Streetz Festival Gears Up for Fifth Staging with Popcaan and Overseas Expansion Plans

Exclusive: Streetz Festival Director Chad Williams talks Popcaan’s upcoming concert, headliner selection, and overseas expansion plans. “It’s an incredible feeling. We’re delivering an unforgettable experience, but there’s a responsibility,” he shared

Popcaan with Streetz Festival director Chad Williams during the Streetz launch (Photo: Ashanie Braham)

Streetz Festival director Chad Williams is filled with anticipation for what’s to come on August 30 at the National Stadium, as international dancehall superstar Popcaan is set to headline his first full-band show in Kingston in over a decade.

"It's an incredible feeling, a mix of excitement, pride, and responsibility to deliver an unforgettable experience," Williams shared in an exclusive interview with Kaboom Magazine. "I'm beyond thrilled to bring Popcaan back to Kingston! His return is highly anticipated, and we're expecting an electric performance," he added.

"I'm beyond thrilled to bring Popcaan back to Kingston", Williams (Photo: Ashanie Braham)

Now in its fifth staging, Streetz Festival was previously held in St. Ann before making its Kingston debut in 2023, headlined by dancehall star Masicka. Past stagings have featured performances from artists like Ding Dong and Chronic Law, with surprise guest appearances consistently adding to the excitement alongside sets from renowned local selectors that help draw in the revelers.

The earlier stagings in St. Ann, held in 2017 and 2018, each attracted over 5,000 patrons, with the recent editions there pulling an impressive crowd of 7,000. "Streetz Festival is deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, showcasing the best of our music, the art, and our character, with a focus on authenticity and community," Williams expressed.

Reflecting on past lineups, including Masicka in 2023 and Chronic Law last year, Williams explained how headliners are chosen: "We discuss and decide on the headliner through a collaborative process, considering factors like artist popularity, relevance, and fan demand. We try to bring back to Jamaica performances that have not happened in a while," he explained.

With ticket sales going strong, there's been a high demand from both local and international fans eager to see the Unruly Boss live in action.

"Streetz Festival is deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, showcasing the best of our music, the art, and our character, with a focus on authenticity and community"

Partners with Dragon Stout for several years now as the main sponsor, the Streetz Festival team is promising an unforgettable experience for its fifth staging. "Attendees can expect an unforgettable night of performances from top local and international artists, delicious Jamaican cuisine, and of course, the stout inna di streets, Dragon," they shared.

Speaking on what sets the festival apart, Williams noted, "We're always exploring ways to grow and evolve the festival. This year, we’re introducing a Culture Stage, and there will be a lot of surprises added to the lineup. Come out early."

"Attendees can expect an unforgettable night of performances from top local and international artists, delicious Jamaican cuisine, and of course, the stout inna di streets, Dragon" (Photo: Ashanie Braham)

Preparing in full force, Williams and his team also revealed plans to take the Streetz brand overseas. "We've considered taking Streetz Festival overseas to reach the Jamaican diaspora and share our unique cultural experience. Look out for information on our overseas calendar next year," he added.