During Gemonites Steel Orchestra's recently concluded Moods of Pan Festival 2003 the dramatic presentations rose to a new level for the exciting "Keep Pan Alive with Five" competition.

In the same year that Gemonites celebrated its silver anniversary, the annual Steelpan Festival marked its fifth anniversary and the increasingly popular "Five Alive" competition enjoyed its fourth birthday.

The Antigua & Barbuda Teachers Co-operative Credit Union continued to show its solidarity towards youth development and continued its proud sponsorship of the event.

Each competing group must consist of five musicians playing for five minutes any song by a specially selected Caribbean calypso/soca individual or band.

Previous Five Alive competitions have honoured and selected the infectious music of first, the late Lord Kitchener, then Antigua's King Shortshirt and this year, the Mighty Sparrow. Likely nominees in the upcoming years include the Burning Flames, Shadow, David Rudder, Latumba, and King Obstinate, though not necessarily in that order.

Arguably this is the most innovative small-group steelband competition in Antigua, the Caribbean and perhaps the world.

This competition continued to grow in popularity, crowd appeal, size, quality and drama.

The unusual criteria, which continues to be the focus of many discussions, calls for performances to be judged on musical content for a total of 70 points only. The other 30 points are awarded based on overall crowd impact and response.

This year saw a reduction in the number of groups entering.

Out of the 11 groups registered, only eight participated, as three were unable to field balanced sides for varying reasons.

While only eight groups entered in the inaugural year (2000), the most inexperienced of the lot "Musical Youth" beat all contenders/pretenders including the front-runners (now defunct) "Five Stars' with a scintillating performance of Kitchener's Flag Woman.

In 2001, "Musical Youth" once again demonstrated their creativity and unstoppable energy when they successfully defended their title, in the process becoming the first winners of the "King's Glass Challenge Trophy."

Their performance of Shortshirt's Tourist Leggo outshined the most-improved veteran group "Three + Two - Two + Two" and its musical but sombre presentation of Jamming.

Fifteen groups registered for the 2002 "Five Alive" competition, including the first ever non-Antiguan group.

This was a dynamic group from within the Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra, a visiting "Pan round de neck" band, and they absolutely thrilled the audience with an electric performance of Swallow's Ah want to wine on Something.

They found, however, that all the "king's horses and all the king's men" who began wining on anything or anybody within reach, was just not enough to land them first place.

"Musical Youth" also fell short in their attempt to capture their third consecutive title and it was eventually left up to the consistent "ole stagers Three +Two - Two + Two" to stamp their authority on the proceedings and those who preceded them.

Their rendition of Pow Pow called for their entry on stage riding on broomstick ponies, their depicting popular western characters, and their incorporating cowboy/western related music into their presentation.

The flash and dazzle of some of the more energetic groups somewhat flattered to deceive, but as they later learned, the race was never going to be decided solely by crowd impact.

This year, "Musical Youth" was determined to make a solid comeback and a number of things favoured them from the start.

The unavailability of a number of groups, including the defending champs and the swaggering Trini's, their drafting of one of the most lively young talented players to replace a migrated "Christian" and their unequalled courage in pulling out "all stops' were the three most decisive factors.

With the infectious music of the Mighty Sparrow selected, "Musical Youth" switched tunes mid-stream from Doh Back Back to the incomparable evergreen hit Jean & Dinah.

Whatever their reason, it turned golden for them as they totally dominated the crowd impact aspect when the four guys and a gal that comprise this group appeared fashionably attired as Jean, Dinah, Rosita & Clementina and of course ushered on stage by the cool, calm "Pimp Daddy."

It was always going to be a hard struggle to beat that performance, though second placed debutantes "STD"s' (Sweet, Tender, Desirables) also thrilled the crowd with a spirited performance of Sparrow's Margarita.

Third place went to the consistent Banga Mary, sporting some new faces.

"Musical Youth" reclaimed their King's Glass Challenge Trophy as well as a cheque. Additionally, they each received a complimentary ticket each to St. Lucia on LIAT, the Caribbean Airline and an engraved gold medal compliments Antigua Jewellers and Baileys Jewellery.

"Five-Alive" has proven to be quite a thrilling addition to the Moods of Pan Festivals and is on the verge of becoming a Regional and eventually an international competition, unique, humorous, entertaining and satisfying.

For 2004, we hope to welcome St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, St. Kitts, Montserrat and any other interested countries.

We invite all interested people or resource groups to join with us in developing this "Five-Alive" competion and enabling it to reach it true potential.

For further information you can contact Robin Margetson at 463-7909 (home) and 773-3748 (cell), or Joseph Henry at 727-0267 (cell) and 463-5850 (home).

by Robert Margetson