Steelpan is an infectious instrument in more ways than one. Not only does its sound turn heads, but it has a way of infusing itself into different cultures in unique ways, undergoing adaptations that its creators could have never predicted.
One such culture is found in the architecturally beautiful streets of what has been called “the world’s smallest big city”: Stockholm, Sweden. Steelpan entered this picturesque Scandinavian stronghold in 1984 through Trinidadian pannists, including world-renowned steelpan builder, tuner, pannist, arranger and composer, Rudy “Two-Left” Smith.
“The band Hot Pans was formed after [local musician] Svenska Rikskonserter had invited Merrytones, a steelband from Trinidad, over to tour Sweden,” said Liz Goulos, six bass player for Stockholm Steelband. “Their instruments were made here in Sweden and left behind after the tour was over. Hot Pans used the Merrytone pans for ten years before acquiring new instruments of their own. They started a steelpan course, which led to the formation of a new band: Cool Pans. The two bands coexisted for a number of years, before joining forces to create Stockholm Steelband.”
Smith built the pans for the band and comes to tune periodically, traveling from his home of Copenhagen, Denmark, where he performs regularly. Most of the band’s tenor pans were purchased from Lawrence “Egar” Mayers in Trinidad.
Circle of Leadership
While most bands have a singular band leader or business manager to help guide their activities, Stockholm Steelband operates as a band of equals, implementing a fully democratic approach to its decision making. “One of our members leads practice sessions and acts as musical director, but we decide our repertoire, projects and other matters by consensus,” Goulos added.
The group is comprised of 15 members. Most are women, with about two players per section; tenor pans are the exception, with five players per section.
Musical selections include traditional steelpan music like soca and calypso in addition to some pop and funk covers. Currently, no original music is played in the band.
Due to the group’s small size, the band relies on outside arrangers to help carry the load of arranging music. Key figures include Rudy “Twoleft” Smith and London natives Steelpan Sam and Delphina James.
Prestigious Audiences
Over the years, the group has played locally at carnivals, festivals, marathons, corporate parties, and, most notably, the Nobel awards ceremony and the Polar Music Prize.
“We were invited to play after the Nobel Banquet the year that Derek Walcott from St. Lucia won the prize for literature. The Polar Music Prize people were keen to have some entertainment for the guests as they arrived on the evening of the grand party,” Goulos said. “We played in the entrance hall at Konserthuset Stockholm when Sonny Rollings won his prize and when Peter Gabriel got his. We also played as a warm-up act at Swedish acclaimed band The Knife’s concert in Stockholm.”
Several members of the group regularly visit Trinidad, with the most recent trip taking place this past February. Their goal is to experience Carnival and gain insight into how large steelbands rehearse and perform. Some of the band’s original members have lived or still live in T&T, and several have been invited to play at Panorama in the large band category.
Playing for Smiles
“The biggest challenges for a steelband in Sweden are finding a niche, an audience and to attract enough musicians who also stay with the band for a long time, since all the numbers we play are head arrangements,” Goulos said. “We make money to cover our rent by playing at corporate parties, outdoor promotions, private parties and other events. Band members are never paid individually – our income goes to cover rent, buying and tuning the pans and fees paid to guest arrangers.”
The band rents a facility in Stockholm that costs SEK 9,500 a month (around $1,100). “We have to play enough gigs to make ends meet. We’re not in it for the money,” Goulos remarked. “We practice once a week, with extra practice sessions for beginners.”
The group hopes to continue spreading good vibes to its listeners with the goal of adding a flavor of steelband music and special rhythms from T&T that brings people together.
“It would be great if it were easier to get a hold of instruments and someone to tune them in our corner of Europe. And, it would be fun to get to know other bands outside of Sweden that we could work with and bounce ideas off of. Stockholm Steelband would love to visit London to rehearse and play with one of the bands during the Notting Hill Carnival, for example.”
With any luck, they’ll get their chance soon enough.
Learn more about Stockholm Steelband on their official website HERE.
