AFTER a two-year hiatus, Scott Dunn — managing director of Dream Entertainment — is pleased with the return of Xodus carnival events. On Sunday, ‘Xodus Remedy’ was held at the National Stadium to kick off the band’s 2022 carnival season.

“I’m extremely happy with last night’s event. The event was fun, safe, and executed to perfection. Soca lovers got their remedy for the tabanca,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Monday morning.

Tabanca refers to the nostalgic feeling of missing carnival and other soca-related events.

The drinks-inclusive event saw music provided by DJs Jus Jay from Barbados, Kurt Riley, and Coppershot from Jamaica.

There was also a mini road march aspect to close off the night, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the hundreds of patrons who could be seen frolicking in the streets of Kingston, donned in carnival wear as the disc jockeys played a slew of older and more recent soca songs, and even incorporated dancehall.

Dunn added that corporate partners helped to execute the event.

“In the past we’ve done Xodus Remedy as a small pop-up event. This was a major event with big sponsors like Supreme Ventures, Smirnoff, Red Bull, and Grace on board. These partners helped us to stage our first road march in three years,” he said.

In late March, Kamal Bankay, co-chair of the umbrella group Carnival in Jamaica (CIJ) National Stakeholders Committee, announced that the 2022 carnival season will be in full swing by July 1, and the curtains will be drawn on July 10 with Jamaica Road March.

In the interim, Dunn said Xodus will be hosting several ‘warm-up’ events.

“We’ll do a few pop-ups — Xodus Remedy, Montego Bay; Xodus Tailgate, July 7; Xodus Jouvert, July 8, with everything culminating when the biggest band hits the road for Xodus Road March on July 10,” he said.

When asked if he anticipates the same turnout on July 10 as the last road march in 2019, he responded: “We are almost sold-out of costumes.”

The patrons at Xodus Remedy were visibly happy to return to revelry. Marketing Assistant Gary Thompson is eager for the big day in July.

“I will definitely be jumping with Xodus. After so long, we missed being able to come together like this. I’m already in the gym trying to shape up for road march,” he told the Observer.

Secretary Patricia Summer shared similar sentiments.

“Xodus always finds the right formula for me. My friends are flying out from Miami for carnival, and I’m so excited,” she said.