Los Pintos strike winning chord at busking festival

KUCHING: Local band Los Pintos emerged as the standout performers at the Kuching International Busking Festival (KIBF), outshining 36 other busking groups and over 400 participants in a spirited competition held at Plaza Merdeka here Saturday night (Aug 31).

Led by 64-year-old Paka Siam, who plays both the keyboard and guitar, the four-member band captivated the audience with their vibrant blend of Latin and Caribbean rhythms.

Paka Siam speaks to reporters.

Their set included crowd-pleasers like ‘Jamaica Farewell’ and ‘Banana Boat (Day-O),’ which had the audience singing along to the iconic chorus, ‘Daylight come and me wan’ go home,’ and dancing to their infectious beats.

The performance earned them the top spot in the festival, taking home a trophy and RM2,000 cash prize, presented by Principal Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dr Elena Gregoria Chai.

“We’re thrilled with the win, actually. Last year (at the Kuching Busking Festival), we were placed second, so this year, we worked hard to win.

“We chose simple, easy songs that could involve the audience, making everyone happy. Busking is all about participation, and the crowd was really into it,” said Paka.

The band, originally known as Hi-Breed, came around the local music scene since 1987. Their name, according to Paka, is a play on the word ‘hybrid,’ which reflects the group’s diverse ethnic makeup, with members from Malay, Chinese, and Bidayuh backgrounds.

Paka (right) with his group ‘Los Pintos’.

He said the band was initially formed because they wanted to participate in the Battle of the Bands in 1987.

“So, we gathered our members, and we won that competition. From then on, there was no turning back. Our members are mostly local, which has allowed us to maintain the group until today, with some of the original members still with us,” he said.

For this performance, the band performed under the name Los Pintos, a temporary moniker they use when playing as a four-piece ensemble.

“Hi-Breed has been around for more than 30 years, but for tonight, with one member unable to join us, we performed as Los Pintos.

“Our music is versatile; while we have a strong foundation in country and western, we also enjoy playing Latin and other genres,” he explained.

Participants pose for a group photo at the Kuching International Busking Festival.

Paka also shared that despite many years together, the group is still evolving, with some new members joining the original ones.

“Two of our members are new, while two of us have been here from the beginning,” he noted.

He added that now, all the band members are full-time musicians, including him, who taught music at Sekolah Seni Malaysia Sarawak.

Beyond their success at KIBF, Los Pintos and Hi-Breed frequently perform at weddings, corporate events, and various music festivals, including the upcoming Country Music Festival in Siniawan, Bau, later this month.

Second place went to Friendz Buskers, who received a trophy and RM1,500 cash prize, while The CR Buskers from Bintulu took third place with a trophy and RM800.

The Plaza Merdeka People’s Choice Award, with a RM1,000 prize, went to Mine Dance Studio, and the Continental Cycles Emerging Artist Award was awarded to the Freeload.

Meanwhile, the Petra Jaya Properties U18 Best Young Talent Award went to Teresa Tari.