RASPO Steel Orchestra
Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra, named in homage to TASPO (the 1951 Festival of Britain band), funded by Arts Council with instruments from Mangrove.
Performed at Royal Albert Hall, WOMAD, Glastonbury and the London 2012 Olympics.
External page. Check current meetings, membership, and joining details directly with the group.
Other carnival mas bands & steelpan orchestras
Mas band and design studio founded by Clary Salandy and Michael Ramdeen, renowned for large-scale kinetic costumes at Notting Hill Carnival and Trinidad Carnival.
Black arts and community centre that fields one of Notting Hill Carnival's foundational mas bands, named after the Ashanti Queen Mother.
Founded by Vernon 'Fellows' Williams and Allyson Williams MBE, known for historical-civilisation themes like the Mongol Khan dynasty and Ancient Egypt.
Community mas band formed when Larry Forde of Sukuya merged forces with Gloria Cummins of Elimu; one of Notting Hill Carnival's longstanding designer bands.
All-ages mas band fanatical about soca, costume tradition and the road-march experience at Notting Hill Carnival. Costume design, section practice and road-march logistics run for months before carnival day itself.
Brazilian samba school founded by Henrique da Silva that brings Rio-style escola de samba parades to Notting Hill Carnival. Mas bands design costumes, section themes and road music for carnival day, recruiting players months ahead for a single intense public performance.