2012 Calendar of RASPO Performances

PARTY IN THE SKY GALA DINNER with DAME KELLY HOLMES
Friday 27 January 2012 7 for 7.30pm - 12 midnight
Hilton Hotel, Drake Way, Reading RG2 0GQ
RASPO will welcome guests at a glittering Hollywood themed Gala dinner to raise money for the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust and the 2012 Reading Partnership Board. After dinner entertainments is courtesy of The Engine Room Collective.
Tickets £99 per person.
To book contact sue@livingreading.co.uk
Read more...

50th ANNIVERSARY OF JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE DINNER DANCE
Saturday 28 January 2012 6pm - 1am
Hilton Hotel, Drake Way, Reading RG2 0GQ
RASPO and reggae artist Aqua Livi will entertain guests for the Jamaica Society dinner dance to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Jamaican Independence at Reading's prestigious Hilton Hotel.
Tickets £55 per person.
To book contact 07833 584 024 / 07756 106 911 (Joycelyn Melton-Grey) or email thejamaicasociety@hotmail.co.uk
Read more...

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL CARNIVAL WORKSHOPS
New Location:
The Jelly Sound House, 59 Station Hill, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1NF
RASPO celebrates 2012 with FREE carnival workshops as part of Children's Festival. Take part in the TASPO to RASPO workshops in carnival head dress making and steel pan music.

Carnival Head Dress Making
Tuesday 5 and Thursday 7 June 2012
2.30-3.30pm 12-18yrs. 3.45-4.45pm 7-12yrs
Make your own Olympic and Jubilee themed carnival head dress to wear at the celebrations. All materials are provided with help from professional carnival costume designers.

Steel Pan Music Workshop taster
Tuesday 5 and Thursday 7 June 2012
2.30-3.30pm 7-11yrs, 3.45-4.45pm 12-18yrs
Steel pan music workshops offer young people a chance to have a go at learning different styles of music on steel pans. With the help of professional tutors, instruments provided in a fun environment.

How to Book
The Children's Festival Carnival workshops are very popular so book your place now by calling Lucy on 0118 937 2771 or via email lucy.burgess@reading.gov.uk
How to find The Jelly Sound House

READING COMMUNITY CARNIVAL
Monday 4 June 2012 12pm - 7pm
Prospect Park and West Reading Procession
RASPO will proudly lead the carnival procession through West Reading to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at the 35th annual event. The steel orchestra will also perform on the main stage early evening.
Reading Carnival facebook page

CAVERSHAM FESTIVAL
Sunday 8 July 2012 12pm - 7pm
Christchurch Meadows Caversham
RASPO is booked to perform on the main stage at Caversham Festival. Organised by music charity Readipop, Caversham Festival will feature around 30 live bands, stalls and a host of fun attractions for all the family.
Caversham Festival web site

SHOWTIME FESTIVAL
London Boroughs
RASPO will welcome visitors to London with performances at the Showtime Festival More...
SHOWTIME DATES:
28 July Labyrinth Youth Festival Barnet
29 July Haven Green Ealing
2 August Town Centre Harrow
4 August Town Hall Hackney
5 August Central Park Newham
8 August Victoria Park Tower Hamlets
9 August Victoria Park Tower Hamlets

RASPO's Showtime success blog. More...
Read RASPO at Showtime reviews and view images here

OLYMPIC Games 27 July - 12 August 2012
PARALYMPIC Games 29 Aug - 9 Sept 2012
Mary Genis the Artistic Director of CultureMix dances in the Paralympic Opening Ceremony. Read more...

UK PANORAMA STEELBAND CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday 25 August 2012 7pm to 10pm
Horniman's Pleasance Park, Kensal Road, London W10
The National Steelband Championship launches London Notting Hill Carnival in West London. This is a steel band event not to be missed with Croydon Steel Orchestra, Caribbean Steel International, Ebony Steel Band, last year's winners Mangrove Steel Band, Metronomes Steel Orchestra and Real Steel all vying for the title of Champions of Steel. RASPO returns in 2013!
2012 Results: Real Steel, Mangrove, CSI, Ebony, Metronomes, Croydon.

LONDON NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
Sunday 26 and Monday 27 August 2012 12noon - 7pm
Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill London
Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe's biggest street festival.
Due to other commitments RASPO is not taking part in Notting Hill Carnival 2012 but plan to return in 2013.

RASPO join BBC PROMS at ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Monday 27 August 3pm - 5pm
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra will join the Proms Family Orchestra for BBC Prom 58, a family-friendly global musical journey, with popular classics from Delius, Falla and others, plus Blind Boys of Alabama and Hari Vrndavn Sivanesan.
All Prom concerts are broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, 90 - 93FM, on Digital Radio and Online. More...

1000 PANS
Saturday 8 September 2012
Mayor's Thames Festival Jubilee Gardens, South Bank London
One Thousand Pans will attempt to set a new world record as the largest steel band ever to perform for entry in the Guinness Book of Records. Taking place on the closing weekend of the Olympic Games, One Thousand Pans will play 'Brasil' to celebrate the passing of the torch from London 2012 to Rio 2016. More...

WATERMANS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS switch-on
Friday 23 November 2012 5.15 - 6pm, 6.30 - 7pm
RASPO play Calypso and Carols
Waterman's Arts Centre, 40 High Street, BRENTFORD, Middlesex, TW8 0DS

CALYPSO AND CAROLS Fundraising Concert with RASPO
Broad Street - Reading - Berkshire
Following a summer like no other with performances at the London 2012 Festival and with the BBC Proms Family Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra will entertain festive shoppers with a blend of calypso and pop from the new 'RASPO Rhythms' CD blended with well known Christmas Carols to raise funds for the steel band's activities.

Friday 21 December 2012 11am - 5pm
RASPO Calypso and Carols concert I
Broad Street East (outside M&S and The Oracle), Reading

Sunday 23 December 11am - 5pm
RASPO Calypso and Carols concert II
Broad Street East (outside M&S and The Oracle), Reading

Please support RASPO with donations. 'RASPO Live' and 'RASPO Rhythms' CDs will also be on sale - the perfect festive gift.
You can also buy your RASPO CD's here.

Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra with Dame Kelly Holmes