Caribbean Buzz
Kes The Band Hits The West Coast With Pure Fire!
Kes The Band kicked off its West Coast leg of the Liki Tiki Tour this week with a stirring showing on Wednesday September 28 at the House of Blues restaurant and bar in Anaheim, California.
Lead singer, Kees Dieffenthaller received a rousing cheer of approval as he invited the audience to rename the iconic “House of Blues” to the “House of Soca” during the performance.”Great to experience!” said Mixing Engineer, Dexter Simmons. He commented on the band’s IG page following the first show, adding, “Had an awesome time last night!”
Additional shows on the West Coast are scheduled for September 30th at The Music Box in San Diego, October 1st at Ace of Spades in Sacramento and October 2nd at Cornerstone in Berkeley.
These shows are carded to happen after thousands of Soca music-lovers came out recently to The Fillmore auditorium in Silver Springs, Maryland to experience the last East Coast stop of the ongoing Liki Tiki US Tour. Following successful stops and sets at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia and The Underground at Ink Block in Boston, opening act, L’shun “Jimmy October” Emmanuel and Haitian collaborator, Jonathan “JPerry” Perry joined Kes for a sold out show at The Fillmore.
“We played Maryland last night, which was insane!” Stated Emmanuel afterward. “Like for real, like.. Last night was really special. It was a sold out show and I was able to meet up with people and fans after, who were so enthusiastic and happy to see me for the first time and to experience us.
“Just seeing the energy of the people filling up a room and they’re all loving the music, our culture and loving the new things that we’re doing and it’s also me seeing Kes doing his thing at the same time too. That man is a legend 100%,” he said.
Emmanuel collaborated with Kes in 2020 on the hit single, “Magic” and revealed that he was thrilled to be included on the band’s current US Tour dates.
“Mind blown! For me, this is my first real tour – like series of shows back to back to back,” explained October, “which is a crazy experience for me – esp seeing people that are familiar with my music, being able to connect with people who are now being introduced to me and kinda being able to play my stuff for them, yeah, it’s really been overwhelming but in a good way. Definitely one of my favorite experiences thus far in my career, yeah.
“I’m really grateful for this opportunity to tour with Kes.” He added. “There’s so much to learn from him and his skill set and the band and how they do what they do, so to be able to open up the show with my own 20-minute set as well as perform Magic with them is definitely a blessing. Like in my head I’m still this guy from Grande, who’s all the way over here just sharing the gift that God gave me with as many people as possible…”
Aside from the actual artistes involved, Kes’ new management team has also expressed great satisfaction with the completion of the first leg of the tour and is excited about taking Soca to new spaces and places.
Manager, Damon DeGraff said, “The goal is to continuously expand how our music touches various regions and cultures and by doing this successfully and selling out these venues, we’re showing that our sound and culture can be engaging in venues where traditionally, soca music had never been heard.”
Caribbean Buzz
Trinidad and Tobago, First to Host Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, This September.
After three celebrated years at Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre, the Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) expands beyond the awards stage with the launch of the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, a destination celebration taking place September 18-20, 2026, in Trinidad & Tobago.
This year’s celebration unfolds under the theme, Sounds of the Caribbean, honoring the rhythms, voices, and cultural traditions that have shaped generations and continue to influence music around the world.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
The Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, marking a milestone moment as the celebration expands into the Caribbean region for the first time.
The Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience will transform CMA from a single-night awards ceremony into a multi-day celebration bringing together artists, fans, industry professionals, creators, tastemakers, media, and cultural leaders from across the Caribbean and around the world.
What’s In Store
The Elite Weekend Experience will feature a series of events celebrating music, culture, and community throughout the destination. Festivities will include an exclusive Welcome Reception, pre-show experiences, the Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards, the official after-party, a special steelpan concert presented by Stars and Steel, and additional programming designed to celebrate Trinidad & Tobago’s cultural influence. Additional programming, partnerships, performers, presenters, and special announcements will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The move to Trinidad & Tobago marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Caribbean Music Awards, while honoring the city where it all began. New York was the ideal birthplace for the Awards, home to one of the world’s largest and most influential Caribbean diaspora communities. It was there that the Caribbean Music Awards established its identity, built its audience, and proved there was a global appetite for a world-class celebration dedicated solely to Caribbean music and culture.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
Over the past three years, Brooklyn’s iconic Kings Theatre became more than just the home of the Caribbean Music Awards. It became the launchpad for a movement that united artists, industry leaders, fans, and cultures from across the Caribbean and beyond, under one roof. The energy, ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, and relentless hustle that define New York City helped shape the DNA of the Caribbean Music Awards, and that spirit will remain embedded in the brand no matter where it travels.
Now, with a strong foundation established, the Caribbean Music Awards begins the next phase of its evolution by bringing the celebration directly to the Caribbean. As the inaugural host destination for the Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, Trinidad & Tobago sets the stage for a long-term vision that will see the Awards partner with tourism boards and host destinations to spotlight a different Caribbean nation in future years. By rotating throughout the region, the Caribbean Music Awards aims to celebrate each destination’s unique culture, support tourism, create economic impact, and further strengthen the Caribbean’s creative economy while continuing to unite the global diaspora through music.
Majah Hype Returns, This Time With Nailah.
Bringing even more excitement to this year’s celebration, internationally celebrated Caribbean artiste, Nailah Blackman and acclaimed comedian, entertainer, and cultural personality Majah Hype will host the Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards, bringing their unique energy, charisma, and deep connection to Caribbean culture to the stage.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
For Majah Hype, the 2026 ceremony marks his fourth consecutive year hosting the Caribbean Music Awards, making him one of the longest-standing personalities connected to the celebration. Having witnessed the Awards grow from its early years at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre into a global platform for Caribbean excellence, Majah continues to bring the humor, passion, and cultural pride that have made him one of the Caribbean diaspora’s most beloved entertainers.
“Four years hosting the Caribbean Music Awards? Mi feel like dem haffi give me my own seat at this point!” said Majah Hype. “But seriously, being part of this journey from day one has been a blessing. I’ve watched this celebration grow, seen the incredible talent come through, and witnessed how much this moment means to our people. To see it expand from Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre to Trinidad & Tobago is something special. Caribbean culture is powerful, the talent is endless, and mi ready fi celebrate everybody who continues to carry our music and our culture to the world.”
For Nailah Blackman, this year’s ceremony represents a new chapter in her relationship with the Caribbean Music Awards. Having experienced the event as an attendee, performer, nominee, and winner, Nailah now steps into the role of host while continuing to be recognized as one of the leading voices in Caribbean music.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
“The Caribbean Music Awards has been a special part of my journey,” said Nailah Blackman. “I’ve experienced this celebration as a fan, as a performer, as a nominee, and as a winner, and now being able to step into the role of host is truly an honor. To do it in Trinidad, surrounded by our people and our culture, makes this moment even more meaningful. I’m excited to celebrate the incredible artists who continue to push Caribbean music forward.”
Since launching in 2023, the Caribbean Music Awards has grown into one of the premier platforms celebrating Caribbean musical excellence, honoring artists across Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Zess, Dennery, Gospel, and emerging Caribbean genres. Last year’s ceremony marked a historic milestone with its BET broadcast debut, further expanding the Awards’ reach and strengthening its position as a leading global celebration of Caribbean music.
Following the announcement of more than 250 nominees across more than 40 categories earlier this year, anticipation continues to build toward what promises to be one of the biggest Caribbean Music Awards celebrations yet. This September, the Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience will bring together the sounds, stories, and cultures that have defined generations of Caribbean creativity, inviting audiences from around the world to experience this year’s theme, Sounds of the Caribbean, from the heart of one of the region’s most influential cultural destinations.
Caribbean Buzz
Terri Lyons Expands. Artiste Shows Immense Creativity on New RC Mas Monday Wear.
There’s no box to be held in. Terri Lyons is proving that as she moves into the Monday Wear market, partnering with RC Mas ahead of Carnival 2027.
The reigning Calypso Monarch Queen of Trinidad and Tobago and multiple time Queen of Queens, on Thursday, revealed her creative ability in the mas making sector, sharing her design, ‘Purple Paradise’ – a carefully created design that’s all hers.
The entertainer told Ebuzztt she had the idea and went to the masterful, Kinaji Couture, admitting that Kinaji is a force in the market. “She does a lot of bathing suits and prototypes for bands locally, regionally and further abroad. I knew she could do it and she did execute it perfectly. I just added the flowers,” said Lyons.
In 2027, RC Mas will bring Mystical Garden to life and with the band’s theme considered, Lyons’ floral embellishment makes it abundantly clear that her creativity is disciplined and mindful. She shared her process exclusively with Ebuzztt, highlighting the time taken to design with pen and paper before sharing with Kinaji who brought it all together seamlessly. “This was a lot of work. I sat and drew it all out and I stuck every flower and the diamond studs myself,” said Terri, before adding, “I ain’t doing that again,” with a laugh. The artiste said she’ll have extra hands on board to assist in future.
