Double dose of soca
SOCA fans got an added treat at Bacchanal Fridays held at Mas Camp in St Andrew last Friday night. In addition to billed disc jocks Ryan Sayeed and Lantern MD, patrons got to enjoy brief stints from Patrick Alexis of Nuphoric, and DJ Sanjay.
This was Bacchanal’s second staging in its six-week party series.
Hypeman Alexis, who said he was just passing through, came on during Sayeed’s set. His signature style was enough to add to the energy of the evening. Sanjay would join the act later that night.
“They added some extra hype to the situation. It was great,” Sayeed told the Jamaica Observer.
Not that the two billed ‘jocks’ needed any help, as they kept the audience entertained. Sayeed, who has been busy for the carnival season in Trinidad, was welcomed with open arms with his long list of brand new soca hits. He listed Big Bad Soca by Bunji Garlin and Sekon Sta’s Kings and Queens among his personal favourites for the 2017 season.
“It’s great to be back in Jamaica as the people are very open to all sorts of music,” said Sayeed. “I’ll be back in Jamaica for Easter weekend to enjoy carnival.”
During his set, Lantern MD added some dancehall flavour while keeping the flow going.
For patrons, the venue was rearranged into a very intimate setting, with the DJ booth in a large, centralised tower with the bar at its base.
“The night went great. Normally, this is our smallest night, but a very good turnout in all,” said Michael Ammar Jnr, a director of Bacchanal Jamaica, about the event. The director promised an even more adventurous layout this Friday.
“It’s going to be Bacchanal Beach as we’re going to turn the venue into a beach party,” he said.