Ebuzz News
T&T Visual Artist AndyVenture Readies for First Solo Exhibition at the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago will host the inaugural solo exhibition of Trinidad-based visual artist and musician AndyVenture, known professionally as VENCHA. OVER YA HEAD opens on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 and runs through July 4, 2026. Admission is free and the public is invited to experience a body of work that deliberately resists easy interpretation — placing the viewer in direct contact with ideas that exceed ordinary perception.
OVER YA HEAD is a multidisciplinary exhibition spanning painting and visual narrative. The works explore perception, ascension, limitation and expanded states of human experience, presenting images that challenge fixed ways of seeing reality and imagine possibilities beyond ordinary existence.
Drawing from Einstein’s theory of relativity and mathematical concepts of higher-dimensional space, AndyVenture treats the exhibition as an invitation to encounter ideas that operate at the outer limits of human comprehension. The title itself is both provocation and promise – the work is not designed to be immediately understood, but to be genuinely felt.
Central to the exhibition is an evolving visual mythology: recurring figures known as Ahomi and Dem appear across paintings as anchors of a larger conceptual world that AndyVenture has been steadily constructing across his practice.“I want the audience to encounter something that sits outside of familiar understanding. There isn’t an expectation of immediate understanding. The experience is about confronting something that operates beyond what is easily grasped,” said Ventura.
A Little About The Artist.
AndyVenture (VENCHA), born Andre Allong, is a Trinidad-based visual artist and musician whose practice spans painting, music and multimedia expression. His work draws on graffiti art, hip hop and rapso lyricism, comic book art, science fiction and contemporary culture to create vibrant, conceptually layered works that move between the personal and the cosmic.
Visually, his work reflects the influence of legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby, whose expansive sense of scale and form shaped how AndyVenture approaches composition and impact, alongside local luminaries Leroy Clarke and Carlisle Chang, whose practices carry a strong sense of vision and cultural identity. He further developed his artistic foundation through the Visual Arts Certificate Programme at The University of the West Indies.
Conceptually, the work is rooted in a rejection of cycles of conflict and suffering that are routinely accepted as fixed features of human existence. In their place, AndyVenture imagines the possibility of an evolved human consciousness – one oriented towards perception, potential and transformation. One of the conceptual anchors running through his practice is the interplay between the words axis and access – a linguistic shift that reframes mathematical structure as a metaphor for perception itself and how different ways of seeing might open entirely different experiences of reality.
“I’m interested in the possibility that human perception and behaviour can evolve beyond those patterns. The work comes from a rejection of the cycles of conflict and suffering that are often accepted as part of human existence.” –AndyVenture (VENCHA)
Caribbean Buzz
Kes The Band’s ‘Roots, Rock, Soca’ Tour Concludes with Sold-Out International Success.
Kes the Band has officially concluded its highly acclaimed Roots, Rock, Soca Tour, marking another groundbreaking moment in the band’s remarkable journey. The international tour captivated audiences across the United Kingdom, Europe and North America – making history as the first Soca act to sell-out stadium shows in the United States and to sell out the RBC Amphitheater in Toronto, Canada with 16,000 fans.
The tour featured sold-out shows in major music cities such as London, Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York, and its final stop in Toronto – with thousands of fans gathering night after night to experience the signature sound, musicianship, and infectious energy that have made KestheBand one of the Caribbean’s most influential live acts.
The ‘Roots, Rock, Soca’ Tour became a celebration of culture, connection, and community. Each performance in the concert series showcased the band’s ability to transcend borders and generations, bringing together audiences from diverse backgrounds through music rooted in Caribbean identity. With energetic performances spanning storied venues such as Forest Hills Stadium in New York and The Bellwether in California, Kes the Band continues to cement its place in history as an enduring, generational force that bridges rhythms, unites audiences, and elevates the heartbeat of Caribbean culture in communities across global borders.
Led by charismatic frontman Kees Dieffenthaller, the band’s world-class lineup includes Dean Jameson drums, Jon Dieffenthaller on guitar, Riad Boochoon on bass, Mario Callender and Geiron Mangon keyboards, and Robert ‘Robbie Styles’ Persaud on DJ and Ableton. Together, they delivered dynamic performances that combined exceptional musicianship with the unmistakable spirit that has become synonymous with KestheBand.
Adding to the excitement throughout the tour were a number of memorable surprise guest appearances from some of soca’s most celebrated artists, including Coutain, Lady Lava, Barbados Soca legend Edwin Yearwood, Iwer George, London’s Haile of WSTRN, Haitian singer J Perry, and Ravi B. Their appearances created unforgettable moments for fans while highlighting the camaraderie and creative excellence that continue to define Caribbean music.
The overwhelming response to the tour underscores Kes the Band’s continued evolution from a beloved Caribbean band to a truly global cultural ambassador. Across every city, audiences embraced the music, creating an atmosphere that reflected the growing international appreciation for soca and Caribbean artistry.
Photo: Jono Hirst.
As the curtain closes on the Roots, Rock, Soca Tour, Kes the Band is already focused on the next chapter. The band will soon return to the studio to begin work on new music for an upcoming album, continuing its tradition of pushing creative boundaries while staying true to the sound that has resonated with fans around the world.
The momentum also continues for Kes the Band on stage over Labor Day Weekend as the iconic group takes the stage at the DC Jazz Festival (DCJF), one of the United States’ premier music festivals, taking place September 2–6, 2026. Following the band’s debut on NPR Tiny Desk in the capital of the United States earlier this year, the band continues to expand its reach and introduce Caribbean music to new audiences on some of the world’s most respected stages.
With decades of groundbreaking music, unforgettable live performances, and an unwavering commitment to cultural excellence, Kes the Band continues to redefine what’s possible for Caribbean artists on the global stage. The success of the Roots, Rock, Soca Tour is both a celebration of an extraordinary series of performances and a defining chapter in the band’s enduring legacy, setting the stage for an exciting new era of music and global performances.
Caribbean Buzz
Charly Black, Kevin Lyttle Release ‘Summer Banger’ Produced by Global Hitmaker, Walshy Fire.
Two of the Caribbean’s most legendary hitmakers have joined forces for what is shaping up to be one of the Caribbean’s biggest records of the year.
Dancehall superstar Charly Black, whose global smash “Gyal You A Party Animal” has amassed more than one billion streams worldwide, joins forces with St. Vincent Soca hit maker, Kevin Lyttle, whose timeless international hit “Turn Me On” has generated hundreds of millions of streams. That single remains one of the most recognizable Caribbean songs ever recorded.
The single, “Island Ting,” unites the music of Jamaica and St. Vincent & The Grenadines, celebrating the beauty, confidence, and irresistible energy of island women. More than just a song, “Island Ting” is a celebration of the Caribbean, its vibrant diaspora, and everyone around the world who embraces the region’s unmatched culture, music, and love of celebration.
Blending irresistible Dancehall and Soca influences with an unmistakable tropical vibe, the record is poised to become the soundtrack of the summer, says a media release issued.
Produced by well known international producer, Walshy Fire, with the instrumental crafted by acclaimed producer Jason Julian, “Island Ting” is already making waves across the streaming landscape. The single has secured significant editorial playlist support from Apple Music and Spotify, with Spotify further backing the release through premium placement on its coveted Mobile Home Banner – one of the platform’s most prominent promotional spaces for new music.
Industry insiders are already tipping “Island Ting” as one of the Caribbean’s defining songs of the summer, with momentum expected to carry through Notting Hill Carnival, into Trinidad Carnival 2027, and beyond. From beach parties and festivals to clubs, radio, and playlists around the world, the record has all the ingredients of a timeless Caribbean anthem.
“Island Ting” is available now on all major streaming and digital platforms.
