‘Wining Queen’ represents Team Soca

Known as the Wining Queen, Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon is one of a host of entertainers who will battle it out on stage at this year’s Soca v Reggae concert at Snorkel Park Beach. 

She will represent the all-female Team Soca who will go head-to-head with the all-male Team Reggae in what is being billed as the Battle of the Sexes. 

 On Team Soca, Belfon will join the crown Princess of Soca Patrice Roberts, and powerhouse Soca DJ Giselle ‘D Wassi One’ Blanche out of Trinidad.

The Reggae team is made up of ‘Mr Dutty Wine’ Tony Matterhorn, the foundation Stone Love Movement, and the one and only Mr Vegas.

Belfon is known for her high-energy performance and stage act. 

She has performed  across the Caribbean, North America and in London. 

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, she originally wanted to be a football player and was even offered a scholarship to Howard University but injury prevented it. 

Music soon took hold and she was eventually discovered by the band-leader of Roy Cape. She began singing professionally with the Black Sheep band. She has since risen through the ranks as a solo artist with her first recording Ka Ka Lay Lay followed by a string of hit singles including Hard Wuk, De Jamette, Saucy Baby and Indian Man.

This is Belfon’s second time performing on the island — her previous gig was back in 1997. 

Speaking to the Bermuda Sun, she recalled: “I remember the island. 

“I performed with Roy Cape and we did a cover version of Lady Saw and Beenie Man’s song Healing.  That show also sparked me and Ghetto Flex coming together and doing a song we have called Rock Ya Body and then a song called Wine and Bend Over. So Bermuda, in 1997, created great chemistry between Ghetto Flex and myself and I’m hoping when I come this time I can get together about three more songs (laughs).”

Belfon will be performing on a track without her backing band The A-Team and will perform a mix of original songs and covers. 

“I am the Soca Dancehall Queen — my soca is more crossover with dancehall. One of my songs that is very big in the US Virgin Islands is Wine and Bend Over — I’ll be playing that along with Wining Queen, Bicycle Wine, Ka Ka Lay Lay which I performed the first time in Bermuda. I must give them a touch of what they know me for!

“I have many influences such as Aretha Franklin, Billy Holliday, Nina Simone, Sam Cook, Whitney Houston and then when it comes to calypso The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Kitchener…

“Within my set I also have covers of popular hit songs in reggae and dancehall. 

Once the songs are popular in Bermuda I do a little piece of everything so the crowd can see how versatile I am and that I’m up to the times with the new music and artists and it goes down pretty well. I cover all sorts from Aidonia, Kranium, Lady Saw, Vybez Kartel and Spice – those are some of them.”

Soca v Reggae kicks off at 8:30pm at Snorkel Park on August 1 — organizer Vejay Steede said: “All roads lead to Dockyard after the game!”

Round one starts at 10pm. 

So the question is, will Team Soca take the crown for an unprecedented third straight win? 

Snorkel Park’s the place to see it first. 

Event info: Soca V Reggae takes place at Snorkel Park Beach on August 1 from 8:30pm. General admission tickets are $65 and all inclusive tickets are $150 which includes open bar, priority access and food. Tickets available from Secrets in Washington Mall; Audio Visual, Somerset and Hamilton; Rotisserie Grill; Authentic Choices Clothing; Kit ‘n’ Caboodle’ Stefanel; Salon Store; Phoenix Centre; Brown & Co; Clarendon Pharmacy; Paget Pharmacy; Robertson’s Drug Store; Platinum Entertainment; Sweet Saak Bakery and Toxic Rose as well as online at bdatix.bm