Apart from weddings and workshops our steel drum & band hire services are suitable for numerous other events throughout a typical year that include:
A steel band that plays all your Christmas favourites!
We do try to stay busy throughout the calendar year, so although we do get asked to perform with very little notice and are most often able to oblige, we suggest clients book as early as possible!
In the early months when there are fewer events being held in the UK, if we are not spending time in our recording studio or teaching with our steel drums, we prefer our steel band is hired to tour and perform abroad. Over the years the band has played extensively in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Belgium, Capri, Djibouti, Dubai, France, Germany, Gran Canaria, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Syria, Tenerife and Tunisia. We love travelling and will discount our regular domestic rates to compensate for foreign clients’ expenses.
In the Spring and Summer months we’re kept busy with mostly outdoor events in the UK playing our all-acoustic steel drums, because the ‘reliable sound of sunshine’ of our steel band has long been considered as almost mandatory by UK bookers such as wedding planners, corporate entertainment organisers and sporting event organisers to supply beautiful Caribbean music for weddings, company barbecues and corporate fun days for the staff and their families.
As summer turns to Autumn we also get a lot of interest in our steel band performing in the Black History month of October. These performances are often accompanied by workshops and often take place in schools, colleges and other educational establishments.
In early November during the Halloween / Guy Fawkes Bonfire / Diwali season we get to demonstrate that we can produce performances outside in cold weather, raising the spirits.
These sets may be shorter and we will most certainly be ‘wrapped up’ costume wise, but we don’t flinch at braving the elements!
Then, of course, in December we’re very busy with Christmas parties and Christmas Carol concerts.
Most companies organise a Christmas party for their staff and Christmas in the Caribbean is a popular theme. We’re proud to say we have been invited to play at a carol concert at the famous St Martin-in-the-Fields church by Trafalgar Square for twelve consecutive years and here you can find some video clips of our steel band playing Christmas carols and songs.
For many people steel drums are best enjoyed when a band is hired as part of a carnival parade. ‘Steel drums’, ‘steel band’ and ‘carnival’ are inseparable concepts for them. A musical performance delivered by a band that’s mobile has potentially more impact and we are in high demand as a steel band who can be the surprise element at conferences, town parades, sporting events and the like.
The ‘pan roun’ neck’ method of playing the steel pan – with the pan suspended on a strap from the neck of the player – is the oldest, most authentic method and loved by all.
The original demands of pan-playing at Trinidad Carnival naturally led to the development of a mobile method that wasn’t restricted by an immovable pan stand. However, because the pans that professionals play today are generally larger and heavier than before, many modern pan players prefer to play on stands.
There is video publicity showing a Solid Steel trio mix and mingle at Royal Ascot- playing and strolling through an enthralled crowd. When we entertain in this way, the cameras come out and there’s a smile on everyone’s face!
The ‘pan roun’ neck style of steel pan performance was first introduced to the UK by the Russ Henderson Trio which included Max Cherrie and after him, Ralph Cherrie. Small wonder then that their sons Paul and Mark of Solid Steel would be so committed to keeping this art form alive. From balls to private parties to Notting Hill Carnival, pan roun’ neck was loved by everyone; especially when players did tricks such as extending a rope between the pans of two of the players with the other player limboing beneath the rope.
A ‘pan roun’ neck’ performance is a very niche performance nowadays. Only 1 in a 100 steel band players nowadays will have any experience of doing it. So, if you want a steel band that still offers a wow factor as a spectacle too, Solid Steel are one of only a handful of UK steel bands that can provide this.
Our steel band roaming & parading at Ascot Races
With the source of Reggae Reggae, Levi Roots
Of course, it’s not just receptions at weddings where our steel drum & band services are hired. Our steel band has long been a popular choice as a reception band for corporate events organisers too.
Often the planners opt for the ‘unplugged’, acoustic variety of steel band of which Solid Steel excel in providing. We feel privileged to have been commissioned to have our steel band perform for some of the biggest companies in the world as well as possibly some of the smallest.
We have performed for numerous banking and law firms. Metro Bank used us to promote the opening of 6 of their branches and recently the band were asked to perform inside the branch of a Lloyd’s bank in business hours- a first for us. Whilst the demands of playing outside the Metro banks was to drum up business by grabbing the general public’s attention, playing inside Lloyd’s bank required that we play at a level that still enabled cashiers and customers to have a conversation. The sensitivity of our musicianship allowed us to be successful at both events.
More recently the demand for our steel band to be more interactive with its audience has only enhanced our popularity. We now often carry extra steel drums and operate workshops for both adults and children at these corporate events and our team building and workshop experience really helps to make this a success.
In all cases, the event organisers have recognised the importance of corporate hospitality and/or brand promotion and have entrusted us with enhancing their company’s good reputation.
Solid Steel’s musicians do like to show off their other instruments if it’s appropriate. As much as we love the acoustic steel trio line-up, it’s not always suitable. No other steel band and only a few wedding bands would offer greater flexibility in terms of size and format than us. So when you hire our steel drum & band services you are able to enjoy the Caribbean steel band format that is best fit for your purpose. This might mean that you’d even like to hire us to play sessions for dancing.
Our steel combo at a charity event with Brian Lara
What is the ‘pan roun’ neck’ style of steel band?
It’s important to note that the ‘pan roun’ neck’ method of playing the steel pan – with the pan suspended on a strap from the neck of the player – is the oldest, most authentic method and loved by all. Because the origins of pan-playing lie in playing music in accompany Trinidad’s carnival, it was only natural that players developed a mobile method of pan playing that wasn’t restricted by an immovable pan stand. As a result pan roun’ neck was born. Not only did this method allow players to follow the carnival, but it also had the added bonus of more audience participation as players were able to interact with the crowd whilst playing.
Furthermore, ‘pan roun’ neck’ was also perfect for busking. As a result, a few UK players in the ‘60s and ‘70s would busk in the South of France during August and holiday with their families at the same time.
How long can you play a session of ‘pan roun’ neck’?
Most modern pan players prefer to play with their steel drums set up on on stands. This is largely because the pans that professionals play today are generally larger and heavier than before. This is on account of most of the steel drums in bands being chrome-plated thereby weighing as much as 15kgs.
Solid Steel will always be a band that welcomes being hired as a mobile steel band with drums you can hire to parade or stroll, but for sound health and safety reasons keeps these sessions short. But so very sweet!
Can your steel band play with their pans on stands on a carnival float?
A carnival float is a wonderful moving stage by which thousands of onlooking bystanders will have their attention grabbed by our expert steel band very visibly playing some super lively popular music in a calypso style. Playing steel pans whilst being driven on a carnival float is great fun for us and for the audience of bystanders watching us. Our musicians always get a bit competitive with other floats and give lively performances whilst in a carnival procession! We also keep the tempo of the music high to raise that energy even more!
The bigger local amateur steel bands with 20 or more band members are the more obvious candidates for the big city carnivals like London’s Notting Hill or the carnivals in Leeds and Manchester. Most usually, our steel drum & band services are hired for more provincial carnivals. This is often as a 4-piece or 5-piece steel band, but with a PA provided onboard the float to project our sound further.
Why is a steel band so good in a parade?
A carnival parade in the UK doesn’t feel truly multicultural without steel drums and a steel band in it!
Our steel band can be the ideal band to lead a procession with us using as many steel drum players as suits the size of your event. So we can be equally suited to a large carnival procession, a small wedding procession or something in-between.
To further explain, when we walk with our drums we march in time to our own rhythm. We call our marching style ‘chipping’, which is a marched foot shuffle to the music’s tempo! This mobile way of playing our steel drums almost inevitably leads to our audience forming a conga line behind us!
Can your steel band be an alternative to a Mariachi band or a trad jazz band?
Our steel band offer great versatility when we stroll with the drums around our necks. We can weave our way through crowds and audiences providing the close-up experience that only mix and mingle entertainers can match whilst creating a carnival atmosphere. Consequently, there is naturally more interaction with our audience, who may choose to form a conga line but are just as likely to start to dance or even start to limbo! So, generally speaking, our band can be even more entertaining.
Our steel band has a lot of experience of strolling as a trio in a small indoor environment like a restaurant and serenading diners- Mariachi-style. Because Solid Steel can sing as well as play we’re an even more suitable alternative to booking a Mariachi band than other strolling steel bands. We can serenade people dining- moving from table to table playing and singing lilting Caribbean ballads such as ‘Yellow Bird’ and ‘Island In The Sun’, as a result. We once gave this more intimate style of performance 6 nights a week for 3 months around the tables of the Tiki-style restaurant at the famous Sporting Club in Monte Carlo.
Street performances really look ‘street’ when a steel band is strolling or parading outside at street level. It looks like the authentic mix and mingle performance of street buskers and is ideal for high street performances to shoppers. In light of that, we often play sets at sporting events which rotate with those of a traditional jazz band.
Can your steel band produce a short ‘impact’ performance?
The ‘surprise’ element of the arrival of Solid Steel with the steel pans around their necks has a big impact on an audience. Consequently, we’ve played at the presentation of the award of a free Caribbean holiday at many conferences in the past! Solid Steel will always be a band that welcomes being hired as a mobile steel band that can parade in short sets!
What reasons are there to book Solid Steel over other professional steel bands?
Firstly, the versatility of instrumentation we can offer, secondly, the broad range of our repertoire and thirdly, our musicianship. These are the main reasons to book Solid Steel over other professional steel bands. However, there are others:-
Why should you hire a Solid Steel band for your corporate event?
Many of our past clients’ budgets for corporate entertainment will have been slashed following the pandemic of 2020. Some may see expenditure in this area ‘unnecessary’ or ‘unhelpful’ in terms of their company’s public image. They couldn’t be more wrong! Entertaining our clients’ clients with the uplifting happy tones of steel band music is the kind of mood-lifter this economy needs. Should you hire our steel drum & band services, we can provide the right background music to provide the ambience needed at a networking event for a company’s most valued employees and clients or create a party atmosphere that will grab everyone’s attention to a client’s brand at a launch event.
What corporate clients has your steel band performed for in the past?
Over the last 10 years we have performed successful engagements for:-
1st Royal Anglian
4 Com Ltd
Allen & Overy
Allied Domecq
Amazon
American Express
Anglia Co-op
ANSA Elevators
Apex Conference & Events
Aramark Caterers
ASDA
Atkinson Bolton
Axell Wireless
Babcock & Brown
Bank of England
Barclays Global Investments
BBC Worldwide
Boon Edam
British Red Cross
Broadgate Estates
BSKYB
Butterfield Bank
Cadbury UK
Canary Wharf Management
Canon
Capita
Carphone Warehouse
Charles Kendall Group Center Parcs
Charles Russell LLP
Charles Wells Ltd
City Airport
Condé Nast Publications
Credit Suisse
Cushman & Wakefield
Daiwa Securities
David Lloyd Leisure
Ernst & Young
Eurotunnel
Farrer & Co
Five Ten Group
GlaxoSmithKline
Glenlivet
Google
Grey Advertising Group
Guinness
Institute Of Actuaries
Investec
ITE Group
LDA Communications
LGN Wellbeing
Lloyds TSB
Malibu
Mazda Motors UK
Mercedes- Benz UK
Merlin Entertainments
Merrill Lynch
Metro Bank
Microsoft
MITIEG Group
Ogilvy & Mather
Pfizers
Pheonix Partners
Phoenix Equity Partners
Phyllis Court Royal Bank of Scotland
Reuters
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Royal Thames Yacht Club
Saatchi & Saatchi
Schroders
Serco
Sheffield Haworth
Spirax-Sarco Ltd
Strutt & Parker
Toyota
Twitter
Unison Virgin
Warner Bros
What corporate venues recently have your steel band played at?
Nationwide, more and more wonderful venues have opened their doors to corporate hospitality business. As competition has become fiercer these venues have upped their game by offering excellent service alongside the unique characteristics and charms they offer. A great corporate event can now take place not just in a hotel or restaurant but in an art gallery, museum, roof garden and sports stadium, to name but a few. Sporting arenas aside (please see Parades), here are some of our favourite venues we’ve played in over the last 10 years:-
Anugraha Hotel, Egham
Birmingham NEC Arena
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire
Cafe Royal, London
Celtic Manor, Wales
Chelsea Physic Garden, London
Chester Race Course, Cheshire
Claridge’s, London
Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire
Coq d’Argent, London
Cowley Manor, Gloucestershire
Down Hall, Essex
Earls Court Arena, London
Gibson Hall, London
HAC, London
Highchere Castle, Berkshire
Kensington Palace, London
Kensington Roof Gardens, London
Kew Gardens, London
Knebworth House, Herts
Leeds Castle, Kent
London Zoo
Loseley Park, Surrey
Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire
Madame Tussaud’s, London
Millennium Dome, London
Natural History Museum, London Northbrook Park, Surrey
Orsett Hall, Essex
Painshill Park, Surrey
Queens Eyot, Windsor
Rhinefield House, Hants
Sea Life Aquarium, London
Sheraton Hotel, Damascus, Syria
Sheraton Skyline, Heathrow
Sporting Club, Monte Carlo
Stockbrook Manor, Essex
Stoke Park Club, Berkshire
Syon Park, Middlesex
The Brewery, London
Dorchester, London
The Elvetham, Hampshire
Mall of The Emirates, Dubai
Tythe Barn, Oxfordshire
