Fourteen years ago there were no pans in the north east at all. In 1989, two Tyneside schools each took delivery of a set of Tony Charles pans. One went to a school in Whitley Bay and a community steelband was formed by Dave Edwards who learned to play and teach pan in the early 80’s in London with Gerald Forsyth. The band soon outgrew the school and moved to a larger community centre. That’s how NTSB was born.
The novelty of a steelband in the area attracted many performances. Although most of the players were school children they also ran an adult session to cope with the demand and two small professional steelbands (Pan L. Beaters and Steel Spirit) were spawned although both are no longer active. Members with various special needs are always welcomed.
They have appeared at the last two National Steelband Festivals organised by Coventry LEA and organised three annual national festivals in the mid nineties. NTSB’s cooperation has helped to start at least six other bands across the region with some of them being tutored by young members of NTSB as part of their young leaders training programme. They have just completed a major project across the region called ‘Steelbands North for Youth Music’ in partnership with the Sage Gateshead, Tynemouth College and a couple of local councils. The project enabled the introduction of over a thousand young players to steelpan with many still active within bands. Through this project they were able to work with tutors and pan tuners/manufacturers from other parts of Britain. This helped to widen their repertoire and improve techniques and playing styles. They maintain four sets of outreach pan instruments in various centres within a 50 mile radius which are used by emerging bands and provide access to pans for several schools.
They have a gigging side of 20, an adult group known as the Winkly Panners and a training band of 15. It would be no exaggeration to say that NTSB, as well as being the longest established band in the area, are widely regarded as the best and are certainly the most active with a very wide repertoire from island songs through classics, latin, jazz , pop, rock and roll, dance and blues. They fulfil over 50 engagements each year which bring in most of their income and grants secured from large charities and businesses help to run residential workshops and trips throughout the UK. They have never travelled abroad but maintain good global links.
As the band’s musical standards improved, providing a challenge, players stayed and took on responsibilities within the organisation including leading and arranging as well as administrative tasks. Two past members, Wendy Brown and Gail Forster, have played in London and Trinidad with Ebony and Phase II, whilst 25 year old Karina Atkinson frequently takes over the mantle of musical director from Dave.
Their vision is that the steelband movement in the north-east will continue to grow and need more tutors/directors thus NTSB’s focus on training to fulfil these future roles.
Contact: Jan Smith 125 Kirkwood Drive Kenton Newcastle NE3 3AT, (0191) 284 2929, jan@steelbandsnorth.org.uk. or ntsb@panpodium.com