The Parkside Steel Ensemble recently performed in neighbouring Brazil and Suriname and according to a release from the band it did so before “mammoth” crowds.

The band travelled to Brazil on June 25 for the annual Festival of Three Nations, which was part of the ‘Festa Junina’ celebrations – a traditional nine-day festival.

“Parkside opened Guyana’s presentation on June 27 to a mammoth crowd, which showed great appreciation for the group’s performance,” the press release said. The presentation was complemented with a display of the Golden Arrowhead by model Riah Austin accompanied by the rendition of Hilton Hemmerding’s “Oh Beautiful Guyana” and a chutney dance segment by Tameka Dabichand.

The Brazil trip was organised by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, through Deputy Consulate for Guyana in Brazil, Hannibal Ferreira.

The band then travelled to Suriname for that country’s emancipation celebration ‘Keti Koti’ on July 1 where a huge contingent walked through the streets of Nickerie stopping at several cultural landmarks before settling at a cultural hall for food and traditional Kaseko music.

The group said that its art-form was well received in both countries and it was honoured to have participated.

Come next month the band will perform with the National Steel Orchestra for Carifesta X.