Single Pan Bands, Small Conventional Steelband, Medium Conventional Steelband, and the hype of Joshua Regrello's marathon Guinness Record feat are all history! Now is the time for the adults in the room to step up and deliver orchestrated performances that would wow those in attendance. On Saturday, March 1, 2025, starting at 7:00 pm, ten elite steel bands will engage in a musical duel to determine the champion steel band for Carnival 2025. The venue is the Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain.
As the anticipation builds, each band will showcase their unique interpretations of classic melodies, infused with innovative arrangements that reflect the spirit of the Caribbean. The competition promises not only to celebrate the rich heritage of steelpan music but also to unite the community in a vibrant display of talent and creativity.
The competition will be live-streamed via WACK Visual Radio and TTT for US $30. Those at home in Trinidad and Tobago should be able to see the event on local television free of charge. Do you have a favorite for this competition? Do you believe that Exodus will maintain their lead and win it all this year? We will have to wait to witness all of this pan-magic. See you there/online!
Link for PPV via WACK Visual Radio here: Large Bands Finals. WACK.tv
Here is the rundown of bands with similar songs and the individual song selections:
- Bet Meh—Trinidad All Stars, bp Renegades
- Too Own Way—Nutrien Silver Stars, Republic Bank Exodus
- Cocoa Tea—Supernovas, Tropical Angel Harps
- Pan & Soca—Phase II Pan Groove
- Blessing—Shell Invaders
- Flag Woman—RBC Sound Setters
- Heritage Skiffle—Retro
Order of Appearance: Band—Song—Singer—Arranger
- Phase II Pan Groove—Pan & Soca—Olatunj—Dr. Len Boogsie Sharpe
- First Citizens Supernovas Steel Orchestra—Cocoa Tea—Kes—Amrit Samaroo
- Shell Invaders Steel Orchestra—Blessing—Arddin Herbert
- Nutrien Silver Stars Steel Orchestra—Too Own Way—Voice—Ojay Richards & Kersh Ramsey
- Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra—Bet Meh—M. Montano—Dr. Leon "Smooth" Edwards
- Republic Bank Exodus—Too Own Way—Voice—Terrance "BJ" Marcelle
- RBC Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra—Flag Woman—Kitchener—Micheal Toby
- Heritage Petroleum Skiffle Steel Orchestra—Retro—Voice—André White
- T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps Steel Orchestra—Cocoa Tea—Kes—Clarence Morris
- bp Renegades Steel Orchestra—Bet Meh—Machel Montano—Duvon Stewart
The judging criteria for steelband competitions, like the prestigious Panorama in Trinidad and Tobago, typically focus on several key aspects:
- Arrangement: The creativity and complexity of the musical arrangement, including the use of dynamics, harmonies, and transitions.
- Execution: The precision and skill with which the band performs the arrangement, including timing, phrasing, and overall cohesion.
- Tone: The quality of sound produced by the steelpans, ensuring clarity and richness.
- Rhythm: The consistency and energy of the rhythm section, which forms the backbone of the performance.
- Presentation: The visual and emotional impact of the performance, including stage presence and audience engagement.
These criteria ensure that bands are evaluated on both their musical artistry and their ability to captivate the audience. Are you attending the competition tonight, or just following the results?
Let us promote the culture of the Caribbean diaspora.
Our mission is to advance music producers, performers, and Caribbean culture. Your support helps us celebrate and elevate the vibrant sounds and stories of the Caribbean. We can all work together to make sure that this rich cultural legacy continues to inspire creativity and connection while reaching a larger audience. You should always purchase music for sale but refrain from sharing promotional music, as it deprives the artists, producers, and songwriters of vital income. Please note that all our posts can be accessed online via social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Event: National Panorama Finals—The Conclusion
Category: Large Conventional Steelband
Venue: D'Savannah, Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Steelband Music
Code: PTLCBF2025
Stream: This is a PPV Event
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫ Please click the music player button below to listen now (a small triangle in the music player/TV/Listen/Talk City 91.9 FM Finals!
Video Sequence: As the steelbands took the stage for their performances.