When the skies opened last Friday and the rains fell heavily, accompanied by lightning and thunder, few thought that the third edition of Desperadoes Steel Orchestra’s Nine Fridays for Patrick Augustus Manning would be held. But, as dusk approached, the rain gods relented, and, with a watery moon overhead, the event eventually mushroomed into a successful and entertaining event.
Lovers of pan music converged on Desperadoes’ temporary panyard on Frederick Street to be entertained by Desperadoes Youth Steel, Newtown Playboyz, Massy Trinidad All Stars, CAL Invaders, Hadco Phase II Pan Groove, bpTT Renegades, FCB Supernovas and Desperadoes.
It was a remarkable night of steelband music with vendors making a brisk trade selling an assortment of culinary delights like jerk chicken and bake and shark and a number of patrons were seen with picnic baskets.
Nine Fridays for Patrick Augustus Manning continues this evening at 8 pm at the same venue and will feature St Francois Youth Steel Orchestra, Desperadoes Youth, T&T Defence Steel Orchestra and Flabej.
Pan Trinbago Inc is also continuing its commemoration of Steelband Month with the hosting of Love Yuh Own tomorrow night, at 7 pm, at bpTT Renegades Pan Theatre, Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain.
For some very good fun on Sunday, check out bpTT Renegades’ Rock D Boat Morning Cooler Boat Ride aboard the Treasure Queen 2, Pier 2, Chaguaramas. Boarding time is 8 am.
Diatonic youths teach youth pan
Diatonic Pan Institute, a registered NGO and CBO, hosted its fourth annual Vacation Pan Camp during the period July 11 – August 12. A total of 18 students participated in this year’s programme which involved playing the instrument, understanding rhythms and basic music theory. Sporting activities were included in the form of cricket and football as part of the package offered by Diatonic camp to the children.
The programme was managed and executed by Diatonic youthful members who are all qualified graded musicians. The panel included Administrator Summer Balkaran (22) and music tutors Jemeel Byer (14), Rickella Marshall (15), Kyle Charles (16) and Zaria Baxam (19).
The graduation was held on Saturday, August 13 and attended by Pan Trinbago Inc South Central Chairman David Balbosa. The graduates performed the national anthem to start proceedings and later in the programme showcased their acquired skills by performing much to the delight of the audience a number of songs and scales that they were taught during the camp.
Diatonic Pan Institute President Keith Byer spoke to a packed audience comprising the proud parents of graduates and members of their extended family, well-wishers and specially invited guests about the importance of sports and culture (with special emphasis on the steelband) on the lives of our nation’s youths.
The pan camp was provided free of charge to the community of Siparia.
Youth celebrate Steelband Month
Youth steelbands hold the spotlight this weekend as Pan Trinbago celebrates Steelband Month as two steelpan activities are being held with the youth as the target audience.
In the North, the bpTT Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra will present its first Extravaganza tomorrow at the St James Amphitheatre, Western Main Road, between 2 pm and 6 pm. The exciting programme for the youths and produced by the youths include Junior Panorama champions steel orchestras St Francois Girls’ College Steel Orchestra, St Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra, Trinidad All Stars Youth Steel Orchestra and hosts bp Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra. There is no cover charge to this event.
In the east, at the LH Pan Groove Pan Academy, Neville Jules Crescent, Phase5, La Horquetta, tomorrow LH Pan Groove will be hosting a Youth Steelband Jamboree at 11 am to 6 pm. The steelpan activity will feature San City Junior Steel Orchestra, Exocubs, BATCE Steel Orchestra, Golden Hands, Invaders Junior Steel Orchestra and LH Pan Academy. There will be several incentives at this event for participating bands including the opportunity to host a similar event at their panyard during the year.
At the LH event, patrons are not left out as they too will be eligible to giveaways at both events. There is a small admission fee of $40 for adults whilst children will be admitted free.
Pan Trinbago Inc, the parent body encourages the young promoters while recognising the need for events such as these, moreso, as the association celebrates the 24th edition of Steelband Month.
The pan community is invited to come out to lend support to these events while enjoying the immense steelpan talent while fostering the continued growth for future generations.
Mac Farlane returns
After Carnival 2016 the gossip mill started churning with expectation that celebrated mas designers Peter Minshall and Brian Mac Farlane would return to the Band of the Year fray in 2017. With next year’s Carnival still six months away, no definitive word has come from the Minshall tribe, but there is some certainty that Mac Farlane’s mas will be back on the streets of Port-of-Spain come Carnival Monday and Tuesday 2017.
Mac Farlane PRO Tenille Clarke is currently in Brasil, but Pulse understands that the drawings are almost completed, a camp has been located and all systems are go for the return of Mac Farlane mas next year.
Mac Farlane is the only Carnival designer with seven consecutive Band of the Year victories. He achieved this feat in 2007 (India—The Story of Boyie); 2008 (Earth: Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope); 2009 (Out of Africa: Africa—Her People, Her Glory, Her Tears); 2010 (Resurrection the Mas); 2011 (Humanity Circle of Life); 2012 (Sanctification...In Search Of); and 2013 (Joy the Finale).
A ding dong tussle is expected in 2017 for Band of the Year laurels, with Mac Farlane facing off against reigning champion Ronnie & Caro, Legacy, Trini Revellers, Yuma, newcomer The Lost Tribe and Massy Trinidad All Stars with its traditional mas.
In other mas news, four time Band of the Year winner Legacy is launching its 2017 presentation on Saturday, September 3, at Tsar Club on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook. Because of the launch bandleader “Big Mike” Antoine was forced to turn down some lucrative contracty to produce mas at this year’s Labour Day Carnival, also being held on the same weekend.
The right stuff
The printer’s devil was on duty last week when I wrote that Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra defeated FCB Supernovas in last year’s International Panorama competition by two points. All Stars in fact won the final by a whopping 12 points.
Also, in the piece headlined Pan in Danger, referring to the issue of of security of tenure for steelbands, I included MHTL Starlift among the bands being in danger. In fact, in 2003, a relocation agreement was reached with the HCL, then Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown and the management committee, for Starlift to be removed from Tragarete Road. The original spot offered was rejected and then Starlift captain Michael Clarke requested 1 Christopher Samuel Drive, the band’s present location. A valid lease agreement was drawn up for 30 years with the option to renew and for HCL to constructing premises to the band’s liking.
On the weekend Clarke stated: “They went beyond our expectations and the band moved into its new home on Carnival Tuesday 2004, as the agreement and construction was completed after we had started carnival preparations.”
Pulse apologises to Trinidad All Stars and Starlift for these errors in last weekend’s edition.