Steel Expressions 2020, the ninth edition, was held for the first time at Victoria Park last Saturday, Boxing Night, and according to Rodney Small founder and director of RS Productions – the show’s producer/promoter – the event went beyond expectations.
Faced with the challenges of a new venue and its acoustic nuances, Small disclosed that a great deal of effort was put into the production, in order to ensure that it maintained its high standard.
“It was really challenging, as you know Victoria Park … when you hear Victoria Park, you hear Carnival and the event (Steel Expressions) has always attracted a lot of Christians, a lot of family, so our mission was really to see how that ambience that would drive people back to the Park, and I would safely say we have done it,” Small commented soon after curtains came down on last Saturday’s showcase.
The venue was transformed into a stunning setting enhanced by complementing backdrops and décor.
‘Lifted’ was local
This year’s affair, dubbed ‘LIFTED”, was strictly local as the show featured no overseas guest acts, as was the case in the last five years. This was occasioned by the travel restrictions and health protocols linked to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This, according to Small, did not diminish the affair since the local acts displayed the same level of professionalism.
“The mission here was to come out and create some musical upliftment … a moment when persons can stop thinking about the stress of life and come to enjoy an evening of great music of local artistes. Everything that was set here tonight was done by Vincentians… . A lot of thought went into the whole set up and I am grateful that persons enjoyed and we were able to pull it off…I am satisfied we met the expectations and anticipation of the patrons, ” Small said.
Small, once again, was the main act with his mastery of the tenor pan, and the show was segmented by the performances by the Youth Ambassadors – who included dancer Lil JJ, Ahjea Jackson, Kyron Westfield, Abeni Richards, Havlyn Gill, along with the duet of Caywama and Caydonna.
Among the adult performers were Brent Williams, Aretha Shallow, Hance John and Skinny Fabulous.
With his eye already set on the next Steel Expressions, Small projected: “Next year, we are coming right back here at the Victoria Park,” adding that the 2021 edition will be called ‘Kingdom’, and will have as its theme the empowerment of women.
Toward that end, he noted that the show will highlight mainly female artistes, in an effort to address the noticeable fall off in the number of females coming to the fore in music.
Cognizant that the show is held on the last Saturday in the year and that Christmas day falls on the last Saturday of 2021, Small commented, “We are going to look into it and see how we can really structure the concept to that or we have to change.”
Part proceeds from last Saturday’s Steel Expressions will go to the World Pediatric Project.
Source :The Vincentian