One Last Show: Amity Steelband Festival Set to Conclude This Sunday
Written by EDYOU FM Staff on August 22, 2025
For the past five weeks, the Unit of Allied Arts in collaboration with EdYou FM has given several schools a stage to showcase their steelpan chops. After a successful first concert on Sunday July 6, 2025, Amity was extended for an additional six weeks, with the final show slated for this Sunday, August 24, 2025 on the Kingston Seawall Esplanade. The show begins at 5PM.
Music Education Officer Joel Gonsalves, in an interview with EdYou FM, explained that Amity, which means friendly relations, began as an annual concert in 1996. After a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Amity returned last year.
Education Officer (Music), Joel Gonsalves
This year, in response to the overwhelming support from the public, the concert was expanded to a six-week festival. Every week, two school bands lit up the Kingston Seawall Esplanade with electrifying steelpan renditions. We saw performances from New Amsterdam Secondary, St. Stanislaus College, the Bishops’ High School, President’s College, West Demerara Secondary, and the event’s staple performers and only community band, the GBTI Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra. True to the festival’s theme, “Rhythms of One Guyana”, the bands performed several genres of pan music- Folk Songs, Chutney, Soca, Reggae, Gospel, Calypso, Oldies, Latin Music and Pop.
Reflecting on the festival thus far, Gonsalves commended the public for their support, lauding Amity as a testimony that the artform and culture of steelpan is alive and flourishing among Guyana’s youth. He hopes that through their participation in the festival that “The children definitely will leave with confidence, knowing that [they] would have done [their] best to please the public”.
While Amity is a friendly showcase and not a competition, one stand out group in this festival is the GBTI Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra. For the past 15 years, this group has consistently excelled in several local steelpan competitions. Every Sunday, Buxton Pride captivated patrons with their delightful performances. This Sunday’s grand finale promises to be even more exciting.
In a brief interview with EdYou FM, Band Co-ordinator Fitzroy Young applauded the Ministry for this event. For him, Amity Schools Steelband Festival is a platform to promote their band and to support the steelpan artform.
Written By: Carlene Samuel
