Steelbands like Vibes as prelims begin

Vibes is the tune of choice for 16 of the steelbands in the conventional category in this year’s Panorama competition. It is composed by Mark Loquan, Ken  Philmore (Professor) and Destra Garcia with vocals by Destra. Bands performing this piece are Laventille Serenaders, Simple Song, Fascinators Pan Symphony, Tipica, Belmont Fifth Dimension, Valley Harps, BP Renegades, Starlift, CLICO Sforzata, Potential Symphony, Sangre Grande Cordettes, Old Tech Steel Orchestra, NLCB Fonclaire, Longdenville Claytones, NLCB Buccooneers and T&TEC New East Side Dimension. Other selections finding favour with more than one band are:  Archbishop of Pan composed by Len Boogsie Sharpe and Gregory Ballantyne, Boogsie Sharpe  by Winston Scarborough, Prophet of Pan by Tellison Forde (Tello), Play Yuhself by Clive Telemaque and Gie Dem Tempo by Edwin Pouchet and Alvin Daniel.

The National Panorama Preliminaries in the small and medium conventional categories will begin with the South/Central bands today at Skinner Park, San Fernando, at 7 pm; East Bands tomorrow at the Larry Gomes Stadium Car Park, Malabar, Arima, at 7 pm; Tobago on Saturday at the respective pan yards from 1 pm; North Bands on Sunday at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, from 3 pm. Admission to each of the above, with the exception of Tobago, is $60. Panorama 2012 is in tribute to two cultural icons, Dr. Pat Bishop TC, HBM, and Ralph Mc Donald, Grammy Award winner.

BANDS

SOUTH/CENTRAL ZONE
Small Bands
1. Old Tech Steel Orchestra—Vibes
2. Tornadoes—Prophet of Pan
3. Pleasantville Kalomo Kings—Dust In Yuh Face
4. Antillean All Stars—Carnival Manifestation
5. Southern All Stars—God Is A Trini
6. Golden Hands—Sweet Music
7. Panosonic Connection—Santimanitay
8. Mt Moriah Pan Movement—Jump Up and Play Yourself
9. Morne Diablo Funkadelic—San Fernando Has Spoken
10. Longdenville Claytones—Vibes
11. Southern Marines Steelband Foundation—Trinbago
12. San City Steel Symphony—Boogsie Sharpe

Medium Bands
1. Trinidad Valley Harps—Charlo Village
2. Petrotrin Hatters—Madness
3. Pan Elders Steel Orchestra—Boogsie Sharpe
4. Couva Joylanders—Gods of the Unknown.