12 hours of excitement and there was hardly anything missed at the SOCA+ Festival over the weekend.
The festival, which was in its second staging, was held at Sabina Park in Kingston on Saturday, September 30. It was again on target as it delivered another round of top-tier revelry, entertainment, and a premiere experience that could compete with any global festival.
Although it adjusted from its initial two-day format to a 12-hour rave, the result remained the same epic experience in Kingston city.
Decor
The experience was immediately felt upon entering the venue, as the aesthetics and layout created an atmosphere of excitement with a high level of anticipation, especially for many who arrived early to secure a favourable spot.
From the mirror box to the “Soca + high chair” and the “signing wall,” the spread provided an abundance of selfie-worthy moments, which patrons didn’t hesitate to capitalise on.
Music
The musical complement to the aesthetically pleasing atmosphere provided a perfect balance of Soca, Dancehall, AfroBeat, Retro and Old school RnB and lovers rock. The various deejays were only bettered by the live performances.
DJ Nova, Fyahman & Kryptic, Bloodline Franco, Brush 1, Copper Cyclone and Richie Ras were among the Jamaican representatives, while Ovadose from the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago’s JW, along with Riggo Suave & DJ Fireman from USA and Panama among the international collective that kept patrons engaged and excited in a pulsating experience.
Performers
The headliners delivered solid performances, which kicked off an energetic Sunday morning to literally ring in the new month.
The Queen of Bacchanal, Destra Garcia provided an excellent introduction to the live aspect of the show upon her entrance in the early hours of the morning.
Destra exercised a royal command of the vibes as she had the large crowd jumping and raving like it was a carnival week.
Dancehall fans were not to be left out, as Aidonia ensured that his fans were fully entertained.
It almost seemed like the perfect venue for the “4th Genna” top man, who knocked his performance out of the park as he delivered hit after hit, which was verified by the vociferous crowd response, who remained very active during his performance after 6 a.m.
There was a bonus addition to the performance line-up with the surprise appearance of Ding Dong and the Ravers crew, who delivered an energy-packed cameo.
It was also a tremendous experience from the man himself, Skinny Fabulous, who brought the water out during an interactive set to cool down the patrons and also close the curtains on the live performances.
The overall experience was 10/10 as the spectacle concluded at the 12th hour – 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Whether you came for the Soca, Dancehall, or just vibes, you would’ve left fully satisfied. SOCA+ Festival was definitely certified SLEEK.
