*** 20th Anniversary: 2004 to 2024 ***

Calgary local music info - West Indies Style

More Calgary music.

What to find with this Calgary local music info?  How about a little Caribbean?

This band took many to the tropics, quite literally. For the most part, all you had to do was close your eyes.  But of course if you did that, you would miss watching the band.

As exciting as they are to see, it's the music that got you. How much fullness and detail could twelve or so musicians provide? Use your imagination.

Or better yet, hear old videos of this band and find out for yourself.  Energy with a bit of island flavour can really make  your night, your event. 

The tuned instruments are made from discarded oil barrels that have been tuned to produce musical tones and their sound can be quite melodic or percussive, depending on how the pans are played.  This idea originated in the Trinidad & Tobago.  

The pan orchestra is supplemented by a percussion section of drum kit, congas, etc.   And we call these players the "engine room".

Give us more Calgary local music info

Calysto Steelband gets a chance to go out and play around town quite a bit. Mostly private and corporate functions but a few parks, public places and Calgary nightclubs every year as well.

Where were they?

You could have found them at Schooner's in the west end by Coach Hill Road the first Saturday of every December up until a few years ago anyways.  You can still find them entertaining the runners along Memorial Drive during the Calgary Marathon on the last Sunday of May.

Other past annual Calgary events included the the Parkinsons Walk stage in FishCreek Park the last Saturday of almost every September.  You can still take the kids and have fun.  The band also plays various recurring festivals in town and many one-of-a-kind events.

The majority of the performances the band engages in are private functions, though and the Calysto Steelband may be contacted for your  (e.g.,) wedding or corporate function through their website.  They have provided an opportunity for you to see some video clips of the band performances over the years on the same site.  See if it's something you like.

This is the Calysto Steelband in their glory. See more about them on the Steel Drum Pans web page. Or you can visit the Calgary City Maps homepage for more direction.

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