The annual clash of the UK’s finest steel bands runs from 4pm to midnight on Saturday 24 August. The venue is Horniman’s Pleasance, a small park on Kensal Road that becomes an honorary enclave of the Caribbean on Carnival Saturday.
While smoke drifts across the park from the surrounding food stalls, suffusing the air with tempting aromas, steelpan aficionados discuss the contenders’ likely prospects. It’s far more than a music show, for this fierce competition arouses as much passion and partisanship as a football championship.
Each band has its unique style and sound, so even when two bands play the same tune, the performances never sound the same. Like a great chef, the steel band’s arranger adds their signature spice to the musical ingredients.
Here are the finalist, their performance position, song and arranger.
BAND 1
Mangrove Steelband
How Ah Livin by Farmer Nappy
Arranger – Andre White
BAND 2
Croydon Steel Orchestra
DNA by Mical Teja
Arranger – Marlon Hibbert
BAND 3
Real Steel
Pan In Danger by Merchant
Arranger – Leroy Clarke
BAND 4
Metronomes Steel Orchestra
Inventor by Olatunji
Arranger – Vivian Miller
BAND 5
Ebony Steelband
How Ah Livin by Farmer Nappy
Arranger – Duvone Stewart
