Hells Gate Steel Orchestra Panorama Launch 2025 – Back Where It All Started

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Hells Gate Steel Orchestra Panorama Launch 2025 – Back Where It All Started
By Petra Williams
www.petrathespectator.com

80 Years of Rhythms and Memories: A Legacy in Steel

The Hells Gate Steel Orchestra’s Panorama Launch event has become the official signal that Pan Season for Antigua’s Carnival is off and running.

Defending champions, the Caribbean Union Bank Hells Gate Steel Orchestra, took pan lovers home last night—to Baker’s Corner in The Point, where it all began—for the band’s now traditional Panorama Launch showcase.

The evening did not disappoint.

The newest steel band on the ‘block’, Pandemonium Steel Orchestra, opened the night with a smooth and easy-going, fitting tribute—Home by Asher Otto.

It was a most appropriate opener, as pan, not just Hells Gate, was home, where it was born, in The Point.

Under Captain Zahra Lake, who could be heard in the count-off to start each piece if your ears were keen, Pandemonium reinforced the ghetto vibes and celebrated the pan while entertaining the most receptive audience.

Pandemonium’s set would close with Claudette ‘CP’ Peters’ Mental Day, the Panorama piece. Speaking briefly with Arranger Zahra Lake, she shared that in addition to a “nice melody,” Mental Day resonated on other levels.

The lyrics aligned with much of the work she has been undertaking in recent years.

She is anticipating an eighty-strong side on stage come Panorama night, and she is looking forward to the event with Pandemonium, an institution she has been at the core of from the outset.

Panache Steel Orchestra took the stage next and signaled they were in a party mood from the first tune, Gabby’s Dr Cassandra.

We were taken on an ‘old school’ call-and-answer ride, again in tribute to being home, where pan started. The audience responded in full appreciation.

Then it was into a Summer Festival frenzy with the Flames classic Fire Under Me Foot.

I spied a man contemplating overturning a coal pot; thankfully, the tune ended before the vibes overcame him.

Panache’s high-energy set concluded with the introduction of their panorama tune of choice, Burning Flames’ Keep It So.

Speaking with arranger Malik Smith shortly after the performance, he indicated that it was Captain Maurisha who proposed the tune in response to reservations he had about his initial selection.

Malik shared, “When I’m writing my music—and even commentators, spectators have said this each competition—usually with our arrangements, you can sing them and you can dance to them.

Being able to sing and dance while still trying to follow the criteria that the judges are looking for has always been something that I enjoy.”

He added, “When you have a band with a lot of young people, you also have to find a way, even though it’s an old song they might not know, to structure the music in such a way that it’s fun for them.

Like when they hear it, they’ll feel like they want to dance, feel like they can sing it—even though it’s probably too old for them.”

Then it was time for the Hells Gate family to take the stage.

This segm

ent opened with the Eustace Manning Pan Academy, the first step for inexperienced young players entering the Hells Gate fraternity.

Band administrators stress that no opportunity should be missed to introduce young generations to the fundamentals of stage presentation.

The audience fully appreciated their set, which offered a good mix of tunes. Notably, the Eustace Manning influence was evident, as several of his children are active within the academy and performed alongside the young players.

The Golden Stars, consisting solely of mature members, reminded us of the timeless value of fine wine with their presentation.

Bob Marley’s Waiting in Vain and Rupert ‘King Swallow’ Philo’s Man to Man were well-rendered, and as one walked through the crowd, a deep appreciation was evident—perhaps even a hint of longing among some of the silvers to join on stage.

It would not be surprising if Golden Stars gained a few recruits after last night’s performance.

Next to the stage was Rising Stars. I fondly call them “Manning Grandpickney” in recognition of Hells Gate’s efforts to develop a platform for the young elites of the band to perform their way.

And did they ever! I will complain—yes, complain—that I was waiting on a classic from them, a delight in their portfolio, but I suspect they were more focused on reminding the ‘big boys’ that they can jam.

And jam they did. It was the perfect prelude to the night’s showpiece.

Of course, as expected, Hells Gate Steel Orchestra owned the event. In signature Panorama night style, they occupied the entire stage. Under the firm guidance of Sir Khan (me nah tek it back), they sent a clear signal for Panorama 2025.

Each piece spoke to an era of the band or the history of The Point—and to another of the community’s gifts to the world: Sir McLean Emanuel, aka King Short Shirt.

The highlight of the night was the release of the 2025 Panorama tune of choice—King Onyan’s Crazy Man. My immediate thought, in full Point parlance, was “if drop wud min hab one name.”

Responding to my query about the tune selection, the band’s arranger Khan Cordice stated:

“It’s a statement! You know, we fight here to see how we can better what we do—in the best interests of the youth and the platform—and we believe wholeheartedly in togetherness and unity. But it has to be unity in the right way and for the right purpose.

We’ve been here, Hell’s Gate, now celebrating 80 years. We’ve seen its lowest points in history and certainly its highest. And we’ve been at the forefront in many, many ways of the development of steelpan here in Antigua and Barbuda. And all we’re asking is that our colleagues all over Antigua and Barbuda understand that we need to be making positive strides forward.”

Khan also noted that Hells Gate uses the Panorama platform for a broader objective:

“Our mission is to continue to push the boundaries of the art form. In pushing the boundaries, it transcends the music. It also has a lot to do with our involvement in the community—playing our part in developing and sharing all of the good things that make us part of the community, like cultural ambassadors, if you want to call it that.

We’ve looked around and seen mental illness affecting a lot of our people. Some of them are naturally acquired, and some would have been induced. But we’re certainly losing a lot of males, too. And we’ve been affected by mental illness. We’ve had members who have been diagnosed in different ways. So, we will be using this platform this year to spread some awareness.”

The night ended on a beautiful high. Representatives from all the steel bands present joined Hells Gate on stage. Some showcased in short solo stints, while others blended into the final rendition of the night—our second anthem Nobody Go Run Me. And then, naturally, a fantastic jam with the Pont & Villa Iron Band.

It was an excellent tribute to 80 years—a celebration of The Point as the mecca of culture in Antigua and Barbuda—and a reminder of the unity necessary for real growth.

As we look toward Panorama 2025, let us remember the unity and the change that pan lit across our nation decades ago. Let us never forget that since the introduction of the steel pan to Antigua and Barbuda, it has permeated all facets of our lives.

Onwards to Panorama 2025!

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