Coconut Grove Steel Band
21/06/2005

Steel bands may come from the Caribbean, but you can hear the sounds of the West Indies coming from the Music Room every week at Oakwood Park Grammar School. Formed four years ago, The Coconut Grove Steel Band have performed all around the Maidstone area at Primary schools, charity and private functions, school fetes and Caribbean dinner dances.

Performing traditional West Indian songs and dances, the Band adds the ‘flavours and spices’ of Jamaica or Barbados to any event. Their repertoire extends to ‘old favourites’ including the ‘Can-Can’, ‘Sailor’s Hornpipe’ and the ‘Blue Danube Waltz’. For concerts, the senior and most experienced performers feature, ‘Summertime’ and ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’(two Gershwin greats), ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story’ and ‘Tea for Two’. Arrangements of both Bach’s First Prelude and Pachelbel’s Canon make entries from the classics.

The Band consists of five sets of pans made from oil drums, tuned and voiced by their maker from Trinidad. Extra percussion on a variety of Latin instruments add that extra feeling of the tropics. The Band’s Director, Duncan Dwinell, is also Head of Music at Oakwood Park Grammar School. He has been performing with school Steel Bands for over 15 years all across the Kent and Sussex area.

The Coconut Grove Steel Band is available for booking and/or hire by contacting Mr Dwinell through the school Office. The band can visit a local primary school for an assembly, stay all day for a year-group hands-on workshop or perform at a school fete. Prices vary and depend on day, time and distance. The school’s telephone number is 01622 726683.