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Mere days after concluding their highly impactful Liki Tiki Tour in Miami, Florida, the #1 trending Soca band, KES has 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 be sharing big love at a venue to be announced in the capital city of Port-of-Spain. However, before Trinidad Carnival kicks in its world-famous gear, KES is scheduled to make notable appearances at the Tobago Music, Arts and Culture (TOMAC) Festival 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) to premiere their new collaboration during the first-ever Tipsy Music Festival held at the Bayfront Park in Miami, Florida.
Headlined by Afrobeats megastar, Burna Boy, the Tipsy Music Festival attracted thousands to downtown Miami and included performances by Skinny Fabulous from St Vincent, Hypasounds from Barbados, as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s own, Machel Montano: whose high-energy, nostalgic set included many of his Soca classics, as well as appearances from Voice, Farmer Nappy and Vincentian singer/songwriter, Problem Child.
Kees Dieffenthaller
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 amazed by this last achievement especially, the band issued 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 that we all want to see for the genre. We will continue to push the boundaries furthering our mission to spread Soca to every corner of the world. Big love and respect to J Perry, Micheal Brun, Neel Dwala, Maya Cozier and her team; Ineffable Records, our management Evan Vogel and Damon DeGraff, as well as our whole musical family for all making this important milestone a reality. Of course, we cannot 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 move forward.”
Shaggy
TOMAC is a five-day Afro-Tobago experience in music, performance, parades, food, exhibits, seminars and shops, which begins with a Ceremonial Opening on Sunday, October 23 and runs through to the night of Thursday October 27. Staged on the picturesque Plymouth Park Grounds, the Festival will pay homage to living legend Lord Papa Nelson and will feature two marquis concerts: On Monday October 24, Kes will headline the Lord Nelson Tribute Concert and on Thursday October 27, international megastar, Burna Boy will close out the Festival with a riveting Afro-Beats musical celebration.
The World Creole Music Festival in Dominica features the creole culture of creole-speaking countries in the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. It seeks to augment the creole month festivities and Independence celebrations held in October and boost visitor arrivals to the island. The festival features various musical genres, including reggae, zouk, kompa, cadence, bouyon, salsa, dancehall, meringue and soukous zydeco.
Kees, left, and Haitian singer, JPerry, perform their hit song, Liki Tiki, at One Fete in Florida 2022. The cross Caribbean collab has been selected for Grammy consideration in the category of Best Global Music Performance.
The three nights of pulsating rhythms will be held from October 28 to 30 and include a diverse cast of entertainers, 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, whilst Patrice Roberts (with the ATeam band) and Kes the Band will be bringing Soca from Trinidad and Tobago.
With Trinidad Carnival looming on the horizon, it’s clear that Soca music is on the rise within the global music markets and our artisans are working assiduously toward major breakthroughs, acclaim and notoriety for the genre, the island and the region as a whole.
For further information: kestheband.com.