Soca Camp prepares revellers for the road

For Soca Camp curator Matthew ‘Matt Camps’ Campbell, a personal passion rooted in music has grown into a Carnival in Jamaica calendar event. On Friday, that vision came to life in full force, as revellers turned out for the 2026 staging of the event at Park Place in New Kingston.

“I’m a DJ first, so Soca Camp really started from the music,” Campbell shared. “The name came from my annual soca mixtape series that began in 2017. After the pandemic, I felt like the time was right to bring it to life and create something for the fan base that has been supporting me over the years.”

That evolution from mixtape to full-scale event has been intentional, with each staging building on the last. This year, the Smirnoff-sponsored event leaned further into its immersive identity, introducing an army fête theme that transformed the space into a high-energy command centre. Branded camo rags, custom cups, a dedicated merch stall, and an upgraded stage design elevated the experience. At the same time, the addition of Trinidadian Moko Jumbie performer Charlo Alphonso brought an unmistakable touch of authentic carnival spectacle.

Still, at its core, Soca Camp remains grounded in what Campbell believes matters most. “It’s a soca lovers’ paradise,” he said. “When you come here, you’re getting everything. The hits, the new music, even the songs that might get overlooked elsewhere.” That music-first approach continues to define the brand.

For Campbell, if the music delivers, everything else follows. “Once the music is at the standard we’ve set, then we know the experience is great. That’s what we’ve built our reputation on, and it’s not easy to replicate.”

As revellers gear up for the road, Campbell is already tuned in to the tracks shaping the season, highlighting Cyah Behave by Voice, Still a Road Man by Bunji Garlin, Bury All by Lil Kerry, and Doux Doux Darlin by Christo as must-know anthems for the road, all of which feature on his Soca Camp mixtape series.

Beyond the energy and execution, Campbell sees Soca Camp as part of a wider cultural contribution to the Carnival in Jamaica landscape.

“Soca Camp is a soca party at its core, and that’s something you don’t always get locally,” he explained. “We’ve taken the time to build an experience that feels authentic to carnival, similar to Trinidad, but still infused with our own Jamaican flavour.”

entertainment@gleanerjm.com