AUGUSTA, Maine — Steel drum bands and performers from across New England joined together Sunday for the 31st New England Pan Festival.
The event held at Cony High School in Augusta brought together musicians of all skill levels and ages for a round-robin concert, where each group playing a few songs before passing it off to another band.
“It's just joyous music,” Christine Letcher, the event’s organizer, said Sunday. “Pan music can bring together all generations.”
Crowds danced to songs of all genres, from classical music to Miley Cyrus’ pop hit “Flowers,” the latter performed by the professional New York City-based group Steel Sensation.
Though steel drum or "pan" drum bands play an assortment of music from across the lyrical spectrum, the roots of the instrument are firmly in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago.
During its time under British colonial rule in the 19th century, African drums were outlawed by the European government on the islands in the wake of the Canboulay Riots, during which Trinidadians protested British restrictions on the historic holiday of Carnival.
To overcome the ban on African percussion instruments, locals began making drums out of any material available. In the 20th century, this meant using steel drums discarded by the U.S. Navy, which had established a presence in Trinidad and Tobago. To many of the drummers in Augusta Sunday, this history remains an important aspect of the craft.
“The steel band started by accident,” Tristan Japsi of Steel Sensation said. “Nobody really sought out to make it.”
Now the distinct din of steel drums can be heard across the world, including in Maine, where music teachers have found success in teaching students the instrument, which can be learned without learning to read music.