Kes the Band brought infectious groovy soca vibes to Brixton’s O2 Academy
"The room is feeling hot like Trinidad" — Kes
Trinidadian soca artist Kes brought his Roots, Rock, Soca Tour to Brixton’s O2 Academy on Saturday night — making history as the first soca artist to headline one of London's most iconic venues.
Kes opened strong with Rum & Coca-Cola and the energy in the room was immediate.
As Kes hit the stage, it was just so great to see everyone cheering and beaming with pride — smiles everywhere, singing every word, dancing and jumping about the place from the very first beat. It's a song about dancing with a beautiful woman all night, soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying every second — and that is exactly what the crowd were doing.
Looking around the room, you could see Caribbean flags representing Guyana, Montserrat, St. Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados — and, naturally, a sea of Trinidadian flags. People from 18 to their 70s, all together, all celebrating. That cross-generational pull says everything about the reach and resonance of Kes' music.
This was my fifth time seeing Kes — having previously caught him twice at Troxy London and a handful of times in the Caribbean — and he is one of my favourite people to see live. But watching him perform here, in this room, on this night, felt different. It felt like a milestone. There was a moment where I felt genuinely emotional just watching him — taking in what he and his band have achieved and seeing it all play out in front of me. What got me most was his smile. He has this infectious smile that never leaves his face when he performs — he is someone who radiates happiness, the kind where you feel it too just by being in the same room. You get the sense that he genuinely feels joy when the people around him are happy, and that is something I find really special about him as an artist. It is something that stays with you long after the show is over.
The set drew from across his catalogue. Personal highlights included Take Back, Love It and Just A Taste — three songs that produce an almost involuntary joy; the kind where, just for a moment, you forget everyone else around you and get completely lost in your own energy. Hello, one of the songs that first brought his music to wider audiences, was a massive moment — a woman standing next to me said "this song never gets old," and she was absolutely right.
A standout section came when Kes dropped No Sweetness from the Big Links Riddim, the beat hitting with a force that rippled visibly through the crowd. He then rolled into other cuts from the riddim — Good Spirits by Full Blown and The Greatest Bend Over (Take It Easy) by Yung Bredda — showcasing his consistent desire to shine a light on fellow artists, whether they're in the room or not. It was in moments like these that the band really came into their own — Hans Dieffenthaller on drums, Jon Dieffenthaller on guitar, Riad Boochoon on bass, Mario Callender and Geiron Mang on keyboards, and Robbie Persaud on DJ and samples, with Dean James providing additional drum support.
What I enjoy most about this band in particular is how they feel like a family on stage — fully in the moment, absorbed in every song, and those smiles say it all. It is always a pleasure getting to see them perform, not just because of Kes, but because the band are such an important part of this — they are not known as Kes the Band for nothing. Each member showcases their craft so well, supporting every track in a way that adds a real depth to the music — something you can only truly appreciate when you see it live.
During the set Kes shifted gears into reggae and dancehall territory — something I'd seen him do on the beach in Anguilla last year — and it was a joy to witness. One of the songs he sang was Buju Banton's classic Champion — and I've noticed that is one of the songs he loves to sing when he performs. In those moments you see a man completely in his element, savouring every note. I especially loved seeing him jumping up on one leg and waving his rag in the air.
Returning to his soca catalogue, Kes kept the crowd moving with the likes of Cocoa Tea, Jolene and Medicine. These songs in particular brought a warmth and looseness to the set that felt genuinely special. That same free spirited energy carried into Mood — watching him perform that song, fully in his element, is something else entirely.
There were guest appearances too. Soca artist Coutain, who has been building serious momentum off the back of Miss Walker — his brilliant interpolation of the Mighty Sparrow'sMr Walker — joined Kes on stage and also dipped into older tracks including Artform and the wonderful Jamtown.
Later in the show, British artist Haile from WSTRN came out to perform the collab track Textin', which landed brilliantly with the crowd and was a nod to Kes' ability to bridge his world with the UK music scene.
One of the highlights towards the end of the night was when Kes took us to J'Ouvert. J'Ouvert is a Caribbean carnival celebration where people throw paint and powder on each other and parade through the streets. That energy was brought to life on the Brixton stage. A notable moment was when he performed Stage Gone Bad — a song about getting on bad. In carnival culture, getting on bad is not about doing bad things — it is about enjoying yourself, feeling free, cutting loose, celebrating, jumping up, not caring what you look like, throwing paint, throwing powder, and being with your loved ones. That is exactly what happened. Looking around the room, everyone was jumping in unison, carefree, uninhibited, fully in the moment together.
This was a landmark night — not just a great gig, but a genuine moment in history. I left grateful to have been there for it, and already looking forward to seeing him again for the sixth, seventh, and however many more times follow.
Kes continues his Roots, Rock, Soca Tour in the Caribbean, the USA and Canada. Tickets are available via his website.
