Freelance Contributor
The minute Trinidad Valley Harps took the stage to deliver David Rudder’s anthemic Rally Round the West Indies, the audience knew this year’s edition of the Medium Band semis was due to match the keen competition of previous years.
Then, at 2.55 pm, prolific arranger Duvone Stewart led Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille on stage.
By then, Sforzata had already administered a resounding lesson on how winning Panorama music sounds.
Scherzando had also signalled serious intentions, and Sangre Grande Cordettes displayed its competent wares.
Dixieland followed a restrained performance from Moods - the third Curepe band in the afternoon’s lineup - to bring forceful attention to Tobago talent.
As usual, the judges’ table was the focus of critical attention. So was the weather that had shown earlier signs of unpredictability.
Instead, while the sky remained clear, determining clear winners remained a more difficult prospect.
When Valley Harps (not to be mistaken for Trinidad Valley Harps) occupied the stage, the North Stand had reached near capacity, and the Grand Stand was not far behind—in part through anticipation of the Large Bands to come later.
Disqualified in 2024, when they were unable to field a full contingent for the semi-finals, the Petit Valley band made sure their presence was felt by everyone through an energetic version of Crazy’s band from space.
By the time Pan Elders came on, the sun had become less intense, but not the pace onstage.
The crowd had swollen to overflowing in the North Stand, and the Grand Stand was also reaching maximum capacity.
Pemberi, under the baton of Andre White, came on stage as the light faded and roused the crowd with a resounding version of Machel Montano’s The Fog.
More hard work for the judges came when Couva Joylanders came on stage.
Saturday’s finals in Tobago promise to be no easy task for judges Bernadette Roberts, Dr Louis Nurse, Ezra Joseph, Michelle Dowrich, Richard Pierre and Roger Sardinha.
