Blog 2.0

As I hope you all already know, I started a project about introducing pan on São Vicente, Cabo Verde Islands.

As this the site for developing pan all over the world, I hope to reach as much people as possible 

As a lot of bands in Trinidad/Tobago don't use mail, I hope you read this and help them to start a panyard.

My name is Deanne Pijl and I live in The Netherlands. And of course I play Pan.
Last February, during the Carnival, I was on São Vicente ( Cape Verde Islands) to do a small project, introducing Pan. They don’t know this instrument, never seen it, never heard it.

I had the opportunity to lend some pans from Nostalgia Steelband from London and took 5 pans with me.
My idea was to form a small band and play on the Carnival parade.
It was a great success!
They loved the sound and want to learn everything about playing pan.

Big problem.
Cape Verde is a poor country. Hardly any work there. So no money to buy instruments.

My colleague and me ( we are piano technicians) gave them 2 piano’s a couple of years ago, for almost nothing. This year I found a keyboard outside in the rain, dried it, worked fine and took it with me. The music teacher was very happy with it.

Well I think you know by now, why I sent you this letter.

Hope you can help them to set up a small pan yard, by donating a steelpan.
The music teacher Eddy Max,  asked the government for money for shipping the instruments, and they want to help him.

They also want to learn how to make one. Can’t do it myself, but I can teach them how to play. I don’t earn any money by teaching them, ( also tune there piano’s for free) I’m just doing it for the love of Pan and to help them in a musical way.

Really, really hope you are willing to help them and spread Pan to another part of the world.

Please reply, even if you don’t have the possibility to donate a Pan. Maybe you even have better ideas, how to start a steel band on São Vicente.
I know they will be very grateful. 

We had very little time ( only 8 days) and was very proud of them playing Pan as if they were born with it and could play the Carnival tune during the parade for 5 hours!!

Made a small compilation of it. Hope you have the time and enthusiasm to look at it and HELP THEM!!

https://youtu.be/IAfofR2bj_k

Kind regards
Deanne Pijl

S.N.S.E, give's green light to Agent AWESOME INTEL LIMITED to commence licensing, of the 4ths & 5ths technology on the steel drum or tenor pan, as of the 31st March 2015, in accordance with the Copyright Act Laws ( Chapter 82:80 ) of Trinidad & Tobago and the United States Library of Congress, U.S.C sec 17 Copyright Act Law's, call 868-221-7026 for further details... 

Region’s Largest Steelpan Festival Returns to Chicagoland
Great Lakes Steelpan Festival Returns to Crystal Lake for 2015

Potts & Pans is proud to announce that the Great Lakes Steelpan Festival is coming back to Crystal Lake on April 11, 2015. At this one day only festival, attendees will have the opportunity to hear bands from across the midwest, a 50+ piece steelband, and world renown educators and performers! There is no other festival of this nature and magnitude in the area, and it only comes once a year.

Crystal Lake, IL - April 11, 2015 - http://www.steelpanfestival.com - Great Lakes Steelpan Festival is coming back to Hannah Beardsley Middle School in Crystal Lake, IL on April 11, 2015. The festival is open to all music lovers and starts with free performances at 9:00 am and concludes with an evening concert starting at 8:00 pm.

In 2013, Potts & Pans hosted the inaugural Great Lakes Steelpan Festival. The festival was a huge success and participants and attendees alike were raving about it for months to come. After taking part in the festival our inaugural year, Dr. Elliott Mannette (the inventor of the modern day steelpan) said “This group is the future of steelpan” and he is coming back this year to take part again! On April 11, 2015, the festival is returning to Hannah Beardsley Middle School in Crystal Lake, IL and is even better than it was last year! The 2015 Great Lakes Steelpan Festival (GLSF15) will be bringing together performers and educators from 7 states across the US and Trinidad and Tobago. Guest artists include Dr. Ellie Mannette, Kurry Seymour, and Potts & Pans Steelband. GLSF15 is packed with free performances and educational workshops starting at 9 am, two steelpan documentaries premiers and the day climaxes with an evening concert starting at 8 pm.

GLSF15 is the only music festival in Chicagoland specializing in the steelpan, the musical instrument from the caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago, also commonly called the steel drum. Throughout the day at GLSF15, attendees will hear music ranging from classical to calypso and even original compositions that were commissioned specifically for this festival. The event is hosted by a local 501(C)3 organization, Culture, Arts and Music (http://www.cultureartsmusic.org) and is supported in part by The Steelpan Store (http://www.steelpanstore.com).

From steelpan aficionados to casual music lovers alike, GLSF15 is sure to deliver lasting memories and leave attendees yearning for next year. No matter what prior exposure audience members have had to the steelpan, GLSF15 will make every person in the room think a little differently about the instrument and what it is capable of. For more information about the festival, contact information or to purchase reduced fare tickets, please visit http://steelpanfestival.com.

About Great Lakes Steelpan Festival
Great Lakes Steelpan Festival was created to fill the void in top level steelpan performance and educational events in the midwest. Imagined by two midwest panists, that decided to start GLSF in order to create a closer option for bands like theirs, after meeting in Virginia for a different festival.

Media Contact:
Matt Potts * 815-245-3624 * mpotts@cultureartsmusic.com
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Good day friends,

I am pleased to inform you that we were able to acquire the necessary funds to attend SXSW 2015. 

On behalf of the family, I would like to convey a special note of thanks to the following:

Mrs. Amanda Barnett-McLeod (Trinidad)

Mr. Herman Andalcio (Chicago)

The West family (Trinidad)

Ask Promotions (Trinidad)

Golden Hands Steel Orchestra (Trinidad)

Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism (Trinidad)

The above mentioned, all contributed in some way, making it possible for us to facilitate our performance at this major festival. I would also like to thank all supporters and well wishers for their fine words of encouragement and for helping raise awareness of our trip to SXSW.

We are scheduled to arrive in Austin, Texas on Thursday, March 19 and we are confirmed for two main stage performances as listed below:

Saturday, March 21 - 2:00pm - Austin Convention Center - 531 E 4th St. (Ballroom G)

Saturday, March 21 - 10:00pm - Karma Lounge - 105 E 5th St

I am aware that there are steelpan followers in Austin. Please feel free to approach us and introduce yourselves if you do see us.

I will send out another briefing after the trip. In the meantime please feel free to follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for daily updates as we arrive in Austin.

Best regards,

Khari