Kes The Band closes sold-out Roots, Rock, Soca tour at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto
The Trinidadian soca group ended its nearly two-month international tour Friday at the waterfront venue, celebrating 20 years of career with music spanning Caribbean genres.
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Kes The Band wrapped its nearly two-month Roots, Rock, Soca Tour Friday night at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, marking the international tour's final stop in the city the frontman calls home.
Frontman Kees Dieffenthaller, known as Kes, described Toronto as his "homebase," explaining that the city had supported the band since 2002 and even hosted the recording of his breakthrough hit "Wotless" in the early 2010s. "This city has kind of raised me in a lot of ways," Kes told reporters after the show.
The Friday concert celebrated two decades of Kes's career, spanning soca, dancehall, bouyon, chutney, and reggae. Attendees heard throwbacks like "Tuesday on the Rocks" and newer hits like "Cocoa Tea," tracing the band's journey back to its 2006 debut album, Three Baldheads and a Dread. The show featured surprise guest appearances and music celebrating Caribbean culture.
Midway through the set, Kes shifted into a reggae and dancehall segment, including his latest track "Masterpiece" on the Hill & Gully Riddim. The artist blended the song with Masicka's "Slip & Slide," along with dancehall classics from Sean Paul, Beenie Man, and Shaggy.
Kes said promoting "one Caribbean" is central to his mission, using shows to honour the cultures and sounds of islands across the region while pushing back against inter-island rivalries. Looking ahead, he revealed he is working on a new album and planning more tours, wanting to continue bringing soca to audiences beyond the Carnival season.
