Steel Pan

[Simon Partridge]

For fans of Steel Pan now is a great time to be in Tobago. Leading upto carnival all the Steel bands on Tobago are busy practicing. You can see the various bands in their Pan Yards each evening, we spent time watching the Bucconeers last night, really good. Going to Catzenjammers at the new Pan Yard at Black Rock tonight.
Saturday evening is the prelims competition where judges visit the PanYards to judge bands and the winners go through to finals in Trinidad. Starts i believe at about 7pm down at Canaan, then proceeds to Carnbee followed by Buccoo and then Black Rock. Should be a great night!!!!

[Hugh S]

Sounds wonderful! Wish I was there to enjoy it.

Have you seen or heard our Redemption Sound Setters at the Montgomery yard? I drift off to sleep listening to them when I'm there. Sigh.

Thanks, Hugh

[Simon Partridge]

Hi Hugh having a great time, sorry you are not on the island. Well Saturday night was great fun visiting the pan yards for the prelim competition. The only mistake we made was thinking that as usual, in Tobago, timings mean little. Foiled again as everything seemed to run like a well oiled machine. This meant that we got to Carib Dixieland as the judging finished!! Raced to Steel Explosion at the basketball court by Redemption to see their routine and judging, great sound & energy & lots of people. Left for the Buccooneers but decided to go straight to Black Rock as traffic into Buccoo rammed and we had seen their set earlier in the week. By the time the judges arrived at Katzenjammers there was a massive following & a real party atmosphere. Having won medium band at the Panorama finals last year Katzenjammers have a lot to live upto but i can honestly say they were brilliant, loads of energy, great arrangement, very polished performance. What a night and we have a bonus that the big bands are judging on Monday so we will be off to see Redemption who we have heard are really good this year. Life doesn't get much better than this!!

[Simon Partridge]

Watch out Trinidad!!! The Tobago bands are coming. There will be eleven representatives from Tobago at the steel pan semi finals in Trinidad. I believe two soloists, three small bands, five medium and Redemption in the big band category.
Had a great night watching Redemption perform last night, great crowd of people & real party atmosphere. Good luck to all Tobago Bands, only sorry we won't be at the finals to support!

[Hugh S]

Thanks for the reports! Wish we could be there too!

Hugh

[TheBirds]

Hi Guys,

We are new to this forum lark so bear with us!

We are getting married on Pigeon Point in August and the missus would love to walk down the aisle (golden sand between her toes - Oh Yeah!) to a steel pan soloist. Any help would be much appreciated in regard to recommendations or any info. you have on what you have seen from your partying.

We can't wait to fly out, we haven't been to 'Bago since 2008!

Cheers Guys!