involved with the Isha organization for a short time, but since 2018 he has completed Inner Engineering Online, Inner Engineering in California & Bhava Spandana in Tennessee with Sadhguru himself. He has also done their Yogasanas & Shoonya programs. In September 2022, on the 46th Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago becoming a Republic nation, Machel became the recipient of the Humming Bird Gold National Medal and was awarded by the President of Trinidad and Tobago – Ms. Paula Mae-Weekes. The Hummingbird Gold Medal is awarded for loyal and devoted service beneficial to the state in any field or acts of conspicuous gallantry or other outstanding humane action. For Carnival 2024, he opted to take his pen and music in another direction of music, as this year he crafted a simple, yet artistic calypso titled “Soul of Calypso” which was entered into the National Calypso Monarch competition. This composition took him through to the full extent of the competition as he cupped his 1st National Calypso Monarch title at this year’s production of one of the season’s most anticipated event the Dimanche Gras at the “big yard”, better known as the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. The King of Soca is always looking for ways to expand and share the music to the rest of the globe, by creating the platforms to host extraordinary productions, and August 2024 was a notable one as he completed a four (4) night residency at the legendary Apollo Theater, New York. This was a historic moment for Soca and Calypso to have a show of this caliber being hosted in such a venue where so many iconic musicians graced the same stage. Machel extended invitations to many other Soca and Chutney artistes and Calypsonians who also performed with him on various nights. This show was the first of it’s kind to the Apollo Theater. In October 2024, Machel graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in Carnival Studies from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). On January 13, 2025, Machel became the first Soca artist to perform on NPR's globally recongnized Tiny Desk platform. He recorded the episode November 25, 2024, the same day he sold out Washington, D.C.'s historic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Machel won his 11th Road March during Carnival 2025 for the song ""PARDY"", tying him with Lord Kitchener for the most all time. Machel won his 12th Road March during Carnival 2026 for the song ""Encore"", making him the outright leader! Machel has made his mark in many countries and cities around the world and some have acknowledged him in a very prestigious way, the 12-time Road March winner currently holds six (6) “keys to multiple cities, he’s the only artiste / entertainer to have been awarded so many in our region. The cities include: Port of Spain – 22nd July 2022, San Fernando – 10th December, 2023 (Trinidad and Tobago), Kingston (Jamaica) – Independence Day, 6th August, 2023, New York City – 25th August 2024, and his most recent just a few days ago Lauderhill (Florida) – 11th October and the City of Miami – 13th October, 2024. Machel is constantly working toward his mission of successfully ushering Soca into the realm of mainstream music. He has toured extensively throughout out world to fulfil this mission. He has been pushing the envelope, trying to revolutionize Soca and improve its quality. While it is very difficult to bring this music to the mainstream and at the same time stay grounded, he has created a sound that he believes is palatable to all markets and can play on the radio in rotation with other popular songs and genres. It is his dream to see Soca being enjoyed in the international market. The mission continues and Machel is poised and focused on spreading Soca music throughout the globe."""