Nairn hosts first steel band festival this weekend

Scotland's first Steel Band festival – Panfest 2012 - is being staged this weekend at Nairn Academy, whose three steelbands will host a visit by bands from Aberdeen, Glasgow and East Ayrshire.  All will be performing between noon and 2 pm on Sunday at Nairn Links.

Over the weekend the bands will work with Toussaint Clarke, one of the top pan makers and tuners in the UK. Toussaint worked with pupils at Nairn Academy last year and will hopefully be impressed with the work that has gone on since his last visit.

Organised and led by Fiona Sellar of Nairn Academy, the festival is being supported by the Scottish Association for Music Education.

Fiona said: “Nairn Academy's lively Steel Band "Pandemonium" is the perfect group to host Scotland’s first Steel Band festival.  Pandemonium have been together for just over one year and are putting smiles on the faces of audiences wherever they go.“As well as performing locally for charities such as Clic Sargent, Highland Hospice, Riding for the Disabled and various Rotary engagements, Pandemonium is also making it's mark further afield with regular invitations to national educational events in Scotland and a couple of festivals in England.  “Pandemonium performed recently at the national final of the Music for Youth Festival in Perth, receiving very positive feedback. This season, Pandemonium performs at Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club, The Nairnshire Challenge and Curtis Cup Nairn 2012 - their versatility now leading them into the world of sporting excellence!”
 
                                                     -ends-