ST ANDREW, Jamaica – Organisers promised another top-notch affair as Rum For Breakfast (RFB) returned to the Hope Zoo last Saturday and by the smiles plastered across hundreds of faces as they partied the morning away, they delivered just that.

In its first staging since June 2019, Rum For Breakfast pulled out all the stops, no doubt trying to transport patrons back to pre-pandemic times when they would fete without fear. The music, the food, the weather, the vibes – all created the perfect soca atmosphere for which patrons were anxious.

Selectors, Franco Bloodline, Matt Camps and Tyler Chung, had the crowd in a relentless chokehold as they served up just the right dose of soca goodness. Accompanied by deejays, Patrick the Hypeman, Cyclone, Brush One and Marlon Musiq, the entertainment gave what it was supposed to give.

Soca favourites from the likes of Machel Montana, Destra, Mr Killa, Skinny Fabulous, the late Blaxx, had partygoers dancing up a sweat inside Hope Zoo. The party was so intense that not even the high-powered fans and sprinklers scattered across the venue were enough to cool down excited attendees. Some were so into the moment that the floor could no longer contain them. They proceeded to climb atop speaker boxes and stage railings to complete some bold dance moves, gyrating their hips to the sounds of some sweet, sweet, soca songs.

Michael Ammar Jr, co-director of event organisers Bacchanal Jamaica, hosts of Rum For Breakfast, told the OBSERVER ONLINE that having been inside for three years, his team wanted to use the event to erase the lockdown feeling.

“This was one of the best RFB’s we’ve ever had and it wasn’t just about numbers, it was about the vibe. People were just excited to finally be outside in this setting again and they just had fun,” he said. “We had everybody here from 18-70 and everybody just jumped, ate, drank and vibed. It was just a great party.”

“We had RFB in the summer of 2019 so this staging is three years from that date and I think people were just dying to come out and experience Bacchanal again,” he added.

Speaking of an experience, the all-inclusive early-morning event had everything a breakfast party required. From the usual morning delicacies including ackee and saltfish, pancakes and eggs and the traditional oats porridge to brunch delights such as creamy alfredo chicken pasta, BBQ fish, curried goat, lasagna and more; there was no running short of something to snack on in between dances.

As the annual Road March experience nears, Ammar Jr is adamant that Rum For Breakfast gave revellers who will be joining the Bacchanal band, a taste of what is to expect on the streets of Kingston come July 10.

“We are pulling out all the stops to be as fun, premium and safe as possible. Those are our three main things. We want you to be safe, comfortable, we want the event to be super premium and more than anything else, we want you to have a good time,” he said.