Steel band hire for all UK events
Welcome to the world Solid Steel, our professional steel band for hire – and welcome to… the reliable sound of sunshine!
Please explore the exceptional work we do at nationwide events which include weddings, corporate & other events and music workshops.
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Common steel band hire FAQs
What is a ‘professional steel band’?
A professional steel band
A ‘steel band’ online also goes by the names ‘steel drum band’ and ‘steel pan band’. This is because Americans think these terms distinguish it from what they call a ‘steel ring’. In other words the ‘band’ that one wears on a finger. Although this may be true, the correct term is ‘steel band’! We can define this term as a group of musicians the majority of which play ‘steel pans’ or ‘steel drums’. To clarify, ‘steel pans’ is the most correct term to use. After all, the Caribbean folk of Trinidad invented the instruments and on that island they call them that!
Furthermore, we are ‘professional’ because you can hire our steel band. Therefore, we are in the full-time business of providing clients all sorts of steel pan performance and workshop experiences.
We are ‘musicians who play steel pan’ or ‘steel pan musicians’. Unfortunately there are some people who, due to misinformation, search online to hire ‘steel drummers’ and ‘steel pannists’. For that reason alone we will reluctantly use these terms on this site, occasionally.
Finally, the founder of the band, Paul Cherrie, is a British professional musician of second generation Caribbean (specifically Trinidadian) heritage. He has 40 years of experience in leading bands and 35 years experience of the administration involved in managing their successful performance.
What is a ‘community steel band’?
A community steel band
A community steel band is one which is open to all members of a local community. This is regardless of whether that community has members who are of Caribbean heritage or not. It does not require an audition to join. Consequently, members of the general public can attend band rehearsals and receive instruction on the skills required to play. Thereafter they might perform specific musical pieces on a specific steel band instrument that belongs to the band.
The bands largely fund themselves by any combination of firstly, government grants, secondly, private sponsorship and thirdly, band membership subscriptions. Furthermore, some may also fund themselves by registering as charities. However, irrespective of how they fund themselves, all of them are duty-bound to serve their own communities. They do this with concert performances and workshops that are readily available.
It’s important to realise that community bands like to ‘brand’ themselves visually, as they tend to wear their own band’s name and logo on their t-shirts and instruments eg. “Pantastic Steel Band Manchester”.
Unquestionably, they do wonderful work and the sound of as many as 50 people playing together is a wondrous thing.
Undeniably it is important to realise, however, that their business is not- nor should it be- to play at a private event for a professional fee. Some of Solid Steel’s players over the years became professional-level players having once played in community steel bands. However, most have not. The reason for this is that a community steel band is open to everyone regardless of their musical ability. On the other hand playing music professionally should require a level of talent that’s exceptional and unrepresentative of most amateurs.
Does your steel band include vocals?
A steel band that can include vocals
There may be perhaps as many as 90% of all clients who only want to hear steel bands play instrumentally. Nonetheless, on request, you can hire our steel band including professional-level vocalists who sing whilst playing steel pans/drums.
Consequently, we can carry some small amplification that runs on battery and is easy to set up- even in outside staging areas.
In conclusion, the option to include vocals with a steel band is a rare thing indeed in the UK. But it’s one we are very happy to provide!
Do you make your own steel pans/drums?
Steel pan makers and steel drum tuners
We don’t make our own steel drums. This is because there are specialist steel pan makers and steel pan tuners who supply and maintain our instruments.
Nonetheless, we can supply you with the pan making and pan tuning services we recommend as pan-playing professionals. Furthermore, our supply is largely available for prices lower than you would get from direct contact with these experts.
What events best suit Solid Steel?
Our steel band for all events
We travel all over the country and abroad, playing fully live at events with (but mostly without!) a tropical theme. In so doing, we play for Caribbean nights, private parties, wedding receptions, corporate events, product and project launches etc.
Hence, we deliver to diverse prestigious and not-so-prestigious venues. These, therefore, include hotels, festivals, schools, tv and radio studios, village halls, shopping centres, pubs and restaurants.
Does Solid Steel play for virtual events?
A steel band for virtual events
Yes, we most certainly do play for virtual events!
It’s easy for musicians to fall behind, technologically-speaking, in this ever changing world. Particularly since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in comparison with many other steel bands Solid Steel has always embraced changes in technology. Furthermore, we’ve endeavoured to make these changes work for our clients- and stay ahead of our field.
The notion of live virtual events is obviously a relatively new one. Nevertheless, there can’t be many steel bands that have done this kind of work at such a high level as us. As an illustration, we have even delivered a highly successful livestream performance for Cisco on one of their WebEx events.
Just what size band should I book, ideally?
Steel drum background music
We’re in high demand as an acoustic (unplugged!) steel band and particularly as a trio. This format was first established in London in the 1950s, so it’s very much a London invention. In like fashion to the way that Balti cooking is the invention of Asians in Birmingham, we would argue. Perhaps this helps to explain why our trio’s music is so very authentic as well as natural and organic. It’s beautifully undated, too, with a timeless quality only other acoustic groups like string quartets can lay claim to.
Another key point is that the Solid Steel trio, in particular, uses excellent musicians playing excellent steel band instruments. In so doing we’re able to achieve the best sound and ideal balance of the key elements of music. To list, these are- melody, harmony, bass and percussion. After this, we then choose suitably melodic music material. This naturally includes our traditional calypsos and Caribbean folk music plus Latin and popular ‘standards’ in our repertoire.
Needless to say we don’t always play as a trio. Because as much as we love that particular line-up, it’s not always suitable.
Steel drum music for dancing
It’s important to note that several steel bands advertise themselves for hire in London and throughout the UK. Even so, no other steel band and only a few wedding bands can offer greater flexibility of size and format. This is evident by how hard we try to give our clients the Caribbean steel band that they want. We freely advise them of better options to take based on our vast experience in the business, too, of course.
Sometimes we’re booked to play sessions for dancing because we are so versatile. Many a time we’ve played as a steel trio, especially with vocals, when our audiences have danced to our music. However, this is far from guaranteed! This is because younger audiences especially find steel band trios too ‘light’ rhythmically. Therefore they often prefer us to work with a bass guitar and a drummer in a bigger steel band. Because this provides a heavier steel band rhythmically. That is if ‘steel band’ is still the right name for you- we prefer ‘steel combo’!
Nonetheless, we would always advise our clients to take this option only if it suits their budget. Under those circumstances, we’d be sure to pack the dance floor!
One final point to make is that we don’t always play as a band. This is because we also offer solo and duo options, as well. These can be performances that are amplification-free and fully live or ones using backing tracks. Nevertheless, these options best suit the smallest of events, the smallest of client budgets and virtual events.
What kind of music does Solid Steel play?
Caribbean music and beyond
It’s important to note that most traditional steel bands will principally play ‘Caribbean Folk’ music. This is especially true of first generation Caribbean ones like The Cherry Pickers. Their repertoire consists largely of calypso (the national folk music of Trinidad & Tobago) and Harry Belafonte-styled ‘island music’. They will in addition play some old Latin-American ‘standards’. Without reservation, we also still love these songs. Therefore, when you hire us as a fully-instrumental and unplugged acoustic steel band, we really enjoy playing these wonderful melodies.
But, equally important, we also meet the modern demand for our steel band to play pop and reggae. This music is more familiar to younger audiences and these are the most requested genres these days. Luckily for us, because we offer vocals within the band, our steel band can better meet this demand. To explain, many modern pop covers are quite difficult to recognise when played just instrumentally on steel drums.
What does each band format sound like?
Steel band sound files and videos
We have an extensive library of sound files and videos online that feature us performing ‘live’.
Not all are of the high quality technically that we believe the quality of our playing deserves. However, they do fulfill our principle objective. This is to let you know, as a prospective client, what any particular band line-up is going to sound like. Bar the acoustic environment of our staging at your event, of course.
Does your steel band play song requests?
Playing song requests
Most song requests are fairly easy to play on steel pans- with a few exceptions!
We tend to get requests mostly for songs that aren’t Caribbean- like pop songs. As a top professional steel band, we pride ourselves in being able to do this. Especially if you choose one that includes vocals. This is because not all pop melodies are easily recognisable if just played instrumentally on the steel pans.
Unless we don’t know your tune and don’t consider it suitable to play on future engagements, we will freely add it to our already extensive repertoire.
Please be aware that as versatile an instrument as the steel pan is, we like to reference its folk roots too. So, we’ll always include some Caribbean songs at your event.
We can send you a list of our entire repertoire, but what we will be able to play best is reliant on the line-up you book. Fundamentally, we will always try to play the right songs for you at the right volume. This is regardless of how many steel band musicians you choose to hire.
Can you provide music in your breaks?
A steel band for background music
We can provide background music in our breaks if you book us to play with amplification or to include vocals.
Additionally, we can also bring in extra equipment to accommodate you, even if you only book us to play electrics-free as an all-acoustic steel band.
We would prefer if you play your own choice of music through our system using your phone, tablet or laptop. Particularly if the music you require only needs to play at a background level for the ambience of your event. However, you may want to play louder music tracks or ones that require more specialist knowledge of Caribbean music. In these circumstances, we will be happy to DJ for you!
How loud will your steel band be?
Our steel band’s volume control
The band’s volume is partly dependent on the size of our band and whether it is using any amplification.
It is one of life’s great paradoxes that there is a large group of people who learn that steel bands are much quieter than they expect at their event. Meanwhile, there is an equally large group who learn that steel bands are much louder than they expect at their event.
This is a pleasant surprise for both groups as I suspect they most likely feared the worst!
Sensitive professional musicians like those in Solid Steel who respond to the needs of specific events in London and elsewhere are often to blame for this surprise!
How much space will your band need?
A compact steel band for London
Please provide a minimum of 1.5m x 1.5m for each steel pan player playing a single pan, on average- unless the band is socially distancing, of course.
Can we hire your steel band to stroll/roam?
Pan Roun’ Neck steel band for London
Very few steel bands offer this roaming or strolling steel band format, but we do!
We use musicians who offer the ‘pan roun’ neck’ method of playing the steel pan – with the single pan hanging on a strap from the neck of each player. This ‘pan roun’ neck’ way of playing is the oldest, most authentic method of playing steel drums.
However, with our heavier modern steel instruments roaming is physically demanding, so we do place some restrictions on how long we can do this for and over what distance.
We still enjoy it, however, as for short impact performances and parades this is a real crowd-pleaser!
How does your steel band look and dress?
A Caribbean looking steel band for London
In the eyes of many people the steel pan is principally a folk instrument. Consequently, there is an overwhelming demand for our professional Caribbean steel band to look ‘authentic’.
The stereotypical Caribbean person is dark and wears dreadlocks for many foreigners who have never been to that part of the world. But the real Caribbean look isn’t at all like the stereotype!
With minimal research you’ll find that throughout the Caribbean, and particularly in Trinidad, the typical Caribbean look is more diverse. Because with that mix of ethnicities, it’s more af an interracial look!
Trinidad society is a real melting pot that includes East Indian, African, Mixed, European, Chinese and Syrian ethnicities. And Solid Steel’s musicians reflect this, by and large. We do look a lot like a cross-section of Trinidadian society’s racial mix. Some may be older, some younger, some with darker and some with lighter skins. Disproportionately male, we must admit- but we’re working on that!
At this moment, all of our players have some element of African ethnicity. But there are some outstanding white steel pan players in the UK and we will hire the next white musician in our band on the grounds of his or her talent and not discriminate against him or her on the grounds of race. If he or she plays great calypso, Latin, reggae, jazz et al in an authentic style on a steel pan or any other of our band’s instruments – that’s what should matter most.
A professional looking steel band
In terms of costume, unless we are told otherwise, we will assume that you would prefer our band to dress suitably for a Caribbean theme. Some guidance from you on the basis of photos on this site, however, will help guide us specifically to any choices you prefer.
Again, there is another European stereotype in play. Many people like steel bands to wear multi-coloured, loud, short sleeved shirts with prints that include figures of palm trees and hula dancers. But no-one walks down a street anywhere in the Caribbean wearing a Hawaiian-style shirt! Oh, hang on, I just remembered. Some of them do. And the locals have a name for them too. They call them ‘tourists’.
So when people ask us to dress ‘authentically’, what they want 99% of the time is for us to dress like tourists who are holidaying in the Caribbean. However, if their event has a Caribbean-theme, all of the guests will then have a similar costume to us! We really don’t mind doing this and always will if you specifically request this.
Left to our own devices, though, we often wear something that looks ‘stagey’, but also references our cultural heritage. Trinidad is the true home of steel band music, but there’s no national dress to speak of. So we like to take it back a little further to West Africa.
Other than this option, we tend to coordinate our look with bright, and sometimes fluorescent colours or sometimes clients ask us to wear all white. We guarantee any of these options will look great on us when you hire our steel band!
Can you run workshops at my event?
Steel Drum Teachers for London
Solid Steel’s founder, Paul Cherrie, is a teacher with a PGCE qualification and it’s his policy to maintain the highest teaching standards whether you choose to hire our popular steel band to run workshops in schools, run a fun workshop at a hen night or manage steel band team building activities.
Playing the steel pan is a lot of fun and we’re keen to share that experience! People of all ages and abilities love having a go at hitting a drum, but the opportunity to play a steel drum is an offer that takes their enthusiasm up to another level.
We can provide the opportunity to be interactive with our range of fun, educational, and inexpensive team building and workshop services. These we can tailor to suit any group of people irrespective of age or ability. Indeed, they are proven to be particularly beneficial to those with disabilities and special needs.
When is Solid Steel available to perform?
All year round steel band performances
We’re not just a steel band that gets busy in the summer. We’re professionals and you can hire our steel band all year round. There are, however, times when we are busier than others and we tend to price our services accordingly.
In the summer we’re naturally very busy with weddings, company barbecues and other events where the ‘sunshine’ sound of steel bands is perennially popular. UK bookers such as wedding coordinators, corporate entertainment organisers, conference entertainment organisers and party planners clamour to book us in these months!
We also get a lot of interest in our steel band performing in the Black History month of October and, of course, in December we’re very busy with Christmas parties and Christmas Carol concerts. A demo of Solid Steel exclusively playing Christmas favourites is available on request!
We also often do some touring with our steel band, performing abroad in the Spring.
Where is your steel band based?
A steel band London-born
You can hire our steel band using musicians based mainly in London. But we do also have associate steel pan players and other band members throughout the country. Several live in Manchester, Brighton, Oxford, Leeds and Birmingham.
This helps us provide a truly UK-wide service with a smaller carbon footprint whilst we drive all over the country playing our super-green oil drums- which are themselves wonderful adverts for recycling!
Where does Solid Steel perform?
London mobile steel band for nationwide hire
We perform anywhere and everywhere! We don’t only supply steel band hire in London. Solid Steel is able to supply similar high quality steel drum musical performances throughout the country. For affordable prices, as well, because our steel band has associate members throughout the UK.
The best illustration of that is to provide you with lists of all the UK bookings we can verify that the band played for in 2019 as they happened:-
3-piece steel band bookings in London
- Firstly, The Royal Academy of Arts in London hires our strolling steel band.
- Then a corporate event in Docklands hired our Caribbean steel band.
- After that, a radio show hires our steel band to play in a studio in Clerkenwell, London.
- Later, one corporate party in Greenwich hired Solid Steel with the band’s gazebo.
- Another venue that hired our steel band was the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, London.
- Following that, there was a hire of our steel band for the Victory Service Club, Central London.
- The Verandah in Park Lane, Mayfair, London then hires this steel band format.
- Subsequently, the Google Summer Party agreed to hire our steel band.
- In due time, a Bingo Hall in Cricklewood decided to hire our steel drummers.
- Shortly after, a Department Store in Streatham, London decided to hire our steel band.
- Unsurprisingly, our steel band hired out musicians for a corporate event at Bankside in London.
- Then one Costa Coffee shop in London hired an alfresco steel band set.
- Meanwhile, The Arab Bankers Association hired our steel band for an event in Central London.
- An outdoor venue in Wandsworth, London also hires our steel drums.
- Furthermore, The Natural History Museum was a venue that also hired our steel band for an event.
- Almost immediately, a London Retail Park in Surrey Quays hired our steel band.
- We hired out our steel band for a corporate event in Chiswick afterwards.
- Shortly after, a Primary School in Hampstead hires our steel band musicians.
- The Solid Steel Electric Trio was a hire for the Chelsea Physic Garden.
- Additionally, a Ticketmaster corporate event in London decided to hire our steel band.
- Then one venue, Neverland, in London had our steel band hired for a corporate client.
- Finally, a Walthamstow shopping centre hired the steel band.
Bookings for 2 steel drummers in Greater London
- A community event at Sadlers Wells Theatre proceeded to hire our steel band players.
- The Atrium, London was the venue for a hire of our steel band musicians.
- There was then a corporate event at St Paul’s Cathedral which hired our steel band.
- Eventually, we hired out our steel band for a corporate event in Chiswick.
- A private school in Finchley, London decided to hire our steel band players.
- One hospital in Stanmore hired two members of our steel band.
- A Junior School in Barnet, London hired our steel band for workshops.
- There was then a corporate event at St Paul’s Cathedral which hired our steel band.
- Meanwhile, The Electric Barge, Paddington, London hosted a party and hired our steel band.
- The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine hired our steel drum duo.
- An Infants School in NW London hired our steel drummers for an International Day.
- A school in Highgate, London hired our steel band’s musicians.
- Somebody hired our steel band’s players to stroll at a recording studio party in Chelsea, London.
- ITV’s Good Morning Britain hired our steel band to play live in their London studio.
- A London Heathrow hotel hired our steel band for an event.
- Finally, Stoll in Fulham, London hired two steel drummers.
London steel drum soloists
- Firstly, a Primary School in Crouch End, N. London decided to hire 1 steel band teacher.
- Then a Steel Pan Soloist was a hire for St. Martin in the Fields Courtyard, Central London.
- One steel drummer was also a hire for Potters Fields Park, London.
- Another of our our steel band tutors was a hire for a Primary School in Woolwich.
- Shortly after, a Primary School in Greenwich, London hired another steel band tutor.
- Finally, The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham hired a steel drummer for a Travel Show.
Larger London steel bands and steel combos
- Firstly, Sixt at the World Travel Market at ExCel, London hired our 4-piece steel band with our female singer.
- Then, a corporate event in the Gardens of Tower Of London saw fit to hire our 4-piece steel band.
- Most significantly, Sir Steve McQueen hired our 10-piece steel band for a movie shoot in Notting Hill, London.
- Consequently, Sir Steve McQueen hired 7 of our steel band for his 50th birthday party in London.
3-piece steel band bookings outside London
- Firstly, The ICC in Birmingham hires our steel band.
- Then Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey booked us, too.
- Following that, one client in Southampton hired our steel drum musicians.
- A 21st birthday party then hires our steel band in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
- Subsequently, a bride in Bristol hires this steel band format.
- In due time, The Aruba Bar & Restaurant in Bournemouth hired our steel band.
- Then the Oatlands Park Hotel in Surrey hired our steel band.
- Shortly after, our steel band hired out musicians for a River Cruise in Windsor.
- Unsurprisingly, 3 of our musicians were a hire for England vs West Indies at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
- Then a university in Kent hired our steel band.
- Meanwhile a school in Surrey hires our steel band with a limbo dancer.
- The Stourport Manor Hotel in Worcestershire hires one steel band.
- Furthermore, a corporate event in Scotland hired our steel band incl. a PA & vocals.
- Almost immediately our steel band was a hire in Reading, Berkshire.
- Shortly after, a school in Essex hired our steel band.
- Chepstow Racecourse subsequently hired our steel band.
- Meanwhile a wedding in High Wycombe, Bucksthe also hired our steel band.
- Dreamland in Margate, Kent hired our steel band players.
- Afterwards, a pub in Essex hired the Solid Steel Electric Band.
- Additionally, a wedding client hired our steel band for Bucks.
- Finally, one nursery in Slough, Berks hired our steel band.
3-piece steel band bookings in Northern England
- Firstly, a steel band hire for a wedding in Keswick, Cumbria took place.
- Later, a Bar Mitzvah client in Manchester, Lancashire hires our steel band players with limbo dancers.
- Eventually, an event in Yorkshire hired our steel band with vocals.
- An International Cricket match at Headingley, Yorks hired our steel band.
- One of our steel bands was a hire for a wedding in Manchester, Lancashire in 2020.
Bookings for 2 steel drummers outside London
- One wedding client hired us as a steel drum duo in Beaconsfield, Bucks.
- A hire of our all-acoustic steel band happened for a pub in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
- Solid Steel hired out a band for a wedding in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
- An Academy hired two steel band tutors for Southampton, Hants.
- A Cricket Club in Warnford, Hants hired our steel drum duo with vocals & a gazebo.
- One steel band hire was for primary school workshops in Calverton, Notts.
- Our band hired out a steel drum duo for John Lewis in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
- Another primary school in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk hired our steel band players.
- A primary school in Hatfield, Herts hired our steel band tutors.
- The Royal Holloway University of London in Surrey hired our steel drummers.
- A Prep School in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey hired our steel band teachers.
- A corporate event organiser in Tadley, Hants thought fit to hire our steel band.
- A pub wedding reception in Addlestone, Surrey hired Solid Steel Drummers.
- One corporate event in Wickford, Essex hired musicians from our steel band.
- An electric steel band was provided for a corporate event hire in Chelmsford, Essex.
- Another corporate event in Chigwell, Essex hired our electric steel band’s players.
- One hire of our steel drummers was for a corporate event in Southampton, Hants.
- A Junior School in Ilford, Essex hired 2 tutors from our steel band.
Mobile steel drummer soloists hired
- Destinology in Wilmslow, Cheshire hired one Steel Pan Soloist.
- A Primary School in Chislehurst, Kent decided to hire one steel band tutor.
- Another Primary School in Crouch End, N. London decided to also hire 1 steel band teacher.
- St. Martin in the Fields Courtyard, Central London hired a Steel Pan Soloist.
- Potters Fields Park, London hired one steel drummer.
- Another client hired one of our Steel Pan Soloists for OPEN in Norwich, Norfolk.
- A Primary School in Woolwich, London hired one of our steel band tutors.
- Another Primary School in Greenwich, London hired another steel band tutor.
- The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham hired a steel drummer for a Travel Show.
Larger travelling steel bands and steel combos hired
- Sir Steve McQueen hired our 10-piece steel band for a movie shoot in Notting Hill, London.
- The Shrewsbury Flower Show, Shropshire hired our steel band for yet another year.
- Warner Bros Studios in Herts hired five of our steel band for the 2021 ‘Tom & Jerry’ Movie.
- Our 4-piece electric steel band incl a PA & vocals was hired in Leatherhead, Surrey.
- A corporate event in the Gardens of Tower Of London saw fit to hire our 4-piece steel band.
- Sir Steve McQueen hired 7 of our steel band for his 50th birthday party in London.
- Sixt at the World Travel Market at ExCel, London hired our 4-piece steel band with our female singer.
- The 4-piece steel combo (incl. drums & vocal PA) was hired for a wedding in Witney, Oxon.
- The Atrium, London was the venue for a hire of our steel band musicians.
- A private school in Finchley, London decided to hire our steel band players.
- One hospital in Stanmore hired two members of our steel band.
- A Junior School in Barnet, London hired our steel band for workshops.
- The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine hired our steel drum duo.
- An Infants School in NW London hired our steel drummers for an International Day.
- A school in Highgate, London hired our steel band’s musicians.
- Our steel band’s players were a hire to stroll at a recording studio party in Chelsea, London.
- ITV’s Good Morning Britain hired our steel band to play live in their London studio.
- A London Heathrow hotel hired our steel band for an event.
What other acts work well with Solid Steel?
A steel band with limbo and carnival dancers plus…!
Solid Steel is led by Paul Cherrie, as the flagship act of his management company, ‘Cherry Ripe Management’. This company manages many other tropical themed performers you can hire to complement your event. The most popular fun choices of these are Carnival Dancers and limbo dancers, but there are many more. Some of which live in or near London, too. Please explore some options at www.tropical-ents.co.uk. We have a lot of experience in all things to do with Caribbean entertainment, naturally. So, we’ll always want to help you. We can even advise you on theming and catering if you care to ask us!
Alternatively, we do work with some fine UK entertainment online agencies. Please see their links below:-
