Fire Fete Toronto Carnival 2014: Soca Stars Light Up Sound Academy
Toronto Carnival weekend still had plenty of fire left on Sunday, August 3, 2014.
After J’Ouvert, the Grand Parade and a packed Saturday night, Soca fans headed to Sound Academy on Toronto’s waterfront for Fire Fete: Toronto Carnival Edition — one more massive jump before the Carnival weekend came to a close.
The lineup brought together Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons & the Viking Band, Skinny Fabulous, Iwer George, Tallpree, Lavaman, JW & Blaze, KI & 3Veni, K Rich and Drupatee for a night loaded with Soca, Jab and Chutney energy.
For Julianspromos, Julian C. Hackett shot and edited the highlights from the night.
Carnival Sunday Still Had One More Big Fete
By Sunday night, Toronto had already experienced an entire Carnival weekend.
Friday brought J’Ouvert.
Saturday brought mas, costumes and the Grand Parade.
But anyone thinking Sunday was for resting clearly had not made plans for Fire Fete.
Sound Academy filled with Caribbean flags, live music and a crowd ready for one more serious Carnival workout.
Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons Bring the Viking Energy
Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons were among the biggest names taking the Fire Fete stage, appearing with the Viking Band.
Bunji was riding the international momentum that followed “Differentology,” while Fay-Ann remained one of Soca’s strongest live performers.
Together, they gave Toronto another dose of the high-energy live show that had made them Carnival favorites throughout the Caribbean and diaspora.
Skinny Fabulous Gets Right Into the Crowd
The Fire Fete photos show exactly what kind of night this was.
Skinny Fabulous wasn’t simply standing onstage singing to the audience — he was right in the middle of the action as flags waved around him and fans packed tightly around the performance.
That closeness between the artists and crowd helped give Fire Fete its anything-can-happen Carnival feel.
Iwer George Brings the Power
Then came Iwer George, a performer practically built for a packed Carnival fete.
With years of Power Soca anthems behind him, Iwer brought the kind of call-and-response energy that turns a crowd into part of the performance.
The photos capture him onstage with flags flying just beyond the microphone.
Tallpree & Lavaman Bring Jab to Toronto
Grenada was represented strongly through Tallpree and Lavaman.
Both artists carried Jab energy onto the Fire Fete stage, connecting Toronto’s Carnival crowd with one of Grenada’s most recognizable musical traditions.
Tallpree worked the front of the stage while Lavaman fired up the crowd from above, adding another flavor to a lineup already stacked with Soca heavyweights.
Chutney Soca Joins the Party
Fire Fete wasn’t only about Power Soca.
KI & 3Veni and Drupatee brought Chutney Soca into the mix, giving the night an even wider Caribbean sound.
That variety was part of the fun: Trinidad Soca, Vincy energy, Grenadian Jab and Chutney all sharing one Toronto stage.
Watch Fire Fete Toronto Carnival 2014
The Julianspromos highlights move through the performers and the crowd, capturing flags, dancing and the kind of energy that made Carnival Sunday feel anything but quiet.
Event Date: August 3, 2014
Video Upload Date: August 14, 2014
Shot & Edited By: Julian C. Hackett
Fire Fete Toronto 2014 Photo Gallery
The photos bring viewers even closer to the night.
Skinny Fabulous jumps into the crowd, Iwer George commands the stage, Tallpree and Lavaman bring Jab energy, and fans turn the floor into a sea of waving Caribbean flags.
Fire Fete: Toronto Carnival Edition at Sound Academy on August 3, 2014.
Sound Academy Turns Into a Caribbean Flag Party
Located at 11 Polson Street, Sound Academy was one of Toronto’s major waterfront concert venues and had become a familiar home for large Caribbean events.
For Fire Fete, the venue became a wall-to-wall Carnival party.
One of the strongest images from the night shows the crowd with hands and flags raised across the room as Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and the Viking Band worked the audience.
The picture says pretty much everything: nobody was ready for Carnival weekend to end.
One Last Jump Before Monday
Fire Fete occupied the perfect spot on the weekend calendar.
By Sunday night, masqueraders had survived the road, spectators had spent hours following the parade, and Toronto had been running on Soca for days.
Fire Fete gave everyone one final place to gather, wave a flag and squeeze out whatever energy was left.
And judging by the crowd, there was plenty.
From the Julianspromos Archives
Fire Fete completed a very important weekend in the Julianspromos story.
Toronto Carnival 2014 was Julianspromos’ first trip to Toronto and first coverage assignment in Canada.
The weekend began with Jab Jab J’Ouvert on Friday, August 1.
Saturday brought Julianspromos onto the road for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade, followed later that night by The Main Event: HD Edition.
Then came Fire Fete on Sunday, August 3.
In just three days, Julianspromos experienced Toronto Carnival from several completely different angles — J’Ouvert, mas, the Grand Parade, a huge indoor concert and finally Carnival Sunday at Sound Academy.
For Fire Fete, Julian C. Hackett handled the filming and editing, capturing performers from across the Caribbean along with the packed Toronto crowd.
The trip extended a journey that had already grown from New York into Miami and other U.S. cities.
Now Canada was part of it too.
And finishing that first Toronto weekend inside a packed Sound Academy, surrounded by Soca and Caribbean flags, was a fitting way to close the trip.
Event Details
Event: Fire Fete: Toronto Carnival Edition
Date: Sunday, August 3, 2014
Venue: Sound Academy
Address: 11 Polson Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Featured Artists: Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons & the Viking Band, Skinny Fabulous, Iwer George, Tallpree, Lavaman, JW & Blaze, KI & 3Veni, K Rich and Drupatee
Promoters: CVR Empire, SCR Enterprises & Soul Vibes
Shot & Edited By: Julian C. Hackett
Video Upload Date: August 14, 2014
