The SPC Steel Pan Music Festival

Recently, I was asked why all the activity around a steel pan non-profit. What is the point?

Well, we thought the steel pan community deserved to have a membership association. We wanted to build an organization that would be in it for the long haul. While it sometimes feels like we are starting out at a slow pace, we expect our patience to pay off. The Steel Pan Collective will be a vibrant and effective organization that is a mainstay for the pan community for years to come.

But one of the main reasons for the Steel Pan Collective's existence, aside from membership, is the organization's steel pan music festival. We envision the festival being a showcase for the steel pan community. It will be the centerpiece for what we do as a membership organization throughout the year.

So briefly, what would this festival look like? Well, we have some general concepts on format, place, and time. I can tell you my thoughts on what I think will happen the first year. First off, I see it being in the city of Denver. I see kids and adults getting their first taste of steel pan music outside in the beautiful Colorado weather. The performance lineup includes schools, community groups, and professional bands from Colorado and other states. And along with music, there is variety of tasty foods to sample for festival goers. Most importantly, I see a ton of smiling faces on the stages and in the crowds. It will be an event that evolves with each passing year.

So the planning begins for the 2015 event.

Stay tuned for more details.

Skip Waugh
The Steel Pan Collective