Pan Trinbago lauds effort to reduce DJ music

In an interview,Vice-president of the governing steelband body, Keith Byer, said DJ music does not add value to indigenous festivals such as the one being produced by the LSF Committee.

He added that Pan Trinbago would support an initiative designed to allow greater uninterrupted live steelband airplay.

The steelband parade will take place on Sunday, August 7, between 4 pm and midnight, where columns of steelbands — both conventional and single pan — will take the spotlight, between Mc Allister Street heading east to Leon Street, as part of the LSF’s contribution to the celebration of Emancipation.

An estimated 37 bands are listed to take part in the event.

On the day of the parade, a re-enactment of the Emancipation story will take place in the form of a road show, with exhibitions in drumology, tamboo bamboo and dance presentations, ahead of the pan music frenzy.

Also on the day, junior and adult awards will be presented to members of the community in the categories of sport, culture, education and community service.

Over the years, the organiser of the event has been working with proprietors along the parade route to reduce the level of DJ music, thereby acknowledging their respect for the national musical instrument.

Initially, the parade, designed to showcase the national musical instrument was rivalled by the amplified sounds of DJ music, which ultimately affected the presentations of participating steelbands.

However, proprietors in the community have recognised the potential of the parade, and they have consequently reduced the level of electronic music on the day.

This year, the LSF Committee has intensified its drive towards ensuring that the only type of music being played during the production is provided from the pan. Byer said the approach taken by the LSF Committee provides an opportunity for steelbands to do what they wanted to all along: "Play great music without interruption from DJs. And what is more important is the well-known fact that steelbands have the repertoire to entertain the public along the route."

The festival, which has a track record for being incident-free, last year drew an estimated 15,000 patrons to the community.