Vagabond ‘Camo vs Denim’ fuses musical genres

Recognising the untapped potential of one of Kingston's most distinctive outdoor spaces, the organisers of Vagabond are making their official debut at Rockfort Mineral Lawns on Saturday.

They will be transforming the location into a vibrant soca masquerade for its flagship event, Vagabond: 'Camo vs Denim'. The move signals the birth of a brand as Vagabond reimagines Rockfort as a high-energy cultural playground where dancehall meets soca in an immersive Caribbean experience designed to celebrate music, movement, and collective freedom.

From this creative backdrop emerges Vagabond's signature concept - a groundbreaking fusion of dancehall's hardcore edge and soca's spirited rhythm - brought to life by a collective of experienced Kingston-based party promoters, music producers, and entrepreneurs, Raymond Leach Jr, Joselyn Bent, and Allonder Richards. While dancehall and soca have long shared a playful rivalry, Vagabond flips the narrative, according to Leach.

"We understand that the local event calendar is jam-packed - from Reggae Month to Dancehall Week - as we lead into the Carnival-in-Jamaica season," Leach said. "So instead of competing with a sound clash or battle-style setup, we're choosing collaboration. The versatility of both genres makes for epic, fun events, and we're leaning toward a celebration of two feel-good sounds that naturally complement each other."

That spirit of collaboration is reflected in Vagabond's creative radio campaign, which seamlessly blends Vagabond, the breakout soca hit single by late soca star Ricardo Drue, who passed in 2023, with Step Pon Dem by Agent Sasco, on the classic 'Military' rhythm, which was released in 2004.

"It's all part of the celebration - paying homage to hitmakers and timeless tracks that connect with a wide cross-section of music lovers - both old and new generations," Leach said. "And we get to do this at a venue that holds historic significance and deep memories for many of us."

Designed for young professionals, university students, and mature partygoers, Vagabond speaks directly to a culturally savvy audience seeking premium social experiences where fashion, music, and freedom collide. Beyond entertainment, Vagabond also plays a meaningful role in Jamaica's nightlife ecosystem, with organisers envisioning the brand evolving far beyond a single event.

Patrons can expect non-stop vibes powered by a massive DJ line-up featuring ZJ Chrome, King Taj, DJ 3D, Kevi Kinetic, and Zess 'The Fete King', delivering soca, dancehall, and a splash of Afrobeats in an atmosphere driven by high energy, good vibes, and a few surprises..