QUEEN of Bacchanal Destra christened the new home of Beach J’Ouvert in front of a massive crowd at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in Priory, St Ann, last Saturday.

“I love the new location; the ambiance is amazing and the people had a great time. I thought that because we had more space we would not have people bunched up, but we had more people this year than last year.

It’s not going to stop, it keeps getting bigger,” Destra told the Jamaica Observer.

The love between Destra and her Jamaican fans was mutual as she took to the stage outfitted in red, gold, green, and black, while singing a reggae remix of Bonnie & Clyde.

Once settled in, she reeled off hit after hit including Dip ‘n’ Ride, Feel Like Wukkin, and I Dare You. The energy continued as she performed what she describes as her Power Soca Set.

“It’s sentimental when I think about it. I’ve been coming here since 2001 and I’ve worked hard to make Jamaicans understand me and love me,” she said.

Not willing to stop at her own extensive catalogue of songs, such as Max It Up, Just A Little Bit, and Waistline Killer, she managed to drop in a few soca staples, including JW & Blaze’s Palance.

Three lucky fans managed to join her onstage, resulting in a dance-off.

Later in her set she was joined by Farmer Nappy for their duet, which produced another impressive moment in her performance as the pair added a reggae interlude to their soca song, Technically.

Destra worked in Tanya Stephens’ It’s A Pity, while Farmer Nappy did the same with Gregory Isaacs’s Night Nurse, much to the large crowd’s delight.

“It was all Destra’s idea. I couldn’t get here in time for show rehearsal because I was out of the country. When I got here she told me we’re going to do a little reggae thing, and when I heard it I said wow,” Farmer Nappy explained.

He was then encouraged to stay on stage for a small run of his own soca hits. The sizeable audience ate up In Trouble, Stranger and Big People Party.

Joining Destra and making his Jamaica debut was Trinidadian reggae artiste- turned-soca act Kerry Johns with his 2017 hit Drink King, a song that captured the moment to perfection.

“I’m here in Jamaica, which I always wanted to be, but strangely with a soca song, and I’m loving the vibe,” he said. Destra then closed off the evening with her fans singing along to her mega-hit Lucy.