SVG Police Band ready for Christmas

‘TIS THE season to be jolly and the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Band is tuning up to make it feel a lot like Christmas.

Starting at Greggs next Monday evening at 4:00 pm and ending at old Montrose Police Station on December 22 the band, which was formed in 1951 and is celebrating 55 years, will be hosting 15 concerts from Chateaubelair to Sandy Bay.{{more}}

But it won’t be all Christmas music, said acting Bandmaster Sergeant Bernard Haynes, but a mix of calypso, reggae, and soca music including “Woman by My Side” made popular by Kyron Baptiste, “Don’t Stop”, “Sweetness”, “Leave Me Alone”, and “Look the Band Coming”.

In addition, members of the audience will get the opportunity to show their talents by reciting a poem, singing a carol, or playing an instrument. The audience will also be quizzed on trivia about the band.

Next week, the 35-member band which includes one female musician will play at Greggs on Monday at 4:00 pm; Spring Village Tuesday at 4:30 pm; Owia Thursday 4:30 pm; Troucama Friday at 4:30 pm; and at the Governor General’s Kids Party on Saturday.

The following week, the band will perform in Lowmans Windward December 10 at 4:30 pm; Rose Hall December 11 at 4:30 pm; Mesopotamia December12 at 4:30 pm; South Rivers December 14 at 4:30 pm; Layou December 15 at 4:30 pm.

On December 17 the musicians move to Kingstown where they will team up with the St Vincent and the Grenadines Music Association for Community Singing at the NCB branch on Egmont Street starting at 7:00 pm. The band has been involved in the Community Singing for over half a decade and in 2001 received a trophy from the association to mark 50 years of participation.

On December 18 the musicians travel to Barrouallie for their 4:30 pm concert; December 19 at Sandy Bay at 4:30 pm; December 21 at Chateaubelair at 4:30 pm and at the Old Montrose Police Station on December 22 for their final concert which starts at 4:00 pm.

Sargeant Haynes said that this year they could not go to the Grenadines due to transportation problems.