Sweet Soca fun at Spanish Court

For their latest pop-up on Valentine’s Day, Xaymaca International took the vibe in a completely different direction. Ditching the usual outdoor lawn spaces that require worn-in sneakers and sandals for all the gyrating set to take place, Sweet Soca took their patronage into the Spanish Court (Worthington) for a boogie-down in air conditioning, on laminate floors.

It was a club vibe.

With complimentary condoms, candies and champagne flutes at the door – along with a flowery, heart-shaped photo-op backdrop, it was clear that Xaymaca organisers wanted this pop-up to be a little special. But they made it more clearer by the suggested dress code for the event.

Xaymaca executive Andrew Bellamy told The Gleaner that the dress code was a deliberate attempt to encourage a new feeling with Xaymacans – because with it being Valentine’s Day, they thought both women and men would want to feel special.

They were right. Many patrons turned out, ditching the customary soca footwear of worn-in sneakers and flats.

The ladies came out strapped and heeled. With button-ups and boat shoes abounding, male Xaymacans came out dressed to impress. As it turned out, what the Xaymacans wore didn’t change the usual high-energy vibe the pop-ups have successfully reinvigorated time and time again.

“The vibe is going to be a bit more lovey-dovey than normal. Me and Richie RAS spoke earlier and we seh we ah guh drop a love song segment,” emcee Marlon Musique excitedly told The Gleaner. Along with the love song segment, there were also dancehall segments – that pulled all the auditioning Ravers and affiliates out of the laminate woodwork and to the front of the stage, in a scene that could have been copied and pasted into a musical.

As advertised, Konshens was invited to take the stage, in a set that had the girls ‘bubbling’ and couples pairing off. Sweet Soca also pulled appearances in the audience, from dancehall stars Popcaan and Bounty Killer.

kimberley.small@gleanerjm.com