LargeUp Brought Carnival To SXSW At The Sounds Of The Caribbean Showcase f. Machel Montano, Mr Vegas + More [Photos + Recap]

LargeUp set di trend (again) at SXSW with their Sounds of The Caribbean showcase featuring soca king Machel Montano, Mr. Vegas and more--including a cameo from lover's rock legend Gyptian, a raucous affair that turned the Palm Door patio into a Texas bacchanal even as Okayafrica's epic Sounds Of Africa Showcase unfolded inside. The combined energy storm was easily one of hypest events at the non-stop orgy of underground (and not so underground music) that is Southby. In fact, even though this was officially the First Annual Sounds Of The Caribbean showcase, it's already the 2nd year that LargeUp's presence has made Rolling Stone's roundup of SX highlights. Scroll down to read what they said, after LargeUp's DJ Theory sets the scene (and hit the link below for LargeUp's full photo gallery)

In what was easily the closest thing to a Caribbean Carnival atmosphere this part of Texas has seen, Machel Montano,Mr. Vegas, Kabaka Pyramid and crew shelled down South by Southwest at the first annual Sounds from the Caribbean showcase on Friday night. Pouring rain couldn’t stop a capacity crowd of die-hard, flag-waving bacchanalists and curious music-industry folks from squeezing under the tent at The Palm Door on Sixth patio for the event, co-presented by LargeUp as part of a double bill organized by Winnie K. Mgmt, RDPR and Coyah Productions, and which also included the Sounds From Africa showcase inside the same venue.

Nyla, Laza Morgan and Gyptian also took the stage for brief sets while host DJ Gravy and yours truly held down the sounds. Guests including Angela Hunte; Jahdan Blakkamoore; El Freako Collectivo from Colombia; dancehall deejay Alandon; Virgin Islands rapper Paebak; Trini rapso king Ataklan; and LargeUp’s own EchoSlim all passed through, while Trinidad, Barbados, St. Lucia and Guyana were well represented—in both human and flag form.

>>>Read More + See Full Photo Gallery (via LargeUp)

At stateside soca parties, even the genre's biggest names will often play no more than their three most popular hits, creating a frenzy and moving on to the next fête. At Friday's LargeUp "Sounds of the Caribbean" showcase, headliner Machel Montano performed for a full hour, jumping, waving and dancing so hard that even on a 57-degree night, you could see the steam rising off his body. The venue closed at 2:00 a.m., and the Trinidadian star was supposed to be offstage at 1:50, but at 1:48 he pleaded for one more song. He then delivered a 15-minute sprint that began with a medley of reggae hits, transitioned into Major Lazer's "Sound Bang," turned to his own massive "Ministry of Road" and closed with Destra's "This Is Carnival." Still, the crowd wanted more.

>>>Read More (via Rolling Stone)