Beres or Popcaan? Who pulled the largest crowd?
The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) has further fueled the debate with a photo of the crowd on the nights the legendary Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter Beres Hammond (born Hugh Beresford Hammond) and Jamaican dancehall artiste Popcaan (born Andrae Hugh Sutherland) performed.
Beres night
The timeless Beres Hammond was the headliner on August 4, 2026, on a night that also featured Adam O, Blind Earz, and Nadia Batson.
Many flocked to Lavida Cottoy Festiville, especially to get a first glimpse, or yet another, of the iconic Beres Hammond, who did not disappoint. The 70-year-old, although not as vibrant in his mobility as in his younger years, still possessed that sweet voice that has charmed audiences and fans for decades.
Popcaan night
Popcaan, whose hit singles include 'Way Up', Only Man She Want', and 'Party Shot', was the crowd attraction on Friday, August 7, 2026. Other artistes included Stefan, Banco Bizmol, Boss, and VIBE.
Lavida Cottoy Festiville was once again flooded with patrons, highlighting the major pull of international artistes during emancipation festivals.
Without any attendance numbers for those two nights provided by VIF&FC, the debaters will have to use the photographs provided to back up their arguments as to who pulled the largest crowd to Lavida Cottoy Festiville.
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26 Responses to “Beres or Popcaan? Who pulled the largest crowd?”
Glad this chaotic time of year is finally over.
Every Festival it’s the same cycle—fights, gun violence, reckless driving and people behaving like basic respect and self-control no longer matter. At some point we have to stop pretending these are just isolated incidents. When the same problems happen year after year, it’s fair to question the environment that’s being created.
Festival should be about celebrating our culture, not providing a stage for hotheads, gang affiliates and people carrying weapons. Too many can’t make it through a single event without fighting, flashing gang signs, glorifying guns or settling disputes with violence.
The influence on our young people is equally concerning. Many grow up believing this lifestyle is something to admire because they’re constantly surrounded by it. Between social media, peer pressure and performances where some local rappers and international dancehall artists glorify violence, drugs, sexual promiscuity, gangs, easy money and the “fast life,” it’s easy to see why some youths begin to view that lifestyle as normal or even desirable.
Music alone doesn’t create criminals, but it can influence attitudes and reinforce behaviour—especially when it’s combined with poor role models and an environment where that lifestyle is celebrated instead of challenged.
Then, after another week of fights and gun incidents, everyone suddenly becomes an advocate for peace.
“Stop the violence.”
“Put the guns down.”
But peace isn’t something you demand only after the damage is done. It starts with rejecting the culture that repeatedly glorifies violence, recklessness and criminality.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Festival or enjoying yourself. The problem is when an event repeatedly attracts the same disorder, the same violence and the same criminal behaviour, yet we’re expected to pretend there’s no connection. If we truly want better for the next generation, we have to stop normalizing the very influences that are pulling too many of them in the wrong direction.
who wanna bet we have one full week of peace after festival week? only proves my point of what festival attracts and promotes !
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