The Building Returns: Kartel leads dancehall back to the club

HUNDREDS poured into the National Arena on Saturday for the highly anticipated Return of The Building. Promising patrons a trip down memory lane, organisers transported eager partygoers back to an era when Kingston’s nightlife was ruled by its hottest clubs.

Headlined by Vybz Kartel, the event leaned heavily into the unpredictability and movement that once defined places such as The Building, Fiction and Quad. Instead of unfolding as a traditional concert, with one performance neatly following another, the evening was a mix of music, artistes, selectors, dancers and familiar faces, all operating inside a space transformed by disco lighting, liquor and a heavy dose of nostalgia.

Ahead of the event, organisers outlined that today’s party scene is increasingly being driven by patrons following brands, promoters, and concepts from venue to venue. They argued that Jamaica’s entertainment landscape has shifted away from the era when the nightclub itself was the destination. Still, Saturday’s event proved that though much has changed, Jamaica’s love for music remains unshakeable, and with that love comes unwavering support for an active nightlife, no matter the venue.