On a Wednesday night at the sprawling East Lawns of Devon House in St Andrew, Jamaica, the third edition of the Campari Xodus Fete Gala brought a vibrant explosion of cross-regional Caribbean cultural fusion, powered by an all-star lineup of international and regional disc jockeys that kept hundreds of guests dancing from start to finish.
Curated to blend the formal creativity of high-profile galas with the unfiltered energy of Caribbean street fêtes, the event drew inspiration from New York’s iconic Met Gala, inviting attendees to lean into personalized, imaginative interpretations of the night’s black, white, and gold dress code. While most male guests stuck to classic formalwear — tuxedos, tailored button-downs, and polished dress shoes — and female attendees showcased elegant gowns of varying lengths paired with statement makeup and heeled footwear, the atmosphere never felt stuffy or restrained. From the first track dropped, the crowd leaned into the high-energy, communal joy that defines Caribbean carnival culture.
A major departure from the event’s first two editions, this year’s gala skipped live performances entirely, relying solely on the skill of the assembled DJs to carry the night. The lineup represented a who’s who of regional Caribbean talent, including Barbadian DJ Jus Jay, and a roster of Trinidadian selectors: Major Penny, Papi Jae, Selectah Kerry, Tony X, Tegarooks, and Lurbz. They were joined by North American-based acts Florida’s DJ Sinistar and Canadian DJ Brandan Duke, creating a truly pan-Caribbean and diasporic curatorial team.
The DJs delivered seamless, gapless sets that spanned multiple genres and generations, blending old-school and contemporary cuts across pop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, and of course, the quintessential Caribbean carnival sound of soca. For many attendees, especially those traveling from the Caribbean diaspora in North America and Europe, the breadth of the DJs’ musical knowledge came as a delightful surprise. The lineup’s ability to read a Jamaican crowd and blend familiar local hits with regional and international favorites kept the energy high from the event’s 9:30 p.m. kickoff until its 2:00 a.m. closing time.
A Canadian male patron, visiting Jamaica for his second carnival season, shared his enthusiasm for the night in an interview with Jamaica Observer. “I am so impressed at how a lot of these DJs and MCs from different countries know not just traditional soca genres, but all the Jamaican ones, and even some R&B, a bit of house music or EDM, and pop that’s more popular where I’m from,” he said. “Tonight was amazing, and I’m so glad I got to experience this. The inclusive cocktails and the infamous Jamaican KFC that were complimentary definitely contributed to an amazing time. I will be returning, and I hope this becomes a staple for Xodus each Carnival season.”
His praise echoed the widespread satisfaction with the event’s hospitality: title sponsor Campari and partner Appleton kept complimentary drinks flowing all night, while returning partner KFC provided free food to guests until its entire supply was exhausted.
A first-time visitor to Jamaica, a religious traveler who calls the event a “Caribbean Carnival chaser” after working her way through a bucket list of Caribbean carnivals across the region, also shared her positive impression. She noted that she specifically chose Xodus, Jamaica’s most established carnival band, for her first Jamaican carnival experience, drawn by its reputation for organized, high-quality events.
“I took time off from work just to be here, and I researched that Xodus is the more established band, so I wanted my first Jamaican Carnival to be with the more structured band. It’s a pretty good experience, so far. I’m here with two of my friends and the costume pickup experience was very smooth. I loved that and they should keep it up,” she said. “The gala has been interesting because it’s like a fete but a Caribbean/dancehall party at the same time and I’ve never seen that before. I like it.”
Across social media and on-site interviews, attendees left the event praising the unique blend of formal pageantry and laid-back Caribbean fun, marking the third Campari Xodus Fete Gala as a standout addition to Jamaica’s annual carnival calendar.