The Rising Sun Countryside Centre, near Newcastle is where the first North Tyneside Festival for Steel will be held on Friday the 6th July between 10am - 3pm. This is organised jointly by BAS members North Tyneside Steelband and North Tyneside Music Service. Now that there are at least 6 school steelbands in the borough they have the opportunity to strut their stuff for each other and the public. The day will include a workshop for all 70+ players on two tunes started in band rehearsals, then each band will work with a different tutor for an hour to extend their repertoire and the last three hours will be 10 min performance slots for all the bands.
There will be a vocal element led by Marden Bridge Middle School that will see all the bands play along as well as join in the singing. Bands appearing are North Tyneside Steelband, Steelworks, Kingsmeadow School, Monkseaton Middle School, Chantry Middle School, Sedgefield Community Steelband and St Cuthberts. Most of these bands are very new and it will be their first opportunity to see and hear other steelbands and to play in a large steel orchestra. BAS are supporting this event with a cup, certificates and some funding.
The third annual Steel Spring hosted by The Sage Gateshead is on Saturday 7th July 2007. This is a chance for all the regions steelbands to get together, socialise and play. The event will be held between 11am - 4pm followed by a concert in Hall 2 by the new regional Steelband, the Volcanoes, who rehearse at The Sage under Wendy Brown and Brent Holder. Other bands taking part include North Tyneside Steelband, Sunshine Panners, Chilli Road Band, Steel Quake, Kingsmeadow, Rocket Panners, S'Panners, Chantry, and several more that will be performing for the first time. They certainly will create quite a spectacle on Performance Square next to the Sage. This year the organisers hope to arrange for all bands to rehearse the same tune and play this during the day. Support UK Pan by attending this event that promises a wealth of steelband music.
Author : Dave Edwards