“SOAKING wet, up in every fete,” were the lyrics many patrons were reminded of when the rain came down over the Marriott parking lot during the recently held ‘Stinging Nettles’ concert which was headlined by Trinidadian Soca star, Kes.
‘Stinging Nettles’ has made its name as the quintessential Soca show for Guyana Carnival.
This year’s concert was held on Independence Eve, May 25, and stretched into the wee hours of Independence morning.
With a star-studded line-up, which included Guyanese songstress, Timeka Marshall and Barbadian sensation, Rupee, the show was hailed as a must-go for soca lovers around the country.
Bringing a feeling of nostalgia to the show, Rupee came on belting out hits like, “If I Can’t Have You” and “Insomnia” which the crowd sang word for word as they gyrated to the sweet sounds that filled the air.
In the middle of his set, Rupee paused to reflect on the devastating fire that occurred in Region Eight just days prior to the concert. He used the opportunity to encourage fete goers to continue to spread love, positivity and light, while adding that the show was the perfect opportunity to lift the spirit of Guyanese during this difficult time.
He then sang one of his hits, “You never know” as he belted out the words which encouraged patrons to give thanks and to enjoy the good times.
As the night went on, headliner Kes burst onto the stage in pomp and flare to his 2023 soca hit, “Fuh Spite”.
The crowd as was known in previous years of the show, immediately came to life as Kes went through his set list of groovy hits, putting patrons in a trance as they sang along to the music.
As was expected, heat filled the packed venue as attendees kept their eyes focused on the stage. Midway through his set, just after 01:00 hours, a burst of rain came from the cloudy sky, cooling the atmosphere.
The rain did not scare some patrons as they continued to enjoy the show dripping from head to toe, while others who came prepared, pulled out their umbrellas. From all appearances, the rain brought extra energy to the attendees.
Though soaked, patrons helped Kes sing hits like “Endless Summer,” “Hello” and “Liki Tiki” during which featured singer, J. Perry out of Haiti, joined him on stage to perform in Guyana for the first time.
As has become a norm for Kes whenever he performs in Guyana, he expressed his love for his fans and for the country as he held up the Golden Arrowhead during a segment of his performance.
One lucky fan was even given an opportunity to sing on stage with the “Jub Jub” singer and helped him sing his track “Workout” which featured Nailah Blackman. The young woman who was called on stage and sang Nailah’s part of the song was given a stamp of approval by Kes and the crowd.
The concert truly embodied the lyrics of one of Kes’ 2023 hits, “Mental Day” as it provided some relief and a much-needed escape from the terrifying headlines that have been dominating the media.
It has certainly cemented itself as one of the most anticipated annual shows for Soca lovers in Guyana.
