By Leiselle Maraj Saturday, September 15 2012

In less than two hours, pastelles were finished and most of the large crowd gathered at the Lions Cultural Centre, Port-of-Spain, last week Friday were left hungry for more Christmas music.

Those who missed out on the seasonal eats were not disappointed however as sweet parang, dished out by traditional and competition bands, ruled the night at Los Voces Jovenes’ “Start De Parang”, its 15th anniversary celebration and parang cooler event.

By the time the show got off to a 45-minute late start, the seated area was filled and other patrons were made to do with the standing room around the main area. Those on their feet had the advantage of being able to dance or do a two-step to the sounds of Los Parranderos de UWI, the first band to entertain for the night. The band gave a mix of traditional naciemientos, annunciaciones and some of its music from its albums, whetting the appetites of the parang afficionados for the rest of the formidable line-up.

Nine-time national parang champion, Los Alumnos De San Juan, took to the stage next and demonstrated its parang prowess and even included some non-seasonal numbers like a Latin version of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” and Gloria Estefan’s “Conga”, which resulted in members of the band heading to the dance floor and forming a conga line with patrons.

Los Amigos Cantadores, Viva Nueva and parang stalwarts La Familia de Rio Claro and the Lara Brothers gave the parang lovers just enough to hold them over until home band, Los Voces Jovenes, ended the night’s proceedings.

Patrons, including host of television show Holly B’s Parang Bandwagon, Holly Betaudier, danced the night away as each band took to the stage, interrupted only to accommodate band changes.