It will be a “pantabulous” Sunday evening, come July 10, as the National Cultural Foundation and Massy Barbados Ltd launch Pan Pun De Sand 2016.
Head of information and communications technology at Massy (Barbados) Ltd, Allan Herbert, said his company was proud to be the show’s title sponsor for the last 12 years.
“We have witnessed its remarkable growth –– both in terms of numbers and appreciation –– evidenced by the rainbow of people who converge at Brandons Beach year after year,” Herbert said.
From left, 1688 Stereo Pan Group arranger Dwaine Gill, 1688 Stereo Pan Group manager Keri-ann Weekes and head of information and communications technology at Massy (Barbados) Ltd, Allan Herbert.
While appreciating its social and cultural significance, he told Barbados TODAY he loved the family aspect involved in the show. The show, he said, always had a diverse audience: from families to regular partygoers and tourists.
This year’s Massy Pan Pun De Sand will feature a nigh 100 per cent Bajan cast in honour of the 50th year of Independence.
Producer of Massy Pan Pun De Sand, Randy Eastmond, coordinating the event for the second year, gave a rundown of the line-up.
On July 10, Pan Pun De Sand begins with a pre-pan show at 3 p.m. called Pan In De Yard with the stage show commencing at 4 p.m. Two soloists and six Barbadian steel orchestras comprise the cast.
Daryll Jordan Secondary School and Tuk Pan On De Move will play at the pre-show. Aceworx Community Steel Orchestra, Holy Trinity Steel Symphony, 1688 Stereo Pan Group and SKF, with Ian Webster, will perform at the main show.
Recognizing the golden anniversary of Independence, saxophonist Mylon Clarke has prepared a 100 per cent Bajan medley to be performed with 1688. Songs from Rihanna and Jackie Opel make up his selection which he knows will be a crowd-pleaser.
Newtown Playboys Steel Orchestra is a Trinidadian band set to play at the main show as a “gift” for the island’s milestone. Mosaic will host the 50th Panniversary Party.
Mylon Clarke, Kerri-ann Weekes, NCF corporate communications specialist Simone Codrington, Massy Barbados head of information and communications technology Allan Herbert, SKF member Jason Williams and Massy Pan Pun De Sand producer Randy Eastmond with cheque from Massy (Barbados) Ltd.
Dwaine Gill and Kerri-ann Weekes, arranger and manager of 1688, respectively, spoke about their Stick-Lickin piece. Weekes described “stick-lickin” as a pastime from Africa embraced in Barbados.
Gill showed his excitement over the group’s first performance at Pan Pun De Sand, announcing he would be including elements of “Barbadiana” throughout his production. Jason Williams, member of SKF, and Harrison College pan tutor, said his group would be playing for the third time. With ages ranging from six to 13, the group plays different types of music. It has participated in NIFCA, and won the Committee Development Programme Competition in 2011.
Pan Pun De Sand is the climax of the “pantastic” weekend that also features Pan Fusion at Ilaro Court on Friday, July 8, at 8 p.m. and Speightstown Market & Pan Around De Town in Speightstown, St Peter, from 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 9.
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