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Kees says Kes is deliberately taking soca into markets where audiences may have little previous exposure to the genre, pointing to sold-out performances in parts of Europe as evidence of its potential reach. He said the band’s recent European dates included France, Belgium and Amsterdam, with Paris selling out and Amsterdam selling out on both occasions. According to Kees, crowds at several shows were roughly split between Caribbean people and other concertgoers, with diaspora fans bringing friends to experience the music. He described Belgium as one of the biggest surprises of the tour. Kes had selected a smaller venue because the team was uncertain about demand, but Kees said the energy inside became one of the standout moments of the entire tour. The experience reinforced what he described as the band’s wider mission to introduce soca to people who may recognise its energy before they even know the genre’s name. Kees said reaching those audiences will require sacrifice, unfamiliar routes and performances in places where soca artists have not traditionally focused, but argued that such work is necessary if the genre is to expand globally.
Kees says Kes is deliberately taking soca into markets where audiences may have little previous exposure to the genre, pointing to sold-out performances in parts of Europe as evidence of its potential reach.
He said the band’s recent European dates included France, Belgium and Amsterdam, with Paris selling out and Amsterdam selling out on both occasions.
According to Kees, crowds at several shows were roughly split between Caribbean people and other concertgoers, with diaspora fans bringing friends to experience the music.
He described Belgium as one of the biggest surprises of the tour. Kes had selected a smaller venue because the team was uncertain about demand, but Kees said the energy inside became one of the standout moments of the entire tour.
The experience reinforced what he described as the band’s wider mission to introduce soca to people who may recognise its energy before they even know the genre’s name.
Kees said reaching those audiences will require sacrifice, unfamiliar routes and performances in places where soca artists have not traditionally focused, but argued that such work is necessary if the genre is to expand globally.
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