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ABOUT THE BAND
The Oriole Stringband was formed in July 1992,
following an invitation from the Culturama Committee in Nevis to have a
stringband represent Montserrat at the first ever "Leeward Islands Stringband
Competition". The competition was held in Nevis to coincide with that island's
cultural festival - "Culturama".
The "Oriole" is the national bird of Montserrat
and the fact that the band was representing Montserrat it was decided to
name the band "the Oriole Stringband".
The band's repetoire ranges from ballads to soca.
It produced its first recording entitled "Pot Pourri" in December 1993,
"Calabash" in 1994 and "Fire Up a Mountain" in 1997.
The Oriole Stringband relocated to Leicester,
United Kingdom in November 1997 as a result of the volcanic crisis, which
left most of the members homeless.
The band continues to perform throughout the UK
not only for Montserratians resident in the UK but for a wide audience
covering many ethnic groups and cultures.