Perhaps it was the $50 admission charged but the turnout at last Friday’s Pan Night, at bpTT Renegades pan theatre, on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, was small. In stark contrast, the music played though was large. Hosted by Pan Trinbago as part of its Pan Month programme, pan lovers relished a varied menu of exquisite music served by Uni Stars, Supernovas, Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille, NLCB Fonclaire and Witco Desperadoes. Uni Stars of Laventille, fielding several young musicians, opened proceedings, followed by Supernovas of Lopinot.
This eastern band performed a mesmerising repertoire of music, arranged by Amrit Samaroo, son of legendary pan musician Jit Samaroo. Each selection evoked frenzied response but it was the band’s interpretation of the late Lord Blakie’s Hold de Pussy that really energised the venue. With arranger Ken “Professor” Philmore in attendance, south band Fonclaire was thoroughly entertaining. Equally enjoyable was Sound Specialists. As is now a norm at many steelband events, Desperadoes was the last band to perform, doing so after midnight and generating its usual excitement. As Pan Trinbago’s observance of Pan Month (August) draws to a close, the steelband calendar is packed with exciting events, beginning on the evening of August 22, when CAL Invaders steel orchestra stages its eagerly awaited Versatility concert at Lord Kitchener Auditorium, at the Napa, Port-of-Spain.
Under the musical direction of Arddin Herbert, Versatility will feature 2013 Road March champion and joint International Power Soca Monarch SuperBlue, H2O Phlo, Richard Pierre, Aaron Duncan, Rembunction, Tamba Gwindi, Karen Eccles, Bishop Anstey High School Choir, Diego Martin Footprint Drummers, Invaders Youth steel orchestra and more. Guest conductors for the show are Dr Jeannine Remy and Lorraine Granderson, and showtime is 7.30 pm. On August 25, Melodians Steel Orchestra will host its anniversary commemoration, at its panyard on Bellamy Street, Arima, from 8 pm. Pan Trinbago and many of its members also have events scheduled across the land for the final two days of the month of August. Down South, at OWTU Palms Club, Pointe-a-Pierre Road, San Fernando, Pan Trinbago’s South/Central Region, in collaboration with OWTU, will hold Steel the Night Away on August 30.
Scheduled to begin at 9 pm, music will be by San City, Darren Sheppard’s Fusion and Sapophonics steel orchestras, and DJ Richard C. That same night, in the nation’s capital, at Renegades pan theatre, the nine-time National Panorama champions will hold its innovative Single Pan Session, at 8 pm. For the very reasonable fee of $40 pan lovers will be entertained by some of the nation’s best Single Pan bands, including La Creole Pan Groove, Brimblers, Stardust, St James Tripolians, City Sun Valley, Scrunters Pan Groove and Uni Stars. As is now traditional, Carib Woodbrook Playboyz Steel will be the headline steelband for the annual August 30 Ice Picks Sports Club party, at The Harvard Club, St James. This year’s party is billed as Back With a Bang.
Also a tradition, several steelbands, including Woodbrook Playboyz, White Oak Starlift, CAL Invaders and Trinidad All Stars, are hosting Independence Day brunch at their respective panyards. From 9 am, on Independence Day, Renegades too will join in this fun by having a “Pay by your shoe size!” lime, with music by Renegades Youth Orchestra, St James Tripolians and DJ KC Klass is Class. The day ends with the Independence Dance being held by Pan Trinbago’s South/Central Region, at Palms Club, San Fernando, from 9 pm.