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“[…] Patrice gave an excellent and emotional performance. From her outfit to her energy to her typically impeccable vocals, Patrice was the CIC fete of CIC fete.
“[…] But somebody needs to pull Destra square and say: ‘yo… sing yuh bangers, wine yuh bam bam and get off the stage!’ This is not yuh talk show. Nobody wants to hear yuh podcast in a fete…”
The following review on Fete With The Saints (FWTS) 2024 was shared with Wired868 by “Tana”:
Photo: Damian Luk Pat
After all the hype around getting tickets, with people having to pay huge sums and end up in “gouti look back”, FWTS 2024 was… a hit! Allyuh really expected me to say otherwise??
By now allyuh know we does get there for the gate opening. There was free secured parking at QRC and Tatil with shuttles and paid secured parking at Nelson Mandela (stop the genocide, free Palestine️) park. We used the free, secured, close to the venue, parking on d road near the St Clair police station.
Scalpers—sorry, “ticket entrepreneurs”—were out in their numbers buying the extra ticket. The decor was on fleek as the young people does say (not sure if they still say that).
The entrance had dragons and there was a Mayan theme throughout. We even had a live volcano garçon. I felt like I was on my 2023 Iceland vacation.
Photo: Damian Luk Pat
As is customary, we went there with we belly in we hand. Every time I go FWTS, I am blown away by the size of the main food court and the number of options. The layout was different and the food court seemed bigger than last year.
Someone suggested the fete should be two days—one day just for food. For the civilized people, the vegetarians and vegans, there were lots of options other than eating sides. There was beyond meat sliders and vegan kebabs (no not tofu on a stick).
If yuh does eat dead animals there was plenty ting for you too. They had stuffed baby backed ribs, all manner of jerk, bao like whoa, sushi, wantons, salmon, lamb, Chinese food, doubles, roti, wild meat such as Bambi and she mammy and even wild hog.
Photo: Damian Luk Pat
On that topic, the ladies were on point. Let me tell you, if you see birds. Everyone dress up nice nice, looking delicious like the crab-stuffed dumplings and the sweet and sour fish with Singapore noodles.
If food is not your thing, well the drink options were out of control. They had drink stations and bars with ample staff everywhere. There was zero wait for drinks and nobody was “chinksing” on how they mix yuh drinks.
Scotch, gin, champagne, Hennessey, rum, vodka, wine, everything was premium—even the promo girls. One offered me some concoction and thought telling me it had Campari in it would sweeten the deal.
Photo: Damian Luk Pat
No miss lady… I rather stoop down and drink from the drain in the back.
After Hans and he DJ almost put us to sleep playing what I can only describe as ambience dining music, the performances started with Olatunji. “Tunji” run on, hit we he big tunes, and ride out faster than J Angel swing back from she retirement.
Motto was next with a spirited, though dated, rendition of his big tunes. My boy Shal Marshall—sorry S Dot or whatever he calling himself now—was next. Apparently Shal had the crowd in front rocking. I know this because the Madame left me and run up to the front to see we boy. He even brought on Kerwin Dubois.
Photo: Damian Luk Pat
The man who is currently winning Carnival was next to grace the stage. Mical Teja came out to a hero’s welcome. The man had the whole place in a vibe… until he start to ask who feel his song is Road March?
Nah brudda… Doh beg, hoss. Begging is for people like Dest…. (Stop it Tana!)
Patrice gave an excellent and emotional performance. From her outfit to her energy to her typically impeccable vocals, Patrice was the CIC fete of CIC fete.
Photo: St Mary’s College
The fete had the usual high society characters. From politicians to corporate VIPs to Trini super models to social media influencers to Gary—in he usual tight long sleeve jersey.
I don’t know who to speak to but “Double G” needs to start hitting the gym or buying loose fitting shirts. Gary belly is the only thing bigger than he mouth.
The heavens opened up and gave the fete its blessing with a light drizzle. The rain wasn’t hard enough to soak anyone, although it did make some in the crowd run for shelter.
Patrick the Hypeman came on and said he had 15 minutes. I thought he was going to talk for 14 but he actually run real tunes. I feel somebody did an intervention with him and let him know that less is more, because it’s two fetes in a row now he has curbed his verbosity.
That same person needs to pull Destra square and say: “yo… sing yuh bangers, wine yuh bam bam and get off the stage!” This is not yuh talk show. Nobody wants to hear yuh podcast in a fete.
Destra came on and “desta-oyed” d fete. The amount of people came up to me and asked me to tell the organizers to do something about the Queen of Bacchanal.
Photo: St Mary’s College
On that night, she was the Queen of Incessant Chatter about all kinda ting and at one point blamed the crowd for having no vibes, when she was the one drop a leg on we and buss we bladder.
Destra was more like Destro the villain from GI Joe.
Nailah graced the stage next and tried her best to recover the momentum lost during the “Destra-uction”; but let’s be real… it’s Nailah. When I thought all was lost with her, Skinny Fabulous ran on like Batman to save Gotham.
Photo: Damian Luk Pat
Lyrikal joined Nailah to sing their big tune and his other hits for the season and the crowd was trying its best to get back the vibe lost in the great winter of Destra.
Lyrikal and Skinny sang their banger but I felt both should have had more time instead of Garcia the “Destra-oyer”.
We then had a break (did we?? Gin was kicking in by then) before the headline artiste was due on stage. I took the opportunity to hit the food court for the third time and visit the Hendrick’s bar for my 15th gin and tonic… “Any drink by the bar gimme plenty”.
I believe the cumulative effect of those visits resulted in me ending up inebriated and caused my alleged bad behavior, although I think it was the food.
While eating I heard the main protagonist of FWTS come on the stage. Yup, we boy Kes, the second hottest red man to pass through St Mary’s (guess who’s #1) had the ladies in front in a frenzy.
Personally, I found his performance a little flat but he probably had a Destra-hangover like the rest of us. At this point the fete got a little blurry for me but, from what I’m told, everyone was annoying and everyone except me was acting irrationally as if they were drunk and the whole fete stormed out to our car.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Photo: Damian Luk Pat
FWTS again set the bar for premium all-inclusive fetes. Everything felt top notch and people were asking me what’s the point of having a VIP when everyone is treated like a VIP. I guess some people doh like to rub shoulders with the good looking vibesy people.
I will admit the vibe was subdued. FWTS is usually two fetes in one when it comes to vibe: the back half where you stand up and casually dance and jam, and the front half where it’s a sweaty back, “I now land from Brooklyn and going back Monday” kind of vibe.
The fete never recovered from Destra’s performance though and that’s a shame. However, I had a time and I go be back again and again and again.
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I took pleasure in reading these comments. I felt good to see everyone shares the same sentiments as I do. Destra needs to park up. She don’t have what it takes anymore. She looks FAT and tired and performs the same way she looks. Patrice on the other hand always bring it. Her songs are fresh and always different from the rest. They are relatable. She is relatable. She’s entertaining. She looks great and the list goes on. She’s Patrice Roberts. As for nailah, she aint ready yet. Sometimes i be wondering what really going on with this chick and these cartoon songs she be bringing out. Steups. Let me just stop here. Patrice and Machel are my two fav soca artists locally, then Mr. Killa from Grenada.
Couple things stood out here, TATA:
#1 Redman is Kona Hislop, It’s not eem ah contest breds.
Is Mical Teja working for CAL? If yes, then I love that plum blazer. If not, I still love the plum blazer, but minus the free miles I would have gotten for saying this if he was, in fact, wokin CAL…
Destra-oyer 😂. She did the same thing last year and added in a good bit of weird yodeling. Nobody on stage could recover after that. Well I enjoyed myself. The Hennessy was flowing and the food was endless and top notch. Had to grab a Reliable bag (they r very reliable because I got one last year too) to stuff all de cups and the other goodies. I even twisted my foot and had to sit out Destra and the rest. So the entertainment wasn’t all on point. Your review is however. FWTS still the best. I will be there next year.
Man started saying the party was a hit to ending up describing a lacklustre party.
Gosh! I love this writer,he must be a total blast to lime with
But FWTS officials were hiding under a rock?Destra will kill anything! her very last enjoyable offering was Bonnie and Clyde.