On the fourth night of the National Panorama single pan steelbands prelims, the Newtown Playboys, under the direction of arranger Duvone Stewart, showed they are gunning for the champion title.

The San Juan East Side Symphony and Marsicans Steel Orchestra are joint title-holders of the competition, which was last held in 2019.

[caption id="attachment_986329" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Pan lovers stand on Tragerete Road to listen to Newtown Playboys performance during the National Panorama Single Pan prelims, at its Tragarete Road panyard on November 14. - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

The prelims continue tonight, with more bands from Pan Trinbago's Eastern Region performing before the judges at various panyards.

Judging in the Northern Region was not without drama, with an arranger and frontline players parting ways with a band, which was left without the required number of players to qualify for judging.

Moving down to Woodbrook, the vibes were much more positive at the Newtown Playboys' home. The band introduced its set and tune of choice, KMC's First Experience, with a live performance from veteran singer KMC, before creating a party-like atmosphere on Tragarete Road.

Playboys attracted and also hosted a cross-section of pan lovers, members of the diplomatic corps and entertainers David Rudder, Neil "Iwer" George, Carl Jacob, Mavis John and other music-industry people.

[caption id="attachment_986330" align="alignnone" width="852"] A Gonzales Sheikers player performs Out and Bad by Voice, during the National Panorama Single Pan Steelbands Prelims, at the band's Lange Street, Gonzales panyard on MondaNovember 14y night. - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

Earlier that evening, judges visited other panyards in Port of Spain and environs and heard World Wide Steel Orchestra from Hololo Mountain Road, Cascade; Nostrand Symphony was also scheduled to play at the Belmont Community Centre but ended up at the Massy All Stars' panyard, Duke Street, Port of Spain; and D' Original Woodbrook Modernaires Steel Orchestra played at French Street and Tragarete Road, Woodbrook.

[caption id="attachment_986331" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Belmont Hi-Larks performs at the National Panorama single pan preliminary judging at Pandemonium steelband's panyard, Norfolk Street, Belmont, on November 14. - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

Gonzales Sheikers from Lange Street, Gonzales, was the first band to start the action, promptly at 7 pm, with Out and Bad as its tune of choice. Judges then went to Belmont Hi-Larks at the Pandemonium steelband's panyard on Norfolk Street.

Next in line was Nayan Hill Steel Orchestra from Layan Hill, Belmont. And, as with all things Carnival, this was not without a bit of bacchanal – and not a pan was heard. The band was scheduled to be judged at the Belmont Community Centre, Jerningham Avenue, but before the judges could get there, people who arrived early sent a message back to Pan Trinbago officials to say the band would not be performing.The pannists (mostly teenagers) who were at the venu