By Gemma Handy
From the rousing rhythms to the indefatigable energy displayed, there was little doubt that Hells Gate Steel Orchestra took to the Panorama stage on Saturday night determined to win.
And win they did.
Led by animated arranger Khan Cordice – whose passion for pan was both palpable and infectious – the country’s oldest steel band claimed the crown for an incredible fifth consecutive time.
An electrifying performance by the 110-strong ensemble saw them stomp to victory from among the seven groups that took to the stage at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
The defending Panorama champions had the crowd in a frenzy with an invigorating rendition of the late Ricardo Drue’s posthumously released hit ‘Ah love it here’.
Hells Gate’s Captain Keithley Athill Jnr told Observer the group was “elated” to triumph once again.
“We did a lot of hard work to prepare for the eight minutes that we performed for. It was perfect on stage. The group worked really, really hard and it was all executed on stage,” he said.
Athill said the group had picked the song several months ago.
“We chose it to honour the passing of Ricardo Drue and because it was a really nice song to be honest,” he explained.
Hells Gate weren’t the only group to choose ‘Ah love it here’, released in October last year, two months after the Antiguan soca star’s sudden death. Panache Steel Orchestra took third place with a rendition of the same hit.
Athill said all groups were aware of each other’s song choices and that Hells Gate had welcomed the challenge of going head to head with Panache.
“Our arranger Mr Cordice really put in a lot of hard work and the music was excellent,” Athill continued. “What I like about him is he gives us challenging things to do but doesn’t give us impossible things to do.”
Second place was claimed by Original Steel Orchestra who played ‘Happy Music’, also by Ricardo Drue.
For Hells Gate, which next year will celebrate its 80th anniversary, the sheer volume of players on stage combined to create a tour de force.
“The cap was 110 and we took 110,” Athill smiled. “We try to get as many young people as possible up there because they want to be on the big stage.
“We were actually oversubscribed and had to drop a few persons, but we asked them for their support and they were all rallying around us on the night, whether back stage, in front of the stage or the side of the stage,” he added.
Hells Gate’s tuner was veteran Veron Henry, son of late steelpan legend Eustace ‘Manning’ Henry.
Other competitors on the night included West Side Symphony who performed Ricardo Drue’s ‘Superman’, the Gemonites who played “Let Loose” by Tian Winter, the Harmonites with Drue’s ‘Socaholic’, and Halcyon with Drue’s ‘Let’s Do It’.
A panel of three judges awarded points for various aspects, with the arrangement and general performance accounting for the bulk of the criteria.
Panorama has been a highlight of annual Carnival festivities for decades. News in June that it had been axed from this year’s celebrations – amid a spat between the Pan Association and the Festivals Commission over funding – dismayed music fans across the nation.
Further disappointment followed when State Insurance pulled out of sponsoring the hallmark event, which appeared to cement its demise. A deal was later reached over financing, State Insurance announced a U-turn, and the much-loved show was placed back on the schedule.
