Thursday 12 February 2015 - ICC World Cup Opening, Melbourne (with CaribVic) (#110)

Several members of Triangle Community Steelbands joined forces with the CaribVic Angostura Steelband to play as musical representatives of the West Indies team at the opening of the ICC Cricket World Cup at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl last night. A live crowd of about 10,000, some 500,000 watching on TV in Australia and NZ, and (they say) several million watching worldwide in cricket-loving nations. Lots of rehearsals (including practicing getting the pans on and off stage in just a couple of minutes) for a 3-minute performance, but it was great fun and was well received by the live audience.

The international character of the Cricket World Cup was evident in the rehearsal area backstage, where the musical acts for the 14 competing teams warmed up for the Opening Event. Lots of good spirit, and plenty of combined photos of members of the acts for the different countries.

A video of the performance of “Rum & Coca Cola” gives some idea of the spirit of the evening.