Our Story
Metronomes is a community-based steelband and an established UK steelpan icon that has contributed to the art form for fourty-seven years.
Metronomes is an innovative steelband and unique community based in Ladbroke Grove, West London. We teach and perform steelpan music, promote Caribbean heritage, and run projects to benefit our local people.
Metronomes plays an important role in the local Caribbean community. It brings families together, helping to reduce social isolation especially amongst the elderly and single parents.
Metronomes is especially good at involving people not involved in education or other arts activities and has a long history of working with people who have frequent contact with the criminal justice system.
A large number of young people who attend Metronomes go on to university and it has helped produce a generation of architects, athletes and doctors. However, we are resolutely focused on involving all young people, including those struggling in life. Metronomes leaves no one behind.
Our history
Although the band existed previously under different names, Metronomes Steel Orchestra was officially formed in 1973 by Phil Dubique and Irvin Corridan.
Achievements
Metronomes perform at various events all over the UK, from festivals to award ceremonies, including the 2009 Calabash Awards. We have previously completed international tours in Leipzig, Germany on an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in September 2005 and the Paléo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland in 2011.
Most recently, we performed with UK Grime artist, Kano, for a Spotify Live Session for his song ‘Pan Fried’ and performed with him during his 2019 tour at the Royal Albert Hall.
Some of our other notable achievements include;
- performing fo the BBC’s Songs of Praise;
- performing at the opening ceremony of the Channel Tunnel;
- UK Steel Band Music Festival winners, 1976;
- BAS Pan Explosion winners 2000, 2001, 2010;
- UK Panorama winners four times;
- Junior Panorama winners, 2018;
- and Notting Hill Carnival ‘On the Road Competition’ winners twice.
