On a sweltering Easter Sunday, 36 Hope Road transformed into a vibrant hub of food, music and community for the very first staging of Noon Brunch, a new daytime entertainment concept that exceeded all turnout expectations. Even as temperatures climbed and the sun beat down unrelentingly, hundreds of patrons from near and far turned out to indulge in a curated afternoon of culinary delights and live Jamaican music, proving the event’s broad appeal from its debut.
Headlined by popular dancehall recording artist Charly Black, the event brought together established performers and rising DJ talents for a full day of non-stop entertainment. Ahead of his scheduled set of hit fan favorites, Charly Black shared his excitement about returning to the Kingston stage after an extended break, noting he arrived hours early just to soak in the positive energy of the crowd. The artist also revealed major upcoming career milestones: he is set to kick off an international tour starting May 2, first traveling across multiple African nations before moving on to stops across Europe. He also announced upcoming new music projects, including two already released 2024 tracks – *Slim Dolly* produced by DJ Mac, and *Weekend* produced by Feel Good Boss – as well as a long-awaited deluxe reissue of his latest album *Good Time*, whose original promotional rollout was cut short by the impact of Hurricane Melissa.
Beyond the live headline performance, Noon Brunch impressed attendees with its diverse culinary offerings, ranging from fresh local seafood and plant-based vegetarian dishes to beloved Jamaican classics and international fusion cuisine. Lines formed steadily at food stalls throughout the afternoon as guests sampled the wide range of delicacies prepared on-site, including a selection of specials crafted by a visiting international chef.
The musical lineup catered to every taste, with veteran selectors and emerging DJ talents keeping energy high from opening to close. Early sets from DJ Junior Phang, and the duo of DJ Tom and Slim J laid a solid foundation for the day, while later sets from Steelie Bashment, JR Chromatic, Shukkle Bus, and DJ Chaddy G kept the crowd dancing well into the evening. Junior Phang, a selector with more than 20 years of industry experience, leaned into classic reggae hits from iconic artists including Marcia Griffiths, Garnet Silk, Sanchez and Bitty McLean to keep guests grooving, noting that reading a crowd and maintaining consistent energy is the key to a successful set. Slim J, who has built his career over eight years as a professional DJ, called connecting with attendees and watching them enjoy his selections the highlight of his day.
Attendees across age groups and backgrounds shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about the debut event. Gary Nunes, who attended alongside his father to learn more about event promotion – a field he plans to enter – praised the relaxed, positive atmosphere. Sheree Morris, a Jamaican visitor traveling home from Canada who had not returned to the island in several years, stumbled across the event on Instagram and joined her sister for a day out, saying she had no regrets despite hunting for shade to escape the midday sun.
Shawn Whyte, one of three promoters behind the Noon Brunch concept, shared that he was thrilled with the outcome of the first staging. Explaining the vision behind the event, Whyte noted that the name “Noon” was chosen to reflect its core identity: a laid-back midday gathering centered on live on-site cooking, diverse music, a welcoming atmosphere, and a chic Easter-themed dress code. While Whyte acknowledged that there is room to refine the experience for future events, he confirmed that the team is already planning the next iteration, with a target date of October for the second staging, and that Noon Brunch will now be a permanent addition to Kingston’s annual events calendar.