From Kingston to Canada, and soon possibly New York, Los Angeles and Jamaica itself, Fabian Cole, better known as “Boomas,” is building more than just a party brand. Through Soul Food Tuesdays and the expanding Soul Food Caribbean Festival, he is helping lead what he calls a growing “souls movement” within Jamaican and Caribbean culture.
In an interview with World Music Views, Boomas reflected on the evolution of the brand, the deep Caribbean connection to soul and R&B music, and his ambitions to take the movement worldwide.
“We do other shows overseas now,” Boomas explained. “Soul Food Caribbean Festival, it’s the same branch, but we now kind of differentiate the Tuesdays with the festival. The Tuesdays is what morphed into the festival.”
What started as a weekly event built around classic soul music and authentic food has now become an international cultural experience.
“We have good soul music, 100% traditional soul music, and we have 100% traditional foods that people enjoy each time they come to the event,” he said. “We named it Soul Food Tuesday. So every Tuesday night, people from all over the world, stages, they come, they watch live and they visit the location for the party.”
While Jamaica is globally associated with reggae and dancehall, Boomas believes soul music has always had a home in Caribbean culture.
“Jamaica is known for dancehall music but souls music is taking over because there’s a souls movement currently going on,” he said.
For Boomas, the relationship between Jamaicans and soul music is natural and historical.
“We are the mother of our souls. We started this,” he said passionately. “We are the one who put together and say, yeah, a party can go, can keep without playing reggae music, playing just soul music.”
He says soul music changes the mood and emotional atmosphere of an event in a way other genres often cannot.
“People like soul music,” he said. “If you’ve been at a hundred percent dancehall party all night and you don’t hear any soul music, it feels a way. At least you have to leave a little space for soul music in the interval.”
That energy and emotional connection is exactly what attendees now expect from Soul Food Tuesdays.
“Even just to be at Soul Food Tuesdays, it’s just fun being there,” Boomas said. “People come expect to have fun.”
The Soul Food Caribbean Festival has already begun expanding internationally. The first staging was held in England under the Born To Killers banner, followed by last year’s Canadian edition featuring Masicka, Mavado and female acts. This year, the festival is raising the stakes with a lineup headlined by Capleton, alongside reggae star Gyptian and rising sensation Dyani.
“We powered up with Capleton, who hasn’t been on this side for almost two decades,” Boomas noted. “Trying to do a successful and a very much energetic show.”
The anticipation for the Canadian event is already building rapidly.
“We have launched our ticket sales and tickets are moving very much,” he said. “Trust me, it’s moving.”
The festival is set for July 1, 2026 in Markham, Ontario at Esna Park, a location Boomas says was strategically selected.
“It’s a central area in Markham, Esna Park,” he explained. “We have parking right around because it’s a commercial area. People easily get around in Markham. It’s a very centralized location.”
Although deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, Boomas believes reggae and soul music continue to resonate strongly with Canadian audiences.
“Canadians love reggae music,” he said. “I think we both have the culture where Canadians are grounded for reggae.”
His long-term vision extends well beyond Canada.
“I want to take this brand around the world,” Boomas said. “We’re looking forward for the next show over sometimes in New York. We might go down to LA. We do England, we do Canada, we’re looking to America in some spots, later on some of the Caribbean.”
Ironically, despite its Jamaican roots, the Soul Food Festival has not yet staged a major festival in Jamaica itself — something Boomas says must happen soon.
“We haven’t done a festival like this in our home country,” he admitted. “I think we have to do one. I have to do a festival like this in Jamaica because we’re Jamaican and we have the brand.”
He believes the market is ready.
“The numbers I’m seeing happening for souls music, it’s competing with the biggest festivals,” he said. “I’m seeing the place just incredible and it’s being held the day before work. Some people are coming out even though they have work the next morning. And that says something about the kind of music that’s there.”
If given the chance to stage a Jamaican edition, Boomas already has ideas for crossover talent. One artist he specifically mentioned was American R&B star Keyshia Cole.
“I would bring her,” he said. “She hasn’t been here in a long time.”
Boomas’ journey into event promotion came from years of loving music and sound system culture.
“I love music,” he said simply. “I like sound system. I watch everything going coming up.”
His first real opportunity came through connections with the Bounty Killer’s camp.
“I said, ‘Yo, I want to do a show,’” he recalled. “And that’s how I came to start doing shows. I said, let’s try to find a team and put together stuff so we can execute and get things done.”
