Photos by Kerra R. & Omarr S.

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The only fete yuh coulda’ possibly been thinking about heading to for CARIBANA SATURDAY, had to have been Carnival In Yuh Backyard 5 held at the Soca Valley in Bella Gardens!!!

TJJ organized early to head uptown because the drive to de valley was like ah “Beach House” kinda vibe. For all of you that have never been to “Beach House,” it’s a fete held in Trinidad for the Carnival season at Ortinola Estate (see our 2008 coverage). The drive to get up there is about 3 hours and that’s with reeeeel bumpa to bumpa traffic ... lol! Anyhoo, with that in mind we packed up de coolers and jumped in de car around 9pm. We were up there in no time, but once we started seeing only bush, we started to get a lil' bit worried! Small thing though, we made it to de entrance "finally" and surrounding the property in every direction were soldiers and guards in uniform ... yuh know fuh sure we fetin’ safe!

The lineup was loooooong, up the hill and around the way, but we sweet talk we way inside de party. This place was surrounded by bush and nothing else, so it was ah rel Trini vibe ... haha. There were Caribbean food tents along the back and although the lineup was winding like a snake, that didn’t stop hungry Soca lovers from waiting. Even the police were wukkin’ and eatin’ ... lol! Now with back-to-back performances, there was no time wasted! Performers were already settin’ up to mash up de valley when we walked in. On the bill for the night, we had the big band ROY CAPE ALL STARS alongside Blaxx, Trini Jacobs, Olatunji, Iwer George, Hunter and Farm P. Of course we can’t forget, 2008 Road March winner Fay-Ann Lyons and 2008 Int'l Soca Monarch winner Bunji Garlin. It was "Firey" outside, inside the fete lol! Backin’ these spectacular performances with their musical mixes were Dr. Jay, Mr. Playhouse, Goldfinger, marXman, DJ Spice (NYC) and TnT Styles (Montreal); and all hosted by the best in the business... E Man, Mc Wassi (NYC) and Dirty Dez. The crowd was hyped throughout the night with loads of energy and when they trampled to a song clouds of dust would rise. The biggest reaction for the night was when Bunji and Fay-Ann stepped on stage.. they had the crowd eating outta their hands!!

With six acres to fete, party-go’ers found every and anything to wine on with minimal pause in the action! They blew their whistles and waved their flags proudly as they represented where they came from! At around 3am, the TJJ crew started gearin’ up to head home... oooh what a long drive back to civilization! *lol* After the day we had, getting’ dutty at J’ouvert, playin’ mas on d road and then to wukkin’ up in de valley’s ... there was no sleep ah’tall!! Woooooi! That was preeeessure!!!! As people started making their way off the property, ah traffic jam began ... so of course, being West Indian, fete-go’ers started singin’ out their windows and chantin’ in their seat belts to make the drive out even better.

After walkin’ through corn field’s to get to this massive fete deep down in de valley, we must say... it was worth the mision! Next year we comin’ prepared with ah cutlass and ah ironpot to make we own cornsoup!!!! LOL!!!

Mizz Kayz and Liteskin for the TJJ fam

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