Underwater pandemonium at Caribbean pool parties
Christchurch band Pandemonium will treat families to the rare sound of underwater music at next week's Just Juice
Caribbean Pool Parties at Halswell, Waltham and Sockburn Pools.
T of the Christchurch City Council Summertimes Festival event is to feature several of the band’s percussionists,
donning snorkels and wetsuits to play underwater, while musicians outside the pool will perform on genuine West Indian
Steel Pans - the only set in the country.
"We are planning on creating a kitchen department for our underwater musicians" says Pandemonium leader Brett Painter.
"They will be playing pots, pans, a kitchen sink....along with gongs, tubular bells and our water phone. It is so much
fun and such a unique concept. Underwater sound is amazingly clear but we have to swap our drumsticks for carpenter’s
hammers to get enough momentum to make any sound. For younger children, underwater music provides an extra incentive to
get into the water and get their ears wet."
To broadcast the sound in and out of the pools, Pandemonium will use a customised sound system operated by Anthony
Lealand, who is taking a break from his day job, designing firework shows.
While underwater concerts have been performed in the Mediterranean and off the Florida Keys, Brett says that the
swimming pool is an under-utilised concert venue. Underwater sound systems are popular in pools overseas for
communicating with swimmers. But it wasn't until local producer Steve Thomas brought the concept back from a Brisbane
music festival in 1992 that New Zealand's first underwater concerts were presented in the QEII dive pool.
Next weekend's events will include funky Caribbean music, reggae and other Pandemonium favourites "encouraging everyone
to dance, swim or sit back and listen to the music."
Sponsor Just Juice will be offering giveaways to quench the thirst of partygoers.
The concerts will be held from 2pm to 4pm at Halswell Pool on Friday 17 January; Waltham Pool on Saturday 18 January;
and Sockburn Pool on Sunday 19 January. Admission to the events will be by pool entry.