Champions of Steel
Hosted
in Hyde Park
United Kingdom
-
2007 sees the celebration of the 29th
Anniversary of the Notting Hill Panorama,
‘Champions of Steel’ competition on the 25th
August 2007 to be held in Hyde Park. For many
years, Honiman’s Pleasant on Kensal Road has
been the venue for this iconic Carnival event.
Since the Russell Henderson steelband played at
the inaugural Notting Hill Children’s
Neighbourhood Festival in 1964, organised by
Rhaune Laslett, steelband music is noted as the
first recognised form of music to appear at the
Carnival and continues to play an important role
in what is now termed the largest street
festival in Europe and possibly the world with
the exception of Brazil’s Carnival.
|
Defending Champions Ebony |
The first National Steel band competition was
held in 1978 and was won by Paddington Youth
Steel Orchestra led by Zac Herbert. This annual
national steelband musical battle sees top UK
bands vying for the coveted title of the Notting
Hill, ‘Champions of Steel’ with great enthusiasm
and vigour. On the evening of the 25th
August 2007 the audience at Hyde Park will
witness nine steel orchestras with over 500 pan
musicians who practice for hundreds of hours,
play thousands of pan instruments. An explosion
of sweet steel pan music ringing out calypso and
soca musical renditions from the past as well as
the present will be heard. The audience will be
in awe when hit by these inspiring musical
pieces. Steel pan has and always been the
perfect machinery to promote unity in diversity.
Over the past four years the UK pan fraternity
has seen an influx of young ‘local’ pan
arrangers develop into established musicians and
also winning the coveted title in the likes of
Kyron Akal. Other young and talented arrangers
include Brent Holder, Leroy Clarke, Paul Dowie,
Chris Storey and joining them for 2007 is gifted
Samuel Du Bois who will be arranging for Ebony
Steel Orchestra.
These young arrangers will certainly have a
musical war on their hands when they come up
against the likes of world renowned steelband
arrangers Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe, Rudy ‘Two Lef’
Smith, Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore and Eustace
Benjamin.
Bands appearing on the night are Croydon, Ebony,
Glissando, Mangrove, Metronomes, Pantasia, Real
Steel, Southside and Stardust. This competition
will certainly continue to offer its audience an
evening filled with a wealth of steelband music.
The British Association of Steelbands would like
to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Carnival
2007.
Click here for complete info on the bands
From the News
Desk of Robbie Joseph / Panpodium:
www.panpodium.com
NATIONAL PANORAMA COMPETITION
Previous results
Year |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
1978 |
Paddington Youth |
Metronomes |
Glissando |
1979 |
Metronomes |
Paddington Youth |
Ebony |
1980 |
London All Stars |
Ebony |
Metronomes |
1981 |
Metronomes/Mangrove |
London All Stars |
1982 |
Metronomes |
Ebony |
London All Stars |
1983 |
Ebony |
Metronomes |
Mangrove |
1984 |
Metronomes |
Ebony |
Mangrove |
1985 |
London All Stars |
Mangrove |
Ebony |
1986 |
Mangrove |
Ebony |
Stardust |
1987 |
Phase 1 |
London All Stars |
Stardust |
1988 |
Ebony |
Metronomes |
Mangrove |
1989
(Bromyard) |
London All Stars |
Stardust |
|
1989
(INC) |
Ebony |
Mangrove |
Metronomes |
1990 |
Mangrove |
Ebony |
Metronomes |
1991 |
Ebony |
Mangrove |
London All Stars/North Stars |
1992 |
Ebony |
Mangrove/Metronomes |
Pantonic |
1993 |
Ebony |
Metronomes |
Mangrove |
1994 |
Ebony |
Pantonic |
Lambeth Youth |
1995 |
Ebony |
Pantonic |
Lambeth Youth |
1996 |
Ebony |
Eclipse |
Mangrove |
1997 |
Ebony |
Glissando |
Eclipse |
1998 |
Ebony |
Southside |
Eclipse |
1999 |
Ebony |
Mangrove |
Glissando |
2000 |
Mangrove |
Ebony |
Glissando |
2001 |
Ebony |
Mangrove |
Metronomes |
2002 |
Mangrove/North Stars |
|
Real Steel |
2003 |
Mangrove |
Ebony |
Glissando |
2004 |
Mangrove |
Ebony |
Glissando |
2005 |
Ebony
|
Stardust
|
Southside Harmonics
|
2006 |
Ebony |
Stardust |
Glissando |