Steel Drum Band Returns to Dayton

DAYTON – Anyone looking for an energizing, non-traditional, dose of holiday spirit is in luck! The Tri-Cities Steel Drum Band Association (TCSBA) band, Bram Bratá, will perform a free Christmas concert at Faith Chapel (653 Wagon Rd., Dayton), formerly Harvest Christian Center, on Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m.

The Tri-Cities drum bands Bahuru, Baduku, Bram Bratá, and OK2Botay are known throughout the Columbia region for their fun, musically rich performances.

The steel drum band performed a summer concert in Prescott Park and the marimba band performed during Waitsburg Celebration Days last May. The Waitsburg Celebration Days committee hopes to bring both the marimba and steel drum bands to Waitsburg during the 2016 Celebration Days weekend this spring.

Bram Bratá, which will play this weekend, is the TCSBA senior steel drum band and has played at Faith Chapel each December for the last several years.

"They are amazing. This is a holiday concert you won't want to miss," said Dayton resident and musician Tanya Patton.

According to the TCSBA website, the name, Bram Bratá, is derived from two Trinidadian slang words meaning "an unexpected party." Audiences find this a fitting name as they enjoy the challenging and varied repertoire of Caribbean, soca, jazz, popular, and even classical music.

The band is directed by Ben Leggett who also arranges or writes most of the music. Bram Bratá has performed in Hawaii, Disneyland, and at Caribbean Music Festivals in Oregon and British Columbia.

"It's a tradition. Bram plays here very December. Come hear all our Christmas music – it will make you feel like you went on a tropical vacation," says band member parent, Luisa.

The concert is free but food donations for the local food bank are gladly accepted.