Manchester and Leeds: The demise or not of steelbands in the Carnival Parade: A Tale of Two Cities

I saw it in the papers: No steelband in the Leeds Carnival Parade. Organisers blame the riots.

[This is us: Foxwood, Doves, SteelRising at Manchester two weeks ago]
Well, there never was going to be a steelband on a float at Leeds Carnival this year. By the time we phoned the organisers to check the arrangements there was nothing to arrange. The only steelband would be on the stage, and it was not our turn this year. I was told troupes don’t want to dance behind the quieter, relatively slower sounds of a steelband. And indeed I remember meeting one of the carnival queens over a decade ago in a special school where we both were teaching that term. I said we need a troupe for our band, and she said “I’m not jumping up behind no steelband” I was taken aback, even mortified by the vehemence with which she spoke.

Then this week on Radio 4 Kwame Kwei-Armah was explaining in his history of London Carnival how the sound systems arrived in order to include the watching but not participating Jamaicans and other islanders in Carnival.

Thus an uneasy tension ever since between steelbands and sound systems. What’s to do about it?

Well for a start, don’t blame the riots, and for a second, don’t put a spokesperson on Radio Five Live saying it’s not usual to have a steelband in the Leeds parade. If this was the case, which it isn’t, for the second biggest UK West Indian Carnival this isn’t something you would want to broadcast.

Four years ago the organisers of newly reformed Manchester Carnival made a massive effort to gets steelbands back in parade. They got five of us including Foxwood/Doves/SteelRising and new World from Leeds, and North Stars from Huddersfield. And four years later, they are still getting them in. You don’t have to be older generation to love steelbands. And you don’t have to be West Indian, or just Trinidadian. Along with reggae music, steelbands must be one of the most popular imports from the West Indies to UK, and indeed Europe. There’s room for us both.

Here's two pictures of Lizzie on floats at Manchester and Huddersfield.

This year Manchester experienced big city centre riots; on Wednesday the police cancelled the parade; on Thursday the troupes persuaded them to reinstate the parade; by which time all but four of the the lorries and their drivers had other jobs. I managed to get to recover all but three of my players and we played in the arena, nestling between sound systems. Better than not playing at all, and actually, it was ace.

Leeds Silver Steel Sparrows play at the Mariners and More Fund Raising for the Festival of Britain

Dear Debs

It's all go here. No sooner than we get the pans back into the Pan Room at City than it's round the back of the school with van, and loading up for the Mariners' Day Centre, Beeston. This is where band-member, Evie's mum works and it's a good few quid to help us down to London. The Lord Mayor calls, and Bruntcliffe School brings a lovely band and singers.

This is on Tuesday July 5th, which is a week day. The band now consists of maternity leaves, home educated and Year 11s just finished their exams. It was ever thus. And how is it, I hear you ask that we can all play along together from different bands?

Answer: Foxwood songsheets, sight-reading, and a number of tunes in common. It is not rocket science, and while "purists" wobble on about the aural tradition, my bands can play loads of tunes, at the drop of hat, at summer fairs, galas, local carnivals and festivals, and re-open any number of bandstands without going into rehearsal meltdown first.

Pictures to follow.

City of Leeds Summer Fair and the Great Run-up to the Festival of Britain

It is the first Saturday in July and Sparrows, Doves and Foxwood are all in action at the summer fair. John has brought the inflatables and the Smalls are eying up the rides. We are now fund-raising in ridiculous earnest. Ashley's dad, Richard, is the bun-sale king, and now he and Vicky have made £20 selling cakes.

In a rash, and very typical Victoria-esque moment last week I told Spring Bank Primary School that I would call up with some Sparrows and do a spot with my Year Sixes and with Sparrows. Luckily, Millie's mother, Trish, has a big car and big heart, and we bundled two cars' worth of players along to do this. Most of Year 6 scattered, but a few brave souls did stand up to be counted. Back to City where I found I had left Amy, who had been the first to offer to do this little gigette.

I don't have permission to show the primary school students so here's a pic of some Sparrows playing after. We didn't make any money at Spring Bank because I forgot to tell them we were fund-rasining. I might sack myself as a money-maker, but I'd have to get in there before Bex does.

Foxwood and Doves at the Great Pensions Strike Leeds

Dear Debs

We've barely unloaded from the Hop, when it's back in the van with our eight piece: triple basses, guitars, 2 seconds, double tenor, 2 sopranos, kit, and I'm now unloading in Leeds City Square. It's 30th June and it's the great UK Big Pensions Strike. And, not only has Leeds TUC put the steel band on its banner [facing the brass band] in our honour but now the NUT has asked us to play in the Square as people gather for the rally and speeches.

Honoured to play; honoured to be asked. I have been an NUT member for 31 years and they have helped me personally on more than one occasion, and they help in the fight against the injustices that have so sadly beset our city over those decades. They are someones to turn to when you feel that They are out to get you. And also now that we have free meals at the Sheesh Mahal if we help make the meetings quorate, even better. Well, I teach night classess on Thursdays so it is theoretically better. I get to the meeting then have to leave before the meal, and with that wonderful smell taunting me as I leave.

Of course, it is a strike for teachers and lecturers but Foxwood Steel Band is not all teachers. And not any lecturers. Luckily some student Doves are able to join. And so as 11.30 gets closer the band goes from a duo [Me and Gig] to a trio [and this is how Sarah spends her lunchbreak], to briefly an octet [well, Sarah has got to eat as well!].

We are on tele for an very excited 11 seconds [and this, Mig, I guess you could call an transfered epithet], and Gig has it recorded, so we can compete for who gets most air time! And it's Georgia, of course!

Foxwood at The Hop

It's just a hop down the road for Foxwood Steel to the Hop on Granary Wharf. And there was a little stage for us. Right in the middle. We moved it to by the Hop window. It's a curious thing about bars, schools, venues in general in the UK. Even parks now. We all want to play outside in summer, but where's the roof? It's in Homebase or B and Q and it takes off in a high wind - that is, if Health and Safety even let you put it up.

Oh for the bandstands of yore. Now we have, on a couple of occasions played for the re-inauguration of bandstands , one in Bradford [Lister Park I think] about 4 years ago, and Horsforth Hall Park in Leeds - that was way back last century - 1997-ish, I think.

Anyway, it nearly rained at the Hop, but it didn't. That was about as exciting as it got. No, I lie. We were kept with a steady supply of cups of tea, which, to my mind, makes a gig. Of course buns would be paradise; but tea is halfway there. Obviously, am not going to go on about this, but before any gig there is a certain amount of dragging the pans down the garden, loading, driving, finding where to drop off and where to park; there's always a skirmish with security, which usually involves the first words, "You can't park here . . . " This is followed on the rainy days by, "You can't put that up there . ."

. . . so, where was I, oh yes, unloading, guarding, driving off for the car park, setting up . . So before you even hit the first G chord for Always On My Mind [more Pet Shop than Elvis], you've experienced some physical labour and a small amount of mental trauma.

"Cuppa?" "Absolutely"

I'll put in the pictures when I remember which ancient computer I put them onto, and whenever I have two hours to spare as they deign to grind into action. This is us last year when Amy from the Silver Doves joined us.

Otley: A Right Proper Carnival

Dear Debs

Taking a break from gigging, I headed south to the big Anti-Acadmies Alliance conference in London last weekend. Of course, pans must go on, every summer weekend, and so Natalie and Carrie-ann held the fort, taking the Silver Robins from City of Leeds school to play for Little London Community Day, while Mrs Durkin and Miss Holt looked after our gorgeous Little London year 5 Percussion group.

But suddenly it's the 3rd weekend in June, and now it's Otley Carnival. Like Brotherton and Byram, it's a proper, old-fashioned carnival with floats and proper fancy dress, troupes and marching bands. Foxwood, East Steel, Doves and you and Caroline from South Steel. And, then a dancing troupe from Leeds Museums, with West Indian style costumes, as you can see below, and some well-practised dancing.

Two things fell off the float after we hasd stopped; one had a happy ending; one not so.

One: Taking her phone out of her pocket, Natalie watched in dismay as her ring of white gold and with sentimental bounced behind a banner and out onto the ground below. Happy ending; it was mostly gravel and such grass as there was was short. I found it.

Two: Karen from East Steel/Steel Rising was not so lucky: getting off the float, and sad ending: she knocked her elbow on the lorry, and finished her day at the first aid tent. Now, with her arm in a sling she needs to be practising one-handed, methinks!

Dear Debs Now It's Shipley

Dear Debs,

This letter to Carriacou often finds you closer to home. In fact you and I have just spent two nights in a field near Shipley. I did take some photos, but I lost the camera the following evening, so those pictures of the triple canal locks will just have to remain in our memories.


Before setting up my own tent, I spent some time looking at the setting sun, trying to face north, work out east and west, thinking left and right and then I set up the tent entrance so it would get the sun all day. Sadly I forgot the sun was nearly overhead, and I decided to be near a tree for cosiness, and also got shade.


And the moral is that you don't have to have to go miles away from home i.e. Leeds in order to get away from it all. And actually, being near to home meant that when I drained my car battery with the camping light, it wasn't too far the following evening for Diane to come over with the jump leads that she bought en route.

But I did think Debs, that you were spoiling the fun a bit by reading the instructions. I always just used to touch the different terminals with the different leads until they didn't spark too much. Used to work to work for me, and the nervous-looking donor drivers.

I came back to Leeds on Thursday and that night my neighbour and friend, Deborah died in a house fire. This was a very sad event, and not really appropriate, Debs for me to talk about in this blog to you. However, it happened. So it must be known.

At the weekend, on Saturday East Steel played for Judy's big birthday. Players were Karen, Ali, Judy, Joyce, Adele, Cathy, Vicky with guests, Bella and Rameice and me, Bex and Nat. No camera, no photos as yet for Judy's do

On Sunday, Foxwood Steel and the Leeds Silver Doves played for the Big Lunch for Valley Court on Cardigan Road. We debuted our new Events Tent. We were Georgia, me, Bex, Natalie, Amy, Joe M and Varshika, with guest, Jo from ArtForms. Children were Jordan, James, Michael and Maya, and here is Michael posing on the banner. The event was organised by David and Sandra from Valley Court, and it did indeed bring the community together is the bestest ever big garden.