When is a group of people playing steelpan not a band? When it’s a family. That was the message from the concert given by, and in aid of, Metronomes Steel Orchestra at The Tabernacle on 25 April.
Metronomes this year has reached the ripe old age of 52, but even as some of the pioneers have sadly passed on recently, the baton is being taken up by a new generation. The youngest member of its youth section, Mini Metro, is just 6 years old.
An appreciative audience heard first from Mini Metro, sounding confident, then the very accomplished B Side and finally the most impressive Stage Side.
As well as appreciating the beautiful sound of steelpan, there was pleasure in watching the players interacting with each other and creating their own graceful choreography – a sure sign of a band that is at one with itself.
This bore out some of the testimony from the videos of players talking about their experiences of playing with Metronomes. One said: “We’re there for each other. We stick together as a family. We are all one.”
On Sunday 25 May, everyone is invited to join the Metronomes ‘family’ for their barbecue launch lime at the panyard in Kensal Road, London W10 5BN, from 2pm to 9pm. And if you have ever wondered whether steelpan might be for you, why not find out on Sunday?
