Web Posted - Thursday June 29, 2023
When Steel Talks

The Anatomy of St. Vincent Steelband Panorama 2023: Order of Appearance & Quick Chart

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I. - Six steel orchestras are slated to take on and attempt to dethrone 2022 Panorama champions Starlift Steel Orchestra at the July 6 competition. In the Panorama segment of Steel and Glitter unfolding at Carnival City, Victoria Park in Kingstown, steelpan enthusiasts and music and culture lovers in general will revel in the sound of steel during the country’s annual Carnival season.
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Web Posted - Thursday June 29, 2023
When Steel Talks

St. Vincent Junior National Panorama 2023 Competition - Steelbands & Tunes

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, W.I. - The Caribbean nation’s young steelband musicians are in the spotlight come July 2 in the annual junior Panorama.  Five steel orchestras will be in competition this Sunday.

Presented by the Carnival Development Corporation and billed as the Vinlec Junior Panorama, the event comes off at Victoria Park in Kingstown, with start times on social media having been advertised at both 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.
See listing

Web Posted - Sunday June 25, 2023
When Steel Talks

The Anatomy of Panorama 2023: St. Lucia National Panorama Steelband Music Competition

Saint Lucia, W.I. - Pan lovers have the opportunity to support and cheer on their favorite bands in the country’s upcoming national Panorama on Sunday July 9 at 8:00 p.m.

See the steel orchestras, and their tunes and arrangers for the 2023 competition.
See more

Web Posted - Sunday June 25, 2023
Toronto Star

The steel pan is more than a vacation sound to Joy Lapps — it’s about the joy of self-expression

Lapps is one of the few women to specialize in steel pan or steel drum. She will share her passion with the Toronto Jazz Festival

Toronto, Canada - ....“For me, it’s about — in whatever work that I do — seeing how I can centre women’s voices,” said Lapps, who will appear with her seven-piece Joy Lapps Project at the Toronto Jazz Festival on June 30 (the festival began Friday).

“In the earliest steel band days, women were not allowed to play. They were not allowed to even date a pan man,” Lapps said. “Parents didn’t want their daughters associated with people who played in steel bands.

“So for me to be able to be a woman who is composing, consulting and teaching any instrument where the tool is a steel pan is such a big deal. Because, even now, there aren’t many pan players who are operating in the space that I’m operating in.”

....For the record, Lapps’ husband is Larnell Lewis, drummer for popular U.S. jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy.
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Web Posted - Wednesday June 21, 2023
Ct.gov

St Luke’s Steel Band receives grant:  Connecticut Governor Lamont Announces $7 Million in State Grants for Upgrades and Improvements at 34 Cultural and Historic Sites

Connecticut, USA - Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut is releasing more than $7 million in state grants to several nonprofit organizations for the purposes of making facility and infrastructure upgrades at 34 cultural and historic sites statewide.

The funds are being released under the state’s Good to Great Grant Program, which is co-administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and CT Humanities. It was established in 2014 with a goal of helping nonprofit arts, cultural, or history organizations enhance visitors’ experiences in engaging, meaningful, and relevant ways.

The 2023 Good to Great funding recipients include:

* St Luke’s Steel Band (New Haven): $49,420 to source and purchase new Steel Pans for the band and acquire a new trailer used to transport the instruments for their performance engagements.
See more, full list of recipients

Web Posted - Tuesday June 20, 2023
Comox Valley Record

Seattle student orchestra coming to Courtenay for outdoor music series

High school group will play familiar hits using an orchestra of steel drums

A student orchestra will play a range of music using steel drums on Sunday, June 25 at Simms Millennium Park

Washington, USA - ....The orchestra of 35 students will cover a swath of music, ranging from pop tunes to classical, according to executive director Gary Gibson. The steel-drum expert said his students have been building towards the tour since September.

“It’s a great character-building experience for the kids,” he told the Record. “The kids feel like rock stars — and they are.”

....In true rockstar fashion, the group is travelling together on a 56-passenger bus. Also on the journey is a cargo trailer from Seattle.
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Web Posted - Sunday June 18, 2023
When Steel Talks

Happy Father’s Day to all the Steelpan & Steelband Music Dads

Global - When Steel Talks celebrates Dads all over the world - including the Steelpan and Steelband Music Dads!

Enjoy the sounds of two performances on pan celebrating Dad!
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Web Posted - Wednesday June 14, 2023
When Steel Talks

The Musicology of Etienne Charles - Carnival: The Sound of a People at Jazz at Lincoln Center

by Angela Howard

Carnival: The Sound of a People at Jazz at Lincoln Center

New York, USA - Etienne Charles captivated audiences once more on at The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 9 and 10. Performing pieces from Carnival: The Sound of a People, Charles reminded audiences that the world of jazz looks to the entire Diaspora for inspiration.

The show was visual as well as auditory. Dancers in the roles of the Dame Lorraine, a La Diablesse - replete with her cow-foot, and a Jab Molassie demonstrated to the audience some of the imagery behind Caribbean lore.
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Web Posted - Monday June 12, 2023
When Steel Talks

Supernovas Steel Orchestra and Chord Masters Rule the Return of Pan in the 21st Century & Pan Down Memory Lane - Full Results

Champion arrangers Amrit Samaroo and André White get the job done

Supernovas Steel Orchestra on stage at Pan in the 21st Century 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Supernovas Steel Orchestra led by arranger Amrit Samaroo took the title in Pan in the 21st Century. Also in the coveted spot, Chord Masters Steel Orchestra copped the top honors in Pan Down Memory Lane, working once more with arranger André White.

....With their explosive performance - literally - of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” arranged by Amrit, Supernovas brought the crowd in attendance to its feet in a standing ovation. In doing so, the orchestra also claimed the top prize of TT $200,000.00 (circa USD $29,531.77) in its category.
See full results

Web Posted - Sunday June 11, 2023
When Steel Talks

Pan Down Memory Lane and Pan in the 21st Century ‘Stream’

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Thirteen single pan bands in Pan Down Memory Lane 2023, and twelve steel orchestras in Pan in the 21st Century 2023, compete Sunday June 11 for the championship in their respective categories. The venue is the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.  This is a broadcast of the competition.
See broadcast

Web Posted - Wednesday June 7, 2023
When Steel Talks

Pan in the 21st Century 2023 - Order of Appearance

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Twelve conventional steel orchestras are sparring musically in the finals for Pan in the 21st Century on June 11. The event is the second segment in the musical showcase coming off at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain and follows the Pan Down Memory Lane competition immediately preceding.
See appearance order

Web Posted - Wednesday June 7, 2023
When Steel Talks

Pan Down Memory Lane 2023 - Order of Appearance

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - With the weeks-long qualifying rounds for both Pan Down Memory Lane and Pan in the 21st Century complete, the respective single pan bands and steel orchestras now know the order in which they will compete on June 11. The drawing for appearance order was held by event organizer Pan Trinbago on June 7.
See appearance order

Web Posted - Monday June 5, 2023
When Steel Talks

Following Up: Israel McLeod - Trinidad and Tobago

Women and the Steelpan Art Form

Israel McLeod

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - “It is good to see that we are steadily increasing the avenues for our women and girls to demonstrate their insight and competencies as Managers, Captains, Liaison Representatives, Arrangers, Groovers, Tuners and Entrepreneurs. It helps to foster a nurturing and enterprising environment for our youth and elders. When women and girls are empowered, it can only auger well for the future of our economies and societies, as there is representation at all levels and a deeper commitment to sustainable development...”  -- Israel McLeod

A significant period of time has passed since our initial 2015 interview with Israel McLeod (MA) (Marketing & Communications Specialist, Steelband Liaison, Manageress, Entrepreneur, Steelpan Musician and Mother)...   In this follow-up exclusive interview with When Steel Talks Ms. McLeod shares from her unique vantage point experiences, insight and realities on the progress of PAN in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Web Posted - Monday June 5, 2023
When Steel Talks

Pan in the 21st Century 2023 Preliminaries Results - Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - ....After several years, the Pan in the 21st Century competition makes a return via organizers Pan Trinbago.

The top twelve bands, with Couva Joylanders and Katzenjammers steel orchestras currently tied and in the lead - have moved on from the preliminaries to the June 11 finals.
See full results

Web Posted - Monday June 5, 2023
The Argus

Brighton musician on Little Mermaid soundtrack plays at film premiere

Rachel Rankin-Hayward

England, UK - A musician who played on the soundtrack for the new Little Mermaid film treated movie lovers to a live performance at the show’s premiere.

Rachel Rankin-Hayward was dressed in underwater themed garments as she performed in the foyer of Brighton Marina’s Cineworld ahead of the screening.

Fans young and old were shocked to learn that the music they would hear on the film was played by Rachel, who they met on their way in.

And the magic was not lost on Rachel either, who was thrilled to hear her steel pan skills through the cinema’s big screen speakers during the screening on May 26.
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Web Posted - Sunday June 4, 2023
When Steel Talks

‘The Little Mermaid’ Star Halle Bailey Loves Steelpan Cover by Panist Keishaun Julien

Global  - The Little Mermaid’ star Halle Bailey has expressed her love and approval of steelpan musician Keishaun Julien’s cover of “Under the Sea.”

Keishaun Julien is an outstanding panist who is well known throughout the world for his steelpan music covers of popular music hits...
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Web Posted - Thursday June 1, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille aims for Pan in the 21st Century title

Courts Sounds Specialists of Laventille

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille will be participating in Pan in the 21st Century 2023. This competition showcases the most distinguished steelbands across the country.

The sponsored steelband will play live at its panyard in Quarry Road, Laventille, on June 3 in front of a selection of Pan Trinbago judges and their supporters. If successful, it will move onto the final round on June 11 at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah.
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Complete Summary of Results of all Conventional Steel Orchestras - 2023 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 2023 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

When Steel Talks

Facebook got it wrong - Meta World and WST & SteelPan Are Friends Again

Facebook “Likes” sends PanOnTheNet Apology - “We got it wrong”

Metaverse - Facebook got it wrong. About three years ago without warning or reason all WST (When Steel Talks) steelpan-related accounts fell out of favor with the social media giant Facebook now known as Meta and its aligned consortiums (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). Because WST has all of our material hosted on our own shared servers, this ‘tag’ was not incurable or as problematic as it could have been. However, it was annoying to have people seeking critical steelpan music info diverted by Facebook AI (artificial intelligence).
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Web Posted
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.
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