The Yard Mas carnival experience left nothing to be desired, with events spanning from Monday to Monday, ensuring revelers had the full carnival experience.
For the past few days, the UWI Bowl Mona, a renowned venue for events and concerts in Jamaica, has been a hub for soca and the carnival season, hosting ilovesoca on Easter Monday, April 1st, “Illuminate” on Wednesday, April 3rd, and “Rytz” on April 4th. Surrounded by lush greenery and open skies, the venue transformed into a soca paradise, with vibrant decorations, pulsating lights, and a buzzing atmosphere. Carib Voxx was at the front line of each event, and this article will serve as a breakdown of a full week of activity:
I Love Soca: An Easter Monday Soca Celebration
The energy at the “I Love Soca” event was palpable from the moment attendees arrived. The music filled the air, bringing together soca enthusiasts from all walks of life. From seasoned veterans to newcomers to the soca scene, everyone came together to celebrate Caribbean culture, dance, and music in all its glory.
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the powerhouse performances by soca sensations Destra and Kerwin Du Bois. Destra, known as the Queen of Bacchanal, commanded the stage with her electrifying presence, captivating vocals, and a barrage of soca anthems. Celebrating her 25th year in the business, Destra showed what nearly three decades of dominance look like on stage, captivating the audience and leaving them dancing and singing along to every beat.
Shortly after Destra’s performance, Kerwin Du Bois, the dynamic soca artist and producer, took the stage by storm with his high-energy performance and undeniable charisma. With his signature blend of soca, dancehall, and EDM influences, Kerwin Du Bois had the crowd jumping and waving from start to finish. Together, Destra and Kerwin Du Bois delivered a masterful display of soca excellence, leaving attendees in awe of their talent and stage presence.
Illuminate
Illuminate brought an exciting mix of colors and carnival on the night of April 3rd. Upon entrance, patrons were gifted their “glow gear” to light up the night as they danced to the soca beats. These beats were managed by some of the most experienced and electric soca Disc Jocks in the Caribbean, along with a performance by Mical Teja from the entertainment truck.
The trucks weren’t just stages; Illuminate gave their patrons some practice for the road. Patrons marched around the UWI Bowl Mona as they would on the road Sunday, led by an experienced Road Marshal named Brush1. Brush1 guaranteed Illuminate a great time, guiding them into crossing the stage, making Illuminate the perfect road warm-up.
Rytz at UWI Bowl Mona: A Soca Extravaganza with Kes the Band
Midweek Soca celebration? No problem, especially when Kes the Band is involved. Soca enthusiasts were out in numbers on Thursday night to see Kes and friends perform at the UWI Bowl Mona on April 4th as they gathered for an electrifying night of celebration at “Rytz.”
Some of the best soca Disc Jocks from all over the Caribbean worked the stage leading up to the highlight of the night, Kes the Band. The Trinidadian soca sensation known for their infectious grooves and energetic stage presence had the crowd on their feet, moving to the rhythm of their hits. Apart from his classics, being in Jamaica, Kes celebrated the culture by singing songs like “Champion” by Buju Banton and the Byron Messia hit “Talibans.” He even brought Mical Teja on stage, whom he claimed to be the new soca royalty, for a unified performance, signified by tying flags together on stage. Kes the Band delivered a masterful performance that had the audience singing and dancing along from start to finish.
On the Road
The Yard Mas Carnival experience was very smooth. It was easy to enjoy yourself knowing they had everything covered for your complete carnival experience. Here are the highlights of jumping with Yard Mas on Sunday:
Yard Mas Village: The National Indoor Sports Center served as the ideal headquarters for the jump. This served as a starting point, breakpoint, and final destination of the march. The Yard Mas family was guaranteed a warm meal, beverages, and an air-conditioned resting place from the harsh heat. The village had many different sections installed for the revelers’ comfort and experience, including food stalls, refreshment stalls, massage, and recovery stalls via a partnership with the HEART/NSTA Trust, along with others.
Meals and Beverages: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all hot and there was a variety to choose from. Yard Mas and Mothers must be commended for this. Upon arriving in the morning, attendees could choose from a variety of breakfast sandwiches or porridges. By lunch, the choices increased, leading straight to dinner with ease in collecting. Beverages were abundant and at your fingertips as you held out your cup.
Security: Security was commendable, whether it was for the village or on the road. The extraction team was sharp and watchful, ensuring no unauthorized individuals entered the area, while village security prevented any invasions.
Entertainment: The entertainment was top-notch, with MCs not only on stage but also with the revelers on the road, interacting with everyone and making the experience very personal. The music was non-stop and creatively juggled by the DJs. Even during breaks under the cool air conditioning, the party never ended.
Route: The route was intentional, passing by the immaculate Campari Boulevard and through the streets of New Kingston. Some parts were narrow, which was beyond the band’s control, but their instructions and assistance in maneuvering each turn and passage made it a smooth experience.
Beach Fete
To round off a week of festivities, there was the Yard Mas Beach Fete at Fort Clarence Beach. The Beach Fete was as energetic as any other event before it, with an experienced performance by Soca star Skinny Fabulous, who is no stranger to Jamaican soil and its audience. Revelers made the most of the final celebration on Monday after Mas left everything in season and brought everything into the next.
Yard Mas has shown in their managing of such a grand experience their professionalism, preparedness, and dedication to their customers’ Mas experience. Therefore, Yard Mas has the Carib Voxx stamp of approval, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for next year.
