While the country was under COVID-19 restrictions, singer Faith Callender provided much needed relief from the monotony of everyday life with her online show Soca Lockdown.
However, the lifting of restrictions on gatherings allowed fans to enjoy a shift from the Instagram platform to a full-fledged stage production for the first time on Friday night.
Traditionally, the Kadooment Day weekend would have been packed with events stretched across the length and breadth of the island. But with the cancellation of the festival there has been little to do, making Soca Lockdown even more appealing. Throngs of party-seekers trekked to St. Lawrence Gap in hopes of getting their appetite for soca satisfied.
A long line snaked outside McBrides as patrons waited patiently to gain access into the venue. Attendees were not disappointed as each artiste performed many of their hit songs and patrons rewarded them by singing along at the top of their voices.
With the massive turnout, the temperature was high as attendees used every vantage point to get a good view of the stage. Budding soca singer Chrissy D was the first act on stage. She assured that she would not be missing any event next Crop Over with her release, Next Year. She was followed by Altek and Cherish helping to set the tone with Bring Da Vibes. Nikita impressed with Flight, Same Way, and Tequila.
Peter Ram, looking crisp in all white, gave the audience a taste of some new material with his new track Elbow on the Inside Out Riddim. He enlisted fellow artiste, Mara Rose, who was up to the task of showing that she could follow the song’s commands. Faith was not to be left out; she too came to show her moves on the song. Lil Rick started with his 2020 release, Get Low, before adding some older favourites from his repertoire.
Bashment soca aficionados got their fix from Scrilla singing Gyal Drop and Wood. Walkes was also dynamic with Arch and Bend, Champions of Colour, I Waan Meet Meat and Hickles of Life.
Leadpipe turned it into a karaoke session with Sometime before he launched into Shackle Out, Ah Feeling and Condense. Making a brief appearance was sweet-singing Shaquille performing Darlin’ and Own Ting.
Soca royalty touched down with Alison Hinds, also representing for the ladies. Among the songs she performed were Togetherness, Ragamuffin, Iron Bazodee, Faluma and West Indian. Host of the event, Infamous HD, also got in on the action showing his vocal skills.
2020 has been a year of transformation for Faith and fans are enjoying the metamorphosis.
Emerging with much fanfare as the closing act, she was eye-catching, donning her thigh-high, neon, snake print boots and matching waist bag which popped against her figure-hugging black ensemble.
The lady of the hour did not come to play as she teased with Don’t Break Yet, the song which has earned her a place in the ongoing People’s Monarch competition. Her set included her soca tracks ManGo, Refill and Werk. Her dub segment was especially hyped and well received.
Faith’s session held two surprises. The first of which was Jus D, pleasantly shocking her as he seized her mic and performed his own hit Manager, followed by his duet with Faith, Sweet Like Sugar.
The other artiste making an appearance was Bashment Soca artiste Mole. He tantalised the ladies with Sweeter Than Sweet and a few of his risqué songs. The audience enjoyed when he called out Faith to dance to his hit song Breathe.
Many artistes came out just to support the show. Faith had the support of her fellow female artistes as Nikita and Mahalia, lead singer for 2Mile Hill, cheered her on stage-side.
Patrons were dripping sweat when the show closed around 4 a.m. (STT)
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