Mangrove Steel Band (2018/2018) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Steel Bands are one of the five key arts of Notting Hill Carnival and are a cornerstone of Carnival celebrations. You can catch them on the parade route, or performing at the all-important U.K. National Panorama Competition.
Ebony Steel Band (2018/2018)Notting Hill Carnival
Continue this story to meet some of the many iconic Steel Bands that Notting Hill Carnival has to offer!
Contrast Steel BandNotting Hill Carnival
Contrast Steel Band
Contrast Steel Band were established in 1974 and are based in Leicester, West Midlands. They have performed countrywide and overseas playing a wide repertoire ranging from Jazz to Reggae, to Pop, Ballads, Gospel and Traditional Calypso.
Instagram: @contraststeelband
Twitter: @ContrastPan
Facebook: @Contraststeelband
Croydon Steel Orchestra (CSO) (2019/2019) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Croydon Steel Orchestra
Croydon Steel Orchestra is a youth and community steel band based in the London Borough of Croydon. The Orchestra was established in 2000 and aims to promote "pan" as a style of music and the steel band as a family of instruments in their own right.
Instagram: @croydonsteel
Ebony Steel Band (2018/2018) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Ebony Steel Band Trust
Ebony Steel Band is one of Europe’s leading steel bands and, established in 1969, was one of the first steel bands to be founded in the U.K.. Ebony has won the U.K. National Panorama competition a record twenty-two times, eleven times in succession - a feat unmatched by any other band.
Instagram: @ebonysteelband
Twitter: @ebonysteelband
Facebook: @EbonySteelBand
Endurance Steel Orchestra (2019/2019) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Endurance Steel Orchestra
Endurance Steel Orchestra is a dynamic organisation, with youth engagement and community cohesion at its core. Founded by Marlon Hibbert in 2009, Endurance aims to enrich the lives of young people through the art of steel pan.
Instagram: @endurancesteel
Twitter: @endurancesteel
Facebook: @EnduranceSteelOrchestra
London All Stars Steel Orchestra (2016/2016) by London All Stars Steel OrchestraNotting Hill Carnival
London All Stars Steel Orchestra
London All Stars Steel Orchestra is an authentic multi-award winning steel band founded by Mr Frank Rollock. Coming from a diverse musical background with his seven children all playing musical instruments, the London All Stars was formed in 1974 under Frank’s musical direction.
Facebook: @LdnAllStars
Mangrove Steel Band (2018/2018) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Mangrove Steel Band
The Mangrove Steel Band is one of the most prominent in Europe. Formed in 1980 from a ‘Pan Round Neck’ group of the traditional type, Mangrove has established themselves as a fully-fledged modern orchestra. They are eleven-time winners of the U.K. National Panorama Competition.
Instagram: @mangrovecarnival
Twitter: @MangroveW11
Facebook: @MangroveSteelband
Metronomes Steel Orchestra (2018/2018) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Metronomes Steel Orchestra
Metronomes Steel Orchestra were founded in 1973 and are one of Britain's leading Steel Bands. They have grown into an innovative steel band and unique community in Ladbroke Grove, London, promoting Caribbean heritage and running projects to benefit the local community.
Instagram: @metronomes_mso
Twitter: @Metronomes_mso
North Tyneside Steel Band (NTSB) (2017/2017) by North Tyneside Steel BandNotting Hill Carnival
North Tyneside Steel Band
Founded in 1989, North Tyneside Steel Band (NTSB) are one of the oldest Steel Bands in the North East. Considered the ‘top performing steel band in the North East of England’, NTSB operate four different bands: from child and adult beginners through to the headline performance band.
Instagram: @ntsteelband
Twitter: @NTSteelband
Facebook: @NTSteelband
Nostalgia Steel Band (2011/2011) by Michael GarnettNotting Hill Carnival
Nostalgia Steel Band
Nostalgia Steel Band was the first traditional ‘pan-round-neck’ band in the UK and remains so up to today. Based in London, Nostalgia Steel Band are an inclusive and diverse band with strong links to the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and The Americas, who perform both within the UK and abroad.
Instagram: @nostalgiasteelband
Twitter: @NostalgiaSteelB
Facebook: @NostalgiaSteelband
Panash Steel Orchestra (2021/2021) by Panash Steel OrchestraNotting Hill Carnival
Panash Steel Orchestra
Panash Steel Orchestra was formed in 1983 and is based in Crystal Palace, South East London. They consist of two main steel orchestras: a Youth Section and a Community Section.
Instagram: @panashsteeluk
Twitter: @PanashSteelUK
Pan Nation Steel Orchestra (2019/2019) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Pan Nation Steel Orchestra
Pan Nation Steel Orchestra is a North London steel band that provides a safe space for people to learn and grow together via steel pan music. Pan Nation prides themselves on their musical family, and at just 11 years old the Pan Nation community has already grown to over 70 musicians and counting.
Instagram: @pan_nationuk
Twitter: @pan_nationuk
Facebook: @PanNationSteelOrchestra
Phase One Steel Orchestra (2018/2018) by Robbie JosephNotting Hill Carnival
Phase One Steel Orchestra
Phase One Steel Orchestra was founded in 1978 by Victor Phillip, and is based in Coventry, West Midlands. Alongside participating in all of the UK carnivals, Phase One performed before HM the Queen in 1985 and have also performed at prestigious venues such as Fairfield Hall and The Wembley Conference Centre.
Instagram: @phaseone78
Facebook: @phaseone78
Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra (RASPO) (2018/2018)Notting Hill Carnival
Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra (RASPO)
RASPO was formed in 1997, funded by Arts Council England with instruments and tutors provided by Mangrove Steel Band. The RASPO name commemorates the very first steel band to play in the U.K. at the 1951 Festival of Britain - The Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO).
Instagram: @raspouk
Twitter: @RASPOUK
Facebook: @RASPOUK
Real Steel (2016/2016) by Real SteelNotting Hill Carnival
Real Steel
Real Steel was founded in 1991 and is based in Plymouth, where it has become established as the South West’s top Steel Band. Real Steel are three-time Panorama winners (2012, 2013 & 2014), and have had a considerable impact on the local community through providing social, creative and training outlets.
Facebook: @realsteelband
St Michael and All Angels Steel Orchestra (SMASO) (2019/2019) by Patrick McKayNotting Hill Carnival
St Michael and All Angels Steel Orchestra (SMASO)
St Michael and All Angels Steel Orchestra (SMASO) provide access for children, young people and adults to play steel pan and perform in the community. SMASO regularly participates in Notting Hill Carnival and has previously won Best Youth Band in 2017 and Best Conventional Band in 2016 and 2017.
Twitter: @SMA3SO
Sussex Steel (2019/2019) by Sussex SteelNotting Hill Carnival
Sussex Steel
Sussex Steel is a charity (CIO) created by individuals who are passionate about steel pan and are committed to increasing the musical opportunities for people in Sussex and beyond. Sussex Steel’s goal is to make steel pan accessible to everyone.
Instagram: @sussex_steel
Twitter: @SussexSteel
Facebook: @steelbandsussex
UFO Steel Band (2018/2018) by UFO Steel BandNotting Hill Carnival
UFO Steel Band
The Urban Fox Orchestra (UFO) Steel Band is based in Ealing, West London, and their main event is performing at Notting Hill Carnival. UFO are one of the few U.K. steel bands that teach steel pan to visually-impaired and hearing-impaired players, led by one of their founding members, Michael Toussaint, who is blind.
Instagram: @ufo_steelband
Twitter: @UFOsteelband
Facebook: @UFOsteelband
Notting Hill Carnival, Access All Areas 2020 - Steel Band Highlights (2020/2020) by Notting Hill Carnival LtdNotting Hill Carnival
Meet the Steel Bands
Now you've had a chance to meet some of our amazing Steel Bands, be sure to check them out the next time you're at Notting Hill Carnival!
Watch this short clip of our Notting Hill Carnival 2020: Access All Areas Steel Band Highlights to catch some of the action live.
