Mash fever gripped Thirst Park on Saturday night when Hits and Jams Entertainment launched their mash band for the coming year’s celebrations.

Mashing under the theme “Unification” revellers, clad in skimpy and colourful costumes, took to the stage a little after 11 pm and did their thing before a massive crowd at the event dubbed “Mash Band Launching and Soca Party”.

Sporting gold, blue, red and black costumes accentuated with elaborate head-dresses the revellers kicked off the band’s Mashramani celebrations for 2004.

The Mash band is the promotion group’s second project for the February 23 celebrations. Local designer, Nadia Thomas created the innovative and exciting costumes around the four basic colours, contrasted to signify the unity and diversity of the Guyanese people.

Thomas is a graduate of the Burrowes School of Arts and a final year University of Guyana (UG) student. Promoter Troy Mendonca told Stabroek News, Thomas was the official designer of Hits and Jams Promotions having worked with the group on the Miss Jamzone beach pageants.

Mendonca said that the early launch was aimed at getting the public involved and patrons onboard. He said the focus was on the private sector noting that three companies were already hooked.

According to Mendonca, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company, Banks DIH Limited and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce will be mashing with the band come next year.

Kerwin Bollers, another promoter with the group described the Mash band as “stress free”. He said the group offered a generous package covering everything from costumes to meals on the Mash Day. Bollers pointed out that the package also included free entry into the pre-Mashramani activities put on by the group.

According to Bollers, the theme “Unification” was in keeping with next year’s Mash theme, “Unity, beauty and more in 2004”. He said that the early launching allowed patrons especially the larger companies to make recommendations.

He added that the group’s upcoming events included a jeans party, a glow party, insomnia (dusk `til dawn bash which starts at midnight), the Mash Nite Jam and the Mash Wash Down. (Iana Seales)