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Calysto steelband performs in Blackfalds summer culture series

All events will be at Ag Society Amphitheatre, Abbey Centre, 4500 Womacks Rd
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The Town of Blackfalds is hosting a number of summer series called Summer Culture Series to the public for free family entertainment every Thursday at 6:30 pm.

All events will be at Ag Society Amphitheatre, Abbey Centre, 4500 Womacks Road, unless otherwise stated.

On July, 22, The Calysto Steelband played at the Abby Centre. Later on, the public was allowed to come up and play on the oil drums.

Calysto Steelband is a non-profit society, initially formed in 1984, states the band’s website.

“There members originate from many countries including Canada, Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, Greece and Britain. Over the years the members have become a “family.” All of us love Caribbean music and have a lot of fun practicing, learning new songs and performing together.

The band performs primarily in Calgary and Southern Alberta but has toured other parts of Canada and the Caribbean and has played at a variety of venues and cultural events. They have previously played at the holetown festival in Barbados several times at the invitation of Barbados Tourism.

They explain the style of music on their website: “The steel pans are recognized as the only new musical instrument developed in the 20th century. They were created in Trinidad and Tobago where the government now holds the patent for the original instruments.”

“They are made from oil drums tuned to a variety of different “voices.” Single and double tenor pans usually carry the melody, double seconds and cello pans usually carry the harmony and the strum or rhythm, and the bass drums carry the base line of the song.”

On Aug. 5, the Blackfalds summer culture series presents Red Deer Aboriginal Dance Troupe, First Nation traditional dancing set to cultural singing and drumming.

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