Soca sensation Kes staged his fourth annual IzWe Festival for over 15,000 fans during Trinidad Carnival yesterday, highlighting how popular the genre has become to live audiences both in the Caribbean and in the U.S.
First popularized by Trinidadian singer Lord Shorty in the late 1970s and 1980s, the genre known as the “Soul of Calypso” influenced by African and East Indian rhythms has been embraced by fans of charismatic singer and performer Kees Dieffenthaller, who also goes by Kes and is the lead singer of Kes the band.
Kes started IzWe in 2021 as a scaled-down and socially distanced live concert series during the Covid-19 pandemic. The concept at its core is a celebration of the essence of the Caribbean people and culture. Today, IzWe is a full-fledged festival event that features the Concert Village, Courtyard and Garden patron areas, which frame the musical showcases displayed on the Bandstand and the main stage.
“IzWe is a vibrant festival, comprising a band stage, main stage, village, and market area, designed to unite people in one space to celebrate soca music. IzWe tells a carnival love story, capturing the essence of why we cherish this electrifying celebration” KES tells Billboard.
During this year’s festival, KES announced the upcoming release of his new album Man With No Door, on March 29 from Ineffable Records, which he hopes will take soca music to new heights and showcase its global appeal to audiences around the world.
“We’re on a journey to connect emotionally with our fans and share the magic of our music,” KES said, noting he looks forward to bridging the gap between soca enthusiasts, both seasoned and new, highlighting the band’s commitment to delivering a transformative musical experience.
Presave Kes’ new album Man With No Door here.