Out & About

The National Panorama Championship sees 11 of the UK's top steel  bands, each comprising of between 40 and 75 musicians compete for the National Champions of Steel.

It takes place at Hyde Park on Saturday August 23 from noon until 4.30pm on the World Music Stage and then from 5pm to 9.30pm it's the National Champions of Steel competition.

The bands taking part are:

Caribbean Steel International Community Group (1st year)
Croydon Steel Orchestra
Ebony Steelband (defending champions)
Glissando Steel Orchestra
London All Stars Steel Orchestra
Mangrove Steel Band
Metronomes Steel Orchestra
Pantasia Steel Band
Real Steel (based in Plymouth)
Southside Harmonics
Stardust Steel Orchestra

Facts and figures:

• In 44 years the Notting Hill Carnival has grown from a gathering of 500 people to Europe's largest street party
• The carnival audience is equivalent to the 02 Arena filled 87 times or 11 Glastonbury festivals
• The Carnival generates more than £100m for the capital's economy
• 50,000 participants are involved in the Carnival
• It is estimated that 140,000 people from Europe come to the Notting Hill Carnival
• 300 food stalls are set up during the bank holiday and five tonnes of chicken are consumed
• 70 plus performing and 40 performing sound stages
• 150,000 feather plumes and 30 million sequins are used by costume makers
• 100 litres of decorative body paint is used by artists
• More than 1 million hours go into making and decorating the costumes