Kes & Machel ignite Guyana Carnival with 2 nights of pure Soca magic

It was two epic nights for Soca fanatics, with the Guyana Carnival team serving up high-energy, memorable shows headlined by Soca royalty Kes the Band at Eldorado Stinginettles and the renowned Machel Montano at the Stink and Dutty J’ouvert. Both concerts treated Guyanese patrons and international Carnival followers to unforgettable performances of the highest standard, a true taste of Carnival from Trinidad and Tobago.
Crucially, top-tier Guyanese artists such as Omiah Hall, Calvin Burnette, Adrian Dutchin, Tony Cutz, Vicadi, and AW Lyrical were all given the opportunity to share the stage with the Soca legends, putting local star qualities on full display.
Kes the Band’s return to the stage sent the open-air crowd at the Marriott parking lot into a frenzy. From backstage, the lead singer teased patrons with an interlude to his banger, “Rum and Coca-Cola”, and high in anticipation, patrons let loose, transforming the atmosphere into a sea of waving flags.
Before appearing on stage to an electrifying uproar from the anxious crowd and gold confetti as he belted out the first verse of “Rum and Coca-Cola”, Kees Dieffenthaller warmly wished Guyana a happy independence.
Belting out hit after hit, flawlessly and with precision, Dieffenthaller beautifully justified why he is a staple on the Guyana Carnival calendar. Fresh off his seventh consecutive headlining act at Eldorado Stinginettles, his energetic, soulful performance has left fans, old and new, wishing for an immediate repeat.
Singing over the roaring crowd, Dieffenthaller simultaneously put on a show for the ladies from the edge of the stage as they fully immersed themselves in the performance.
“It’s so good to be home,” Dieffenthaller said as he transitioned to his second song, “Medicine”, which was timely as patrons lived for the lyrics, “You see when the Soca calls, it gives me powers to jam till morning.”
The setlist, curated from the band’s journey through their musical years and legendary catalogue, blended timeless classics with modern fete anthems: “Masterpiece”, “Carnival”, “Mental Day”, “Where yuh From”, “Fallin”, “Miracle”, “Cocoa Tea”, and the iconic “Wotless”, among others. Fans immediately sang along to every single word, creating a massive echo that resonated throughout the city. “Fallin” and “Wotless” ignited many fans’ nostalgic memories as they flashed back to the band’s early days.
The groovy Soca anthems evoked somatosensory responses to the rhythm of the songs, keeping waistlines moving and hands in the air, as the band’s live performance supported the soulful vocals of their frontman. Approximately 20 minutes into the high-energy performance, the atmosphere cooled as Dieffenthaller belted out soulful hits like “2024 Tack Back” and “2016 Workout”, allowing patrons to mellow with their partners and connect with the lyrics of the songs.
Dieffenthaller spared no opportunity to get close to his loyal subjects, the ladies. He routinely dropped low and connected with the superfans, singing directly to them and holding their hands, creating a moment they will forever cherish.
Minutes later, he returned to the power grooves with his signature “Hello”, as the patrons sang word for word along with him.
The hour-long performance ended with patrons begging for his return to the stage, to which he obliged. He turned to the stage for an additional 10 minutes with the classic “Savannah Grass”, for which patrons were well pleased.
Kes delivered the track with soul and grace, connecting Guyanese to a Trinidadian-style carnival.
His performance has truly left a lasting memory etched in the minds of patrons. Some fans often spoke of the Kes experience as something deeper than just a performance. It’s described as near-spiritual, explaining that once immersed in the soulful rhythms of the band, electrifying energy, and emotions blend so powerfully that there was no resisting the emotional connection created between the band and its audience. As the fun continued over the weekend, King of Soca Machel Montano delivered a super-energetic performance, taking the Guyana National Stadium by an untamed storm for more than an hour.
Taking the stage at 15:00h on Saturday, accompanied by his eccentric dancers, he led with his 2026 Road March, “Encore”, followed by his 2025 hit, “Pardy”.
Upon touching the stage, Montano spared not a second as he “gave them performance”, setting the atmosphere and energy for J’ouvert morning.
Throughout his performance, hits like “Ah Boss” shook the stadium speakers and moved the waistlines of patrons as they let go and pumped their fists.
The parking lot of the Guyana National Stadium came alive as he masterfully transitioned through historic hits like “Happiest Man Alive”, “Pop ah Bottle”, “Stage”, “Mr Fete”, “Fast Wine”, “Getting on Bad”, among others.
The Soca King did not hold back to energise the thousands in attendance. He was joined by several Guyanese artistes, including Carlvin Burnette, Jumo Primo, Granny Ivelaw and reigning Soca Monarch, Adrian Dutchin.
These high-stakes events form part of Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations. The action continued on Saturday evening with the highly anticipated “Baderation” concert featuring Jamaican dancehall sensation Alkaline and other acts.