Spangle Steel Band - Surviving the Pandemic!
How do you manage being told there is no meeting or making music together for at least a year!
Clearly not good news for many and this included the members of 'Spangle steel band' in Norfolk who were looking forward to 2020 and another summer of gigs.
So what to do? Our thoughts were that those who play in bands are used to challenges, difficulties, frustrations and problems and always try to remain positive and do their utmost to make good of a bad situation, and this should be no different.
Over the last year, whilst Spangle have been unable to get together, we have stayed in close contact and have made the most of social media with regular group contact to hopefully keep spirits up. Of course virus restrictions do not prevent individual practice and for many spending more time at home has allowed them (good neighbours allowing) to spend more time practicing, improving their pan skills and being creative. Some band members have worked on and circulated 'snippets' of songs on our FB group page to keep their hand in and to encourage others.
Spangle Steel Band at Race Event.
Kim and I also participated in two worldwide virtual steel bands, the 1.5 Climate Change – Virtual Steelband https://youtu.be/nl10UYOJkzo which originated in New Zealand and the Pan In Unity medley https://youtu.be/ovpKOXfT5GE arranged by Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe. Both were long pieces and challenging to learn but it was great to play a small part in successful projects and be involved with and have a shared experience with so many across the pan world, we both found this experience inspiring and motivating and would encourage others to get involved in similar projects.
Spangle Steel Band
As I write there is some light at the end of the tunnel and 'Spangle' are in the process of organising band commitments for the summer of 2021 and are looking forward to getting back together to enjoy good company and to share the enjoyment pan music brings. We wish all the best to our fellow pan players across the country and beyond, keep smiling, keep playing, keep spreading the pan message.
The sun will shine on us again!
by Ian Boggan
