Local folk singer and punk rocker Gavin Mendonca has had quite the year, as he continues to make great strides as a musician and cultural ambassador for Guyana.
His year began with a trip to the Dominican Republic in January where he performed at an Eco/Camping Festival ‘Quelonios Festival’ in Playa En Valle. In the month that followed, the singer helped with the organizing of the annual Rupununi Music and Arts Festival, which was held at Manari Ranch and said to be a huge success. In April, he and his heavy metal band, Feed the Flames, were selected as finalists for the second Wacken Metal Battle Caribbean, which saw them take the stage in Trinidad at Skyy Rock Festival for the second year in a row.
By May, Gavin was already releasing a music video for his song “How To Build A Tree House”, which was done in a short-film style. The film which was shot at the Kaieteur Falls includes the use of Patamona Folklore and Language, as well as the beautiful story of the falls. The film made its premier in Georgetown at the Timehri Film Festival, and has since been screened in the United Kingdom, New York and Florida. It was produced by Derrick ‘Ziggy’ Denheart and the song produced by Kross Kolor Records.