Valiant thrills crowd at Coca-Cola Bites & Beats Festival
Published:Friday | August 1, 2025 | 9:33 AM
Palm Drive at Hope Botanical Gardens turned into a party zone on Saturday night as dancehall star Valiant brought the energy to the first staging of the Coca-Cola Bites & Beats Food & Music Festival. The night rolled out as a lively mix of music, food, and moments shared among friends, with the crowd locked in from start to finish.
From DJ Gabby’s warm-up to the tag-team juggling of Coppershot’s Marc Chin, Tonio Chromatic, Nico Lee, and Kryptic, the vibes were steady long before the headliner hit the stage. By the time Valiant touched the mic, the audience was already primed.
Once the familiar opening lines of North Carolina dropped, the crowd burst into song. Valiant was met with screams and phone flashes, and fans sang along word for word as he ran through hit after hit, including crowd favourites like Dunce Cheque, Speed Off, and Mad Out.
“The festival was pure vibes. From the moment I got on the stage, the crowd was full of energy. Everybody was vibing and singing along. It’s just always great whenever I get to connect with fans,” said Valiant.
But the music was just one part of the experience. The festival also featured immersive brand activations – from custom Coke bottles and limited-edition merch at the Coke Store to a futuristic spin at the VR Hub. There was also a photo booth capturing moments all night, and the Coke Studio gave aspiring artistes a chance to record a verse on the official Bites & Beats Riddim produced by DJ Mac.
“We believe we delivered on the entertainment value at our first Bites & Beats Festival, bringing into one space the things that we love as Jamaicans – food, music, and the joy of sharing with friends,” said Chantellee McDonald, senior brand manager, Coca-Cola Portfolio, Wisynco Group Limited.