With 99.99 per cent soca and calypso music being played at Island Mas Jamaica's Soca Village, it was a soca lover's paradise at the Village Blues Bar in St Andrew last Saturday.

Numerous patrons filed into the venue around midnight, as music was being played by selector Richie Ras. He played some relatively new soca songs such as Inches and Shurwayne Winchester's Jiggle It but the crowd was somewhat unresponsive until they heard Mr Dale's Soca Junkie.

By the time more familiar songs like Faye-Ann Lyons' Heavy T Bumpa, Destra's Baddest, Kes the Band's Front A Me and the soca version of I Gotta Feeling were played, the audience appeared to be in a dancing mood. Kes the Band's Wotless on an alternative beat had them doing fist pumps, as they jumped and sang.

Despite playing several songs, it was the more popular ones that got the patrons dancing. Skinny Fabulous' Duracel and Maximus Dan's Fighter also had an impact. Finally, they heard Palance and the patrons were in a frenzy. Further movement was encouraged by other well-known songs like Allison Hinds' Togetherness and Machel Mantano's Advantage.

In the midst of all the soca, there was a snippet of dancehall with Konshens' Gal A Bubble that was well received and even started a few small soca trains. This was followed by Lil Rick's Go Dung that had people gyrating to the floor.

After playing for a few hours, Richie Ras was finally relieved by DJ Billy, who played Vybz Kartel's Real Badman on a soca beat. Subsequently, he instructed the females to do the '6:30', before playing a series of high-energy songs.

Island Mas Promoters presents Island Mas Soca Village Party, held at Village Blues Bar, Orchid Viilage, Barbican Road, last Saturday night. - Winston Sill photos