Just days after wrapping up their highly influential Liki Tiki Tour in Miami, Florida, the #1 trending Soca band, KES have announced the official date for their 2023 Carnival concert and cultural extravaganza titled IzWe. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, the band of brothers will share the big love at a venue to be announced in the capital Port-of-Spain. However, before the Trinidad Carnival begins with its world-famous costumes, KES is scheduled to make notable appearances at the Tobago Festival of Music, Arts and Culture (TOMAC) and the World Creole Festival in Dominica.
Just last weekend, October 8-9, Grammy Award-winning, Diamond-selling, Jamaican superstar Shaggy made a special guest appearance and brought out soca star Kees Dieffenthaller (Kes) for the premiere of their collaboration new during the first Tipsy. Music festival held at Bayfront Park in Miami, Florida.
Headlined by Afrobeats megastar Burna Boy, the Tipsy Music Festival drew thousands to downtown Miami and included performances from St Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous, Barbados’ Hypasounds, as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s Machel Montano: high-energy set and whose nostalgic set included many of his Soca classics, as well as appearances from the Voice, Farmer Nappy and Vincentian singer/songwriter Problem Child.
Kees Dieffenthaler
Innis Francis
In the midst of all this live performance action, Kes’ hit collaboration with Haitian producer Michael Brun and singer/songwriter Jonathan JPerry Perry received Grammy consideration from the Recording Academy in the category of Best Global Music Performance.
Still in awe of this latest achievement in particular, the group released the following statement early on the morning of October 14:
“We are very grateful to share this moment with everyone. This is a positive step in the direction we all want to see for this genre. We will continue to push the boundaries furthering our mission to spread Soca to every corner of the world. Much love and respect to J Perry, Micheal Brun, Neel Dwala, Maya Cozier and her team; Ineffable Records, our management Evan Vogel and Damon DeGraff, and our entire musical family for everyone making this important milestone a reality. Of course, we can’t forget all the supporters, fans, lovers of the band and the people of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominica, Haiti, Belize and the entire Caribbean region, for always giving us that support and that energy to moved. forward.”
Shaggy
TOMAC is a five-day Afro-Tobago experience of music, performance, parades, food, exhibitions, workshops and shops, which begins with a ceremonial opening on Sunday, October 23 and runs through the night of Thursday, October 27. Staged in the picturesque Plymouth Park Grounds, the Festival will pay tribute to the living legend Lord Pope Nelson and feature two concerts by the Marquis: On Monday 24 October, Kes will headline the Lord Nelson Tribute Concert and on Thursday 27 October, international megastar, Burna Boy will close. Festival with a catchy Afro-Beats music party.
The World Creole Music Festival in Dominica showcases the Creole culture of Creole-speaking countries in the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. He wants to add Creole Month celebrations and Independence celebrations held in October and boost visitor arrivals to the island. The festival features various genres of music, including reggae, zouk, kompa, cadence, bouyon, salsa, dancehall, meringue and soukous zydeco.
Kees, left, and Haitian singer JPerry perform their hit single, Liki Tiki, at One Fete in Florida 2022. The Caribbean collaboration has been selected for Grammy consideration in the category of Best Global Music Performance.
The three nights of pulsating beats will be held from October 28-30 and feature a diverse cast of artists including: from Dominica: Colton T, The Original WCK, First Serenade, Reo, Carlyn XP, Signal Band, Asa Bantan, Triple Kay International, Midnight Groovers and Extacy. From the French-speaking Caribbean: Chire Lakay, Enposib, Admiral T and Kadilac and Bedjine.
Bringing Reggae and Dancehall music from Jamaica are none other than Christopher Martin, Shenseea, Sizzla and Dexta Daps, while Patrice Roberts (with the ATeam) and Kes the Band will bring Soca from Trinidad and Tobago.
With the Trinidad Carnival looming on the horizon, it is clear that Soca music is on the rise within the world music markets and our artisans are working hard towards great advancements, recognition and fame for the genre, the island and the region as a whole.
For more information: kestheband.com.
