Web Posted - Sunday
July 31, 2022
When Steel Talks
Veteran panist
Marlon “Goose” Guerra of Utopia Pan Soul: The Next
Generation has passed
Marlon “Goose” Guerra
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
When Steel Talks extends our deepest condolences to the family
and friends of ace veteran panist Marlon Guerra. “Goose” as
Marlon was affectionately known, had been for many years a
member of New York’s Utopia Pan Soul: The Next Generation.
see
images
Web Posted - Saturday
July 30, 2022
The New Today
SMC CEO is disappointed
Kelvin Jacob - Chief Executive Officer of Spicemas Corporation
Grenada, W.I. - The Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Spicemas Corporation (SMC), Kelvin
Jacob has expressed disappointment with the level of
participation from the general public in some of this year’s
pre-Carnival events compared to previous years.
...“We are having Panorama with an added attraction. Again, we
are looking to see if we can bring more people into the Panorama
as well,” said Jacob, who spoke of SMC “bringing in a bouyon
band from Dominica ‘WCK,’ together with our top local
international artiste,” who will perform in a show planned to
commence after the Panorama event around midnight.
“So, it’s Bouyan, pan, and Jab music at the national stadium
on August 6,” added the SMC CEO, as he encouraged participation in the
upcoming events.
see more
Web Posted - Saturday
July 30, 2022
When Steel Talks
PAN: Independence, Renaissance, and Beyond
Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City
New York, USA - This
75-minute production, on Thursday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. -
performed in commemoration of Trinidad & Tobago’s 60th
anniversary of independence, features the steelpan—Trinidad &
Tobago’s national instrument. The instrument is symbolic and
serves as a measure of independence, renaissance, and continued
growth.
Venue is the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln
Center for the Performing Arts in New York.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
July 29, 2022
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Pan Elders Youth Steel Orchestra Concert
A special tribute to Dr Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste at
San Fernando Naparima Bowl
Band arranger Kevan Calliste leads the band with a song
San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago,
W.I. - ....The
Pan Elders Youth Steel Orchestra brand
fueled sound that proved they were nothing short of entertaining
and vibrant with an all-star cast of youth talent complimented
by song and the steelpan.
....The 62-plus orchestra led by multiple times Junior Calypso
Monarch and Sanfest winner Kevan Calliste arrangement provided
back up on the national instrument to soloists and held their
own with a pan medley for songs like Doctor Cassandra, Stranger,
Hulk, La La, and Golo....
see more
Web Posted - Thursday
July 28, 2022
Boston Herald
Explore the ins and outs of acoustic instruments at fest’s
Folk Craft area
“Making, Playing & Tuning Steel Pans” by Carl Smith and
Justin Petty of Boston
The Folk Craft area includes “Making, Playing & Tuning Steel
Pans” by Carl Smith and Justin Petty of Boston
Boston, USA - Discover how a
range of acoustic musical instruments are made in this year’s
Folk Craft area of the Lowell Folk Festival...Learn about the
making of world class pipe organs that fill concert halls,
uilleann pipes that enliven Irish music seisuns, Middle Eastern
ouds, Hardanger fiddles and violin bows that spur on dancers,
revived tiples and cuatros, and Trinidad’s steel pans that evoke
the Caribbean.
....One highlight includes “Making, Playing & Tuning Steel Pans”
with Carl Smith and Justin Petty of Boston.
....Smith grew up Trinidad, the steel band Mecca of the world.
In 1978, he brought the pan to Boston where he makes
instruments, plays and teaches local youth as manager of
Branches Steel Band. Petty joined the Rising Stars Youth Steel
Orchestra in St. Thomas before moving to Massachusetts, where he
has performed and arranged for the steel pan for over 30 years;
under his musical directorship, Branches has won multiple
competitions.
see more
Web Posted - Wednesday
July 27, 2022
i955fm
Google dedication to the Steel Pan renews calls for official proclamation as the National Instrument
Not the ‘national instrument’ [of Trinidad & Tobago]
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Google’s dedication to the Steel Pan renews calls for an official proclamation of Steel Pan as the National Instrument in
Parliament.
....And Minister of Culture, Tourism and the Arts Randall Mitchell said
he has been in discussion with
Pan Trinbago on the issue and the ball is in their court.
....Yesterday,
Mrs. Ramsey Moore said her organisation wants nothing short of
proclamation in Parliament.
see more
Web Posted - Wednesday
July 27, 2022
Toronto.com
Legendary band leader helped popularize steel pan in
Toronto, taught thousands of students
Earl La Pierre leads Afropan band in Toronto Caribbean
carnival’s premiere pan event
One of the founding members of Toronto’s Caribbean carnival, Earl La Pierre, shows his steel drum after a meeting at Spade Bar and Lounge in Scarborough
Toronto, Canada - Drawn to
steel pan before that was respectable or even safe, Earl La
Pierre Sr. used the instrument to teach thousands of North York
kids and establish Toronto’s longest-lasting and most successful
steel band.
In Trinidad, he said, he grew up hearing pan morning, noon and night.
La Pierre was willing to take licks from a disapproving parent to learn
it. “When I got home, I normally got beaten,” the Afropan leader recalled
this month.
“It was supposed to be a bad thing.”
see more
Web Posted - Wednesday
July 27, 2022
CBC Kids
It’s Caribbean carnival time!
Afropan Steelband of Toronto, Canada
Toronto, Canada - Every
summer, over one million people come to Toronto to celebrate
Caribbean culture and tradition. It is North America’s largest
street festival, this year it runs from July 28 to August 1. It
is four days of fun festivities and ends with a spectacular
Grande Parade!
....You can’t have a festival without music!
The sounds of the Caribbean festival come from the steelpan,
often called a steel drum....The musicians who play the steelpan
are called panists.
....Panists get to show off their musical talents at the
OSA
Pan-Alive Showcase [Friday July 29] this year.
see more
Web Posted -
Tuesday July 26, 2022
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Trinidad and Tobago creators, musicians team up for Google
Doodles steelpan collab
Nicholas Huggins, graphic artist
Global - Users who visited the online search engine Google’s
homepage on Tuesday were able to hear the sound of this
country’s national instrument, the steelpan.
....TT illustrator and graphic designer Nicholas Huggins
illustrated the video, and 3D artist and motion designer Mick
Seegobin did motion design.
....Huggins posted on Twitter: “Well the cat is out the bag. I have
created a
Google doodle on steelpan! Happy to keep flying the TT flag high!”
....He told Newsday he was initially approached by Google in
June 2020 and the project was intended to be a static image to
be used the following month.
....But he felt TT’s culture was too rich to be represented by
just a static image.
“I said we should animate it, add music...(I knew) there was so
much more that can be done to showcase the steelpan, and I think
the music was one of the most important aspects of the whole
thing.”
see more
Web Posted -
Tuesday July 26, 2022
Peterborough Telegraph
Music event celebrating the Windrush generation brings the
sound of reggae and steelpan drums to Peterborough
Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ could be heard in the city over
the weekend as live music celebrated the Peterborough’s Windrush generation
Windrush event at Cathedral Square. Steelpan musician Mr. Octavius
playing at the event
England, UK - An event
celebrating Peterborough’s Windrush generation brought the sound
of reggae music and steelpan drums to the city over the weekend.
Cathedral Square played host to local bands and musicians
throughout the day on Saturday (July 23) – with live
performances from steelpan headline act Mr. Octavius, and reggae
and ska band Zeb Rootz, who closed the event with a cover of Bob
Marley’s ‘One Love.’
The event was a celebration of the
Windrush generation – the
name given to people arriving in the UK from Caribbean countries
between 1948 and 1971.
see more,
images
Web Posted -
Tuesday July 26, 2022
Loop News Barbados
Republic Bank Pandemonium beyond ‘pan-tastic’
Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra on stage at the Republic
Bank Pandemonium
Bridgetown, Barbados, W.I. -
....Hundreds, matter of fact, thousands congregated at the new
Waterford, St Michael venue to enjoy the sweet sounds of pan and
enjoy a ‘pan-tastic’ Sunday with family and friends.
The event
which replaces the esteemed Pan Pun De Sand, did not disappoint.
....The line up of bands included St Leonard’s Church Steelpan,
Frederick Smith Secondary School, Aceworks Vintage Steelpan,
Euophony Steel Orchestra, BCC Pan Ensemble, Leh We Go, Phoenix
Steel Orchestra and Kunjaz Steel Ensemble from Guyana.
....At 8 p.m., the crowds surrounding the trailers dispersed and
everyone flocked to the main stage where the Barbados National
Steel Orchestra graced the stage.
see more
Web Posted - Monday
July 25, 2022
When Steel Talks
Technology Giant “Google” Celebrates the steelpan instrument
via Google Doodle
Celebrating Steelpan - Illustration by artist Nicholas
Huggins
Doodle
of
steelpan
instrument
‘live’
on
Google’s
web
site
Global - On Tuesday July 26,
2022 the steelpan instrument of Trinidad and Tobago is featured
and celebrated on the site of technology giant “Google” via the
famed Google ‘Doodle.’ The ‘Doodle’ is essentially an
illustrative change made to the Google corporate logo “to
celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous
artists, pioneers, and scientists” - and more. The doodle is then seen
by users all around the world who access Google’s homepage on that
day, and is available thereafter in the doodle archives.
....Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins is the
creator of the illustrative artwork featured in the doodle,
while Etienne Charles is the composer of the accompanying music
performed by the legendary steelpan icon Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
see more
Web Posted - Monday
July 25, 2022
When Steel Talks
Pandemonium at Crop Over 2022 an Absolute Success
Barbados Demonstrates Serious Commitment to Pan within
its Carnival Structure
The Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra performs on the main
stage at “Pandemonium” for Crop Over 2022
Bridgetown, Barbados, W.I. -
On Sunday July 24, 2022 the steelpan instrument was featured as
a major part of the renowned Crop Over festival
in
Barbados. Captioned “Pandemonium,” the event replaced the
traditional Pan Pun De Sand celebrations. Indeed, a serious statement was delivered to
the world, as well over seven continuous hours of live steelband musical performances were presented, staged and live
streamed to the world. There was not even as much as a three-minute
downtime between performing acts; everything just flowed. A remarkable feat given the
number of moving parts and people - literally that called on some
audacious and innovative technological forward-thinking, stage
production and show management.
see more
Web Posted - Monday
July 25, 2022
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Back-Ah-Yard mentoring Point Fortin youth through the arts
Silver Harps Youth Steel Orchestra perform at Back-Ah-Yard’s
Mama’s Yard, Boodoo Street, Point Fortin, as part of the Poetry
meets Steelpan Youth Exchange programme
Point Fortin, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
....Back-Ah-Yard, is headed by artiste Dixie-Ann Joseph
who is also known as Shakeela on stage. She is invested in
helping the youth in her community develop their performing and
creative skills by giving them the necessary support.
....As part of an ongoing creative arts youth interaction, the
Back-Ah-Yard youth hosted Silver Harps Youth Steel Orchestra
under its Poetry meets Steelpan Youth Exchange programme on July
9.
....“To be able to host our young ones, to bring about poetry
meets steelpan, was already a dream come true, but to hear poets
as young as five years execute their pieces on the melodies from
steelpan, made it even more magical,” Shakeela said.
The return leg of the Poetry meets Steelpan Youth Exchange will be in August
at Silver Harps Steel Orchestra Panyard, Salazar Trace, Point Fortin, as the
band is currently conducting its pan vacation camp until July 31.
see more
Web Posted - Sunday
July 24, 2022
When Steel Talks
Pandemonium at Barbados Crop Over - Live Stream
Bridgetown, Barbados, W.I. - Several
steelbands are part of Pandemonium, on Sunday July 24 from 2:00
p.m. Venue is the National Botanical Gardens.
Those scheduled to appear include the BCC Pan Ensemble, the Barbados
National Youth Steel Orchestra, the Frederick Smith Secondary School
Steel Orchestra, Euphony Steel Orchestra, Aceworks Vintage
Steelpan, DejaVu, Phoenix Steel Orchestra and Guyana’s Kunjaz Steel
Ensemble.
see live stream
Web Posted - Sunday
July 24, 2022
Kaieteur News
PanJam: The SteelBand Jamboree slated for today
Saxophonist Roy Stewart performing with the steel band at the
last year’s concert
Georgetown, Guyana, S.A. -
The creators of PanJazz Concerts have announced the 2022 edition
of the annual event dubbed “PanJam: The SteelBand Jamboree,”
slated for today, July 24, 2022, at the Georgetown Club.
This edition is said to have an exciting twist to the already
enthralling concept, and will include a fusion of Caribbean
genres of music – Soca, Reggae and Chutney, featuring local
artists.
Founder of PanJazz, Reon Miller said that patrons can look
forward to 10 times the excitement this year, as the team would
have built on the success of the previous years, to enhance the
experience for 2022.
....“When I started in 2018, I was pretty young, but from
feedback I received, I was doing pretty well, so I continued and
the support kept growing over the years. I believe that is
credited to the fact that there is no yearly steelpan event in
Guyana that focuses on the steelpan experience like PanJazz
would. The ones we have are mainly focused on involvement with
bands and soloists competing, but PanJazz focuses on an
experience for the audience. And that is the selling point,
since there is a huge fanbase for steelpan music in Guyana,”
Miller said.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
July 22, 2022
New York Carib News
Caribbean Labor Day Carnival Back And Live
New York, USA - The
Brooklyn-based West Indian American Day Carnival Association
(WIADCA) Caribbean Carnival showcase is back in business
inviting all the Carnival lovers in Brooklyn and beyond to put
on their hottest Carnival outfits and join in on the
celebration. The WIADCA announced their return earlier this
week, that their carnival festivities will proceed this Labor
Day weekend after a 2-year wait due to the
COVID-19
pandemic.
....“Produced by WIADCA, from Thursday, Sept. 1 to Monday, Sept. 5,
patrons can expect an exciting week-long lead-up of Caribbean
food, culture, music, and heritage ahead of the iconic West
Indian Carnival Parade.”
“Are you ready to experience North America’s largest
presentation of colorful costumes, sweet steel band music, and a
Caribbean cultural roadshow?”
see more
Web Posted - Friday
July 22, 2022
When Steel Talks
Sweet steelpan to create Pandemonium in Barbados!
Bridgetown, Barbados, W.I. -
The National Botanical Gardens comes alive with the sweet, sweet
sounds of steel pan this Sunday, July 24. It’s non-stop musical
action, and fun for the whole family, from 2:00 p.m. as the
National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) first-ever Republic Bank
Pandemonium event kicks off.
....“If you’re a music lover, this really will be an event you
don’t want to miss,” stated Karen Pestaina, Festival Events
Coordinator at the NCF.
“When we say ‘Pandemonium’ we mean it literally! We have two
40-ft mobile stages, as well as a main stage so the steel pan
action will be non-stop,” she said.
see more
Web Posted - Thursday
July 21, 2022
CentralPark.com
See the very best of Steelpan music at Harlem Meer Performance Festival
New York, USA -
This summer’s festival
closes with Despers USA Steel Orchestra. Despers USA is the oldest New York-based
offshoot of the legendary
Desperadoes
Steel Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago.
....This is a free, family-friendly community event overlooking the beautiful
Harlem Meer on Sunday August 21st, 2022.
see more
Web Posted - Wednesday
July 20, 2022
News Room
Pomp, flair & an explosion of Caribbean music promised at
‘PanJam’
PanJazz player and steel pan player Reon Miller
Guyana, SA - You might have
heard Vicadi Singh’s chutney hit “Neva Gonna Leave’ or Patrice
Roberts’ soca song “Tender.” But have you heard those songs
played on the steelpan?
Young Guyanese pan player Reon Miller is hoping to introduce
patrons to those songs and much more through his new concert:
PanJam- the Steelband jamboree. In fact, he hopes this new
concert can become a new local entertainment sensation.
Parkside Steel Orchestra of Guyana will clash with the Guyana Police Force band at ‘Pan Jam’
....The jamboree will be held on Sunday at the Black Magenta (formerly
the Georgetown Club) on Camp street.
....In the latter half of the show, the Caribbean Airlines Parkside steel
orchestra and Guyana Police Force steel orchestra- fierce rivals at Guyana’s
annual panorama event- will face off in what Miller terms a “pseudo-clash.”
see more
Web Posted - Wednesday
July 20, 2022
Toledo Blade
Review: Talented panist delivers unique dedication to women
in her life with ‘Girl in the Yard’
Toronto, Canada - ....On Girl in the Yard, though, panist Joy Lapps goes well
beyond tropical fun and gives the listener some serious
jazzy-samba arrangements of songs dedicated to women who’ve had
a positive influence on her life, such as her mother. Two songs
are dedicated to her, including one of the more complex and
intriguing, called “Eyes of Amerralys.”
“The more I experience life as a Mom, human being and wife, the
more I love and appreciate my mother,” Lapps said.
....Lapps is a Grammy nominee whose command of the steelpan is a
real pleasure to hear, not only in terms of her musicianship but
also her leadership and confidence.
....A 2016 Juno Award winner, she has performed with acclaimed
steelbands around the world, such as Calypsociation in Paris,
birdsong Steel Orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago and
Pan Fantasy
in her native Toronto.
see more
Web Posted - Tuesday
July 19, 2022
Tamarac Talk
Celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month at Tamarac’s Water’s Edge
Park
Florida, USA - The City of
Tamarac celebrates Caribbean Heritage Month with a fun family
event at Water’s Edge Park.
....The original date in June was rained out, so the parks and
recreation department are trying again for Saturday, July 30,
from noon to 2 p.m.
The celebration includes food, games, a DJ, and a steel drum performance
by Melo Groove Steel Orchestra.
With musicians representing Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts, U.S. Virgin
Islands, Haiti, Grenada, and Japan, the orchestra strives for musical
excellence to expand the rich tradition of steel pan music in all genres.
Local to Tamarac, Melo Groove Steel Orchestra also operates as a music
academy for children.
see more
Web Posted - Tuesday
July 19, 2022
When Steel Talks
St. Lucia Carnival - Parade of the Bands 2022 - Tuesday -
Live Stream
St. Lucia, W.I. - A total of
eleven bands have registered for this year’s parade. The parade
will follow its traditional route and begin at Choc, down the
John Compton Highway, through the city of Castries and back to
Choc.
click for live stream
Web Posted - Thursday
July 14, 2022
The State Journal
Frankfort’s steel drum ensemble gets ready for performance
at KSU Alumni Stadium
Steel Band Director Jeff Martin goes over sheet music with one
of his students during the steel drum ensemble clinic
Frankfort, Kentucky, USA -
For the past week the
unmistakeable sound of steel drum music has been emanating from
the Yes Arts Center at City Hall as a group of kids and a few
adults have taken part in Steel Drum Ensemble Clinic being
offered through Just Say Yes.
....The clinic was taught by Jeff Martin, director of the
nationally-acclaimed Clark Montessori Steel Band in Cincinnati.
Martin, who brought more than a dozen drums on loan from his
school, said that his goals for the class extend past simply
learning how to play music.
....How the program originated and how it was able to get a
steelpan instructor of Martin’s caliber to Frankfort, is due in
huge part to Amelia Berry, the Just Say Yes project director.
see more
Web Posted - Thursday
July 14, 2022
The Strad
Andie, Andy and Andy present a work for violin, trumpet and
steel pan
Global - Members of the
Andes Trio, who all share the same first name, perform Akiho’s
work “the rAy’s end”
In an instrumentation not seen every day, violinist Andie Tanning,
trumpeter Andy Kozar and percussionist
Andy Akiho perform “the rAy’s end.”
Akiho composed the work in 2008 for the trio, dubbed ‘The Andes’ because
of the first name shared by its members - indeed, the title of this work,
’the rAy’s end,’ can be rearranged to spell out ‘three Andys’.
....The album will be released on 15 July 2022 on all digital platforms.
see
video
Web Posted - Thursday
July 14, 2022
Daily Camera
Hooplagers brings beach vibes to Wibby with giant pools,
floats and lagers galore - Pan Association performs
The Pan Association
Colorado, USA - ....Craving a
tropical escape, but can’t swing the expensive plane ticket?
Wibby Brewing is offering a refreshing solution by bringing back
its highly anticipated Hooplagers: The Lager Hoopla.
From noon-6 p.m. Saturday, attendees of the bash can wade in
oversized pools, catch some rays on two make-shift sandy
beaches, dance to silent disco and enjoy pool-side pours from a
whole slew of breweries.
....Wibby has enlisted Pan Association — a Colorado-based group
of musicians who play calypso and more — to once again add to
the party’s island vibe.
“Pan Association performed once for this event a few years ago
and had a blast,” said musician Paul Munzenrider, co-founder of
Pan Association. “The atmosphere was incredible, and the music
was a great addition. It’s always cool to play for an energetic
crowd.”
From “Africa” by Toto to “Levitating” by Dua Lipa, Pan
Association offers a sizzling soundtrack.
see more
Web Posted - Thursday
July 14, 2022
Yahoo! News
Charles and Camilla Get into the Carnival Spirit in Notting
Hill - Prince Charles tries his hand at steelpan
Prince Charles tries his hand at steelpan while Notting Hill
Carnival Ltd. Executive Director
Matthew Phillip looks on
London, England, UK - The
Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visit The Tabernacle in
west London to mark the return of
Notting Hill Carnival in August. Prince Charles tried his
hand at the steelpan whilst Camilla chatted to members of the
community.
see video
Web Posted - Wednesday
July 13, 2022
The Voice
Prince Charles welcomes return of Notting Hill Carnival with
visit
Carnival organisers welcome support from future Monarch
Carnival returns and gets a royal approval -
Prince Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, during a visit to the
heart of the annual jamboree
London, England, UK - The
return of the
Notting Hill Carnival, following the
COVID-19
pandemic, has been endorsed by the Prince Wales and The Duchess
of Cornwall, during a visit to the heart of the annual jamboree.
....The Royal couple witnessed a photography exhibition,
masquerade dancers, wire sculptors and performances from
Ebony
and
Mangrove
steel bands. It also revealed The Prince of Wales
latent abilities as a steel band player, as he joyfully played
the drums.
IN TUNE WITH THE BEAT: The Prince of Wales and
Matthew Phillip,
CEO (right)
Matthew Phillip, CEO of Notting Hill Carnival Limited, believes
the visit will boost perceptions of the occasion. Speaking to
The Voice said: “The visit of Prince Charles and his wife at
the heart of the Carnival community will add to the acceptance
of the event, among mainstream Britain.
“Prince Charles has displayed genuine support for the Carnival
spanning over 40 years. During difficult times when big voices
were trying to stop the event, without support from individuals
like Prince Charles, the occasion would not be taking place in
2022.”
see more
Web Posted - Monday
July 11, 2022
When Steel Talks
St. Lucia Panorama 2022 Results - Champions Again -
Babonneau Steel Orchestra Retains Title with Arranger Allison
Marquis
Babonneau Steel Orchestra
St. Lucia, W.I. - After two
years of no official Panorama activity in St. Lucia due to
COVID-19, the competition stage at the SAB in Castries came
alive with four bands taking on defending champions Babonneau
Steel Orchestra. The band, led musically by resident arranger
Allison Marquis retained their crown scoring 271 playing “Carnal
Knowledge” by De Invader, and coming in one point ahead of their
nearest challenger, Pantime Steel Orchestra. Past champions
themselves, Pantime performed Amrit Samaroo’s arrangement of
Teddyson John’s “Sweet Soca Music.”
see more
Web Posted - Sunday
July 10, 2022
When Steel Talks
St. Lucia National Panorama 2022 - Live Stream
St. Lucia, W.I. - Five steel
orchestras compete for the title in the 2022 St. Lucia National
Panorama. The live stream features the event at venue the SAB,
Vigie Playing Field, in Castries, from 8:00 p.m. on Sunday July
10.
click for live stream
Web Posted -
Saturday July 9, 2022
Worcester News
Busker Jamani Stewart plays steelpan drums and has women ‘hit on him’
Jamani Stewart, 27 spotted in Worcester
Worcester, England, UK -
A ROMEO busker says he gets hit on by lovestruck
women while playing the steelpan drums in city centres.
Jamani Stewart, 27, is a full-time steel pan busker who aims to
be in a different city every day.
The musician could be spotted drumming up a crowd of fans in
Worcester with his melodious and unique music.
Mr. Stewart, who is originally from Great Barr, Birmingham, has
been professionally busking for ten years and says sometimes
women will leave him money and a note that says ‘call me.’
see
more
Web Posted -
Friday
July 8, 2022
When Steel Talks
Meet Allison Marquis, arranger in the St. Lucia National
Steelband Panorama competition
St. Lucia, W.I. - Allison
Marquis started playing pan when he joined the Babonneau
Superstars Steel Orchestra in 1978 at the age of 13. He
immediately became very curious about arranging and started
arranging for the band about two years later. Shortly
thereafter, the band’s main arranger passed on the
responsibility to Allison.
see more
Web Posted -
Friday
July 8, 2022
When Steel Talks
Meet Andrius Edwide, arranger in the St. Lucia National
Steelband Panorama competition
St. Lucia, W.I. - Andrius
Edwide is one of the key personnel along with the other leaders
of St. Lucia’s Laborie Pan Project. It is more than a steelband;
rather, it is a community initiative. Edwide is the band’s
musical director and arranger. He is also a pan soloist, plays
all instruments in the steel orchestra and is an accomplished
drummer. Laborie Steel Pan is playing in first position in the
2022 national Panorama on Sunday July 10.
see more
Web Posted -
Thursday July 7, 2022
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Panorama champs Desperadoes Steel Orchestra installs board of directors
Members of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra’s
new board of directors installed on June
12. Missing: Chantal Esdelle, and
Russell Huggins
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
National Panorama champion Desperadoes Steel Orchestra has
installed a board of directors and former minister of national
security Russell Huggins will be the band’s legal affairs
director.
....The new board will be responsible for all administration and
management activities of the
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, a media release
said.
see
more
Web Posted -
Tuesday July 5, 2022
When Steel Talks
St. Lucia 2022 Steelband Panorama - Order of Appearance
Castries, St. Lucia, W.I. -
Five steel orchestras return to the competition stage of the
country’s national Panorama competition on Sunday July 10 at
8:00 p.m.. Along with the defending champions, Babonneau Steel
Orchestra - Laborie Steel Orchestra, Pantastic Muzik Steel
Orchestra, Pantime Steel Orchestra and newcomers SM Steel will
all make their way to the venue of the SAB in Vigie.
see
more
Web Posted -
Tuesday
July 5, 2022
When Steel Talks
Steelbands Set for St. Lucia Panorama 2022
Castries, St. Lucia, W.I. -
Participating steel orchestras in this year’s Panorama
Competition announced that they are excited and ready for this
year’s competition, set to take place this Sunday, July 10 at
the SAB in Vigie.
A total of five bands will compete in the following order: #1 -
Laborie Steel Pan; #2 - Pantastic Muzik Steel Orchestra; #3 -
Pantime Steel Orchestra; #4 - Babonneau Steel Orchestra; #5 - SM
Steel.
Arranger for reigning champions Babonneau Steel
Orchestra, Allison Marquis, said “We’ve been practicing since we
heard that there would be a return to Saint Lucia Carnival 2022
and we’re working hard to defend our championship.....”
see more
Web Posted -
Monday July 4, 2022
Daily Herald
“Calypso Summer” brings steelpan music to Fox Valley Orchestra July 10
Liam Teague, director of NIU Steelband,
joins the Fox Valley Orchestra for a
“Calypso Summer” concert on Sunday, July
10
Illinois, USA - The Fox
Valley Orchestra will present “Calypso Summer,” led by principal
guest conductor Stephen Squires, on Sunday, July 10, at the
Batavia Fine Arts Centre.
The concert will feature
Liam Teague, professor of music and head of Steelpan studies
at
Northern Illinois University, where he also directs the
renowned
NIU Steelband.
....Hailed as the “Paganini of the Steelpan,” Teague has
performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras and
ensembles, shares his talent with the Fox Valley Orchestra in a
concert sure to uplift and inspire.
see
more
Web Posted -
Sunday
July 3, 2022
The Worthington Globe
International Festival: Cool vibrations from music ensembles
on Friday, Saturday
Caribbean steel drums, reggae, Ethiopian music all on
tap
Worthington, Minnesota, USA -
Get ready to move and groove to cool tunes rooted in various
ethnic traditions.
“Music is a universal language that transcends culture,” said
Felicia Kelly, booking agent for three Twin Cities-based bands
slated to perform at the 2022 Worthington International
Festival.
....Experienced and enthusiastic musicians, skilled at putting
their audiences at ease, are the hallmark of Pan Dimensions (a
Caribbean steel drum duo), Innocent Reggae and Genet Abate (a
female-led Ethiopian ensemble).
Pan Dimensions:
Saturday July 9, 12:30-1:25 p.m.
They make it all look so easy, but do not underestimate
Caribbean drum specialists like Lance Pollonais and Charles
“Chilly” Petrus of Pan Dimensions. You cannot do this at home.
“The steelpan is considered the most recently invented modern
instrument,” said Kelly, who has worked as a high school social
studies and geography teacher when she’s not promoting musical
ensembles.
“It’s only been since the 1990s that
Northern Illinois University started programs offering
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in steelpan music.”
see more
Web Posted - Friday
July 1, 2022
Newport News Times
Pan Wizards perform
Oregon, USA - The 30-plus
member Pan Wizards, from the Seattle area, recognized as one of
the top high-school-level steel drum bands in the U.S.,
performed Monday evening in the parking lot next to the Newport
Performing Arts Center. The event, called “Beats and Eats,” was
hosted by the Newport Parks and Recreation Department.
see
original post
Web Posted - Friday
July 1, 2022
Searchlight
‘Tings nice again’ for Vincymas 2022
Kingstown, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, W.I. - Over the next five days, our premiere
cultural festival, which had been put on pause for the last two
years, will come to a climax with the finals of the major
calypso, soca, ragga and steelband competitions, the ‘ole mas’
competition and a showcase of the mas bands.
This year’s festival is a scaled back version compared with
previous years as the Miss SVG pageant and the junior steel band
competition have been pushed back to October...
In February...the Ministry of Culture, Carnival Development
Corporation (CDC), and the representatives of the main
components of the festival – mas, steelpan and calypso decided
to go with this version of VincyMas, rather than no festival at
all, given the uncertainty associated with the COVID-19
pandemic.
.....on Sunday, in the night of the finals, ‘PanKaiMas’ will
present the best we have to offer in calypso, steelpan and mas.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
July 1, 2022
Q1065.fm
Free Steelband Concerts at Chapin Park in Bangor Thursdays This Summer
Bangor, Maine, USA - ....As I was
cruising around Facebook this week, I came across a post about a
live concert happening at Chapin Park in Bangor.
I loaded the kids in the van, grabbed some grub, and headed over
to the park.
When we got there, there was a small crowd of folks with lawn
chairs and blankets, relaxing on the lawn as “Panstorm” a local
steel drum band performed some great tunes.
They played some traditional sounding steel drum music but also
some more familiar pop songs, as well.
....After the performance, we were even able to go get an
up-close look at the instruments. The band members were
extremely gracious and very informative.
see more
Web Posted - February
2020
When Steel Talks
Complete Summary of Results of all Conventional Steel Orchestras - 2020
Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - At a glance
and on a single page, access the comprehensive summary of results for the Small,
Medium and Large conventional steel orchestras that participated in their respective
categories in the 2020 Panorama.
Follow the musical journey of respective bands through all three phases -
compare side-by-side preliminaries, semi-finals and finals through data on band
info, scores, tunes of choice and arrangers - on one page.
access full summary