Revellers at the Notting Hill Carnival were in for a special treat as the biggest street carnival in Europe got under way this weekend. Among the acts performing to the 300,000 strong audience are relative newcomers to the Calypso scene, Smiley Tone, a four-piece band that are already making a big noise in the traditional world of steel bands.

Lead signer, Smiley Tone, explained how he came to form his unique fusion of calypso beats and traditional Whitehall burocracy. ‘Well, you know, I had this idea when I was out at Cliff’s place in the Caribbean and Cherie suggested that I do something instead of moping around the house. That’s when I came up with the idea of making steel drums out of Cherie’s old face compacts. What we aim to do is to take all the passion from the music and replace it with our own social programme of bland middle-of-the-road policies that are sure to offend the least number of people.’ Their first album, ‘Don’t Rock Da Boat’, is due out in November with at least nine World tour already planned for next year.

Said the group’s charismatic maraca player, Hefty John, ‘My position, as far as Smiley Tone has given me his full support in this matter, is to shake my maracas, whilst giving the proper consideration to the rhythm of the piece and any variations regarding counterpoint and issues arising from the one-two-three cha-cha-cha shake my substantial booty.’ Explained, Desmond Browne, harmony vocalist: ‘My job is just to sing everything that Tone sings but in a slightly different key.’

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