Soca artist Kees Dieffenthaller, frontman of Kes the Band, during one of his many performances.
Photo courtesy Kes
Internationally celebrated soca artist Kees Dieffenthaller, frontman of Kes the Band, has made history once again — this time as the first soca performer to sell out two SummerStage concerts at Central Park within hours of going on sale.
“Set for July 5 and July 6, 2025, these back-to-back sold-out shows mark a groundbreaking moment not only for Kees but for the entire Caribbean music scene,” Ronnie Tomlinson, the Jamaican-born entertainment publicist, who serves as CEO of the New York-based Destine Media, told Caribbean Life on Tuesday.
“This will be Kes’s second appearance at SummerStage, following a sensational 2024 debut, where his single show sold out within hours, leaving thousands of fans clamoring for more,” added Tomlinson, a Brooklyn resident. “This year’s double booking is a testament to his soaring popularity and growing global impact.”
Coming off a record-breaking run, Tomlinson said Kees’s chart-topping single, “Cocoa Tea,” continues to dominate streaming platforms worldwide. At the same time, his electrifying “IzWe Festival: Trinidad Carnival Edition” earlier this year “drew massive crowds and united cultures through rhythm and revelry.”
Tomlinson said the band’s international reach has also expanded significantly, with two sold-out shows in Montreal during its 2024 tour in Canada, “proving that the love for soca knows no borders.”
“As Kes the Band celebrates 20 years in the music industry this year, they continue to lead the charge for soca on the world stage—waving the red, white, and black of Trinidad and Tobago with pride and purpose,” she said.
Kees said: “We’ve always believed in the power of soca to bring people together.
“To see that vision unfold not just in Trinidad but in New York, Canada, and beyond—it’s deeply humbling,” he added. “This moment belongs to all of us.”
Presented by Capital One, Tomlinson said SummerStage is renowned for spotlighting dynamic talent from across the globe.
“Kes’s back-to-back sold-out shows not only showcase his unmatched showmanship but also reflect a larger cultural shift as Caribbean music takes its rightful place in the global spotlight,” Tomlinson said.
