BUSHY PARK, synonymous with motorsport events, was transformed into a sea of sun and soca when the National Cultural Foundation held one of its premier events at the St Philip venue for the first time on Sunday.Dubbed Soca Royale, it got a convincing thumbs-up from several soca lovers and party animals, who were overheard speaking favourably about the venue. From the morning hours, Soca Royale’s subdued ambience belied the intensity of what was coming, as people trickled in with coolers, umbrellas, chairs and sunscreens seeking the best vantage point under the close supervision of security personnel.Vendors also unpacked and set up their stalls in preparation for the anticipated large crowd. But it turned out to be a bigger spectacle than expected, with an estimated 12 000 patrons packing into the bowl-shaped Bushy Park, which seems to have instantly established itself as the new “soca bowl” since the move of the Party Monarch Competition from the East Coast Road and Farley Hill.The physical layout of the grounds also made entering and exiting easy, while the stage was strategically placed to give patrons, judges and the media a perfect view of the performances by Mikey, TC, Edwin, Mr Dale, Li’l Rick, Ras Iley, and others.The sweet sounds from the stage kept the crowd bouncing and swaying, and it was clear that most patrons enjoyed the smooth proceedings, which may well lead organisers to consider Bushy Park as the official venue for this annual event.
