As part of the 1951 Festival of Britain, The Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) performed in the UK for the first time – forever transforming the DNA of British music. Since then, the steel pan instrument has been a symbol of innovation and community-powered creativity.
Hosted by comedian and musician ‘The Sassy One’ Kayleigh Lewis, this spectacular night illuminates the true dynamism of the art form, cementing the steel pan’s place as one of the most innovative instruments of the 20th century.
The evening features world premieres and new works, fusing the steel pan with disciplines ranging from classical and jazz to afrobeat, gospel and blues.
Featured composers include Blue Lab Beats, Jenny Gilberg, Nabihah Iqbal, Delphina James, Soweto Kinch, and Marlon The Pannist.
Calypsonian heavyweights Tobago Crusoe and Alexander D Great are showcasing their mastery of extempo (a lyrically improvised form of calypso). Stay tuned for more guest artists to be announced.
In the spirit of TASPO – which brought 11 players together for the first-ever UK steel pan performance – this concert features a brand-new, bespoke 25-piece steel orchestra. The ensemble unites top talent from the UK’s premier and legacy steel bands, including Ebony, Endurance Mangrove, Metronomes, Pan Nation, Real Steel, New Generation, North Tyneside, Dallaway Steel, Southside Harmonics and Stardust.
Steel Pan Reimagined dives into the musical legacy of steel pan music and cements its central place within the global pantheon of genre-defying music.
