Kids in the Rotunda

Panchromatic Steel

Seven adults in rainbow tie-dye shirts performing large steel drums on an outdoor stage.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

9:30am, 11am & 1pm

Rotunda Stage

Free

Age Recommendation

All Ages

Runtime

45 minutes

Panchromatic Steel fuses island styles with pop hits, rock and jazz into a high-energy blend that's easy to love. At the heart of their sound is the steelpan, an instrument from Trinidad and Tobago, adding vibrant Caribbean flair. Featuring vocals, horns, flute, keyboards and diverse percussion, Panchromatic Steel reimagines favorites from Earth, Wind & Fire to Led Zeppelin, creating a uniquely memorable musical experience.

The 1pm performance will be American Sign Language interpreted. Please email kidsintherotunda@overture.org at least one hour ahead to be seated within sight of the interpreter for live performances.

In addition, families are invited to participate in “Art After Overture” from 10:30am - 12:30pm, in partnership with the Madison Public Library.

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Kids in the Rotunda

Join us for our free series designed to captivate families of all ages! Our handpicked lineup guarantees an unforgettable experience for your family. 

A livestream option will be available once a month. Visit the Kids in the Rotunda web page for updates on livestreamed performances.

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Meet the Artist

A group of adults in colorful jerseys standing in front of a stage. One man is holding a saxophone.

Panchromatic Steel

Founded in 2016 in Madison, Wis., Panchromatic Steel has blazed an entirely new trail in the city’s music scene. Best described as “Caribbean Fusion,” Panchromatic’s music combines island styles with pop hits, rock and jazz into a feel-good, high-energy blend that’s hard to categorize but is easy to love. With top-shelf musicianship, the band’s performances lift spirits and transport listeners to their happy place in the sun.
At the heart of Panchromatic’s sound is the steeldrum or “steelpan” as it's known in its native Trinidad and Tobago. The instrument is a sawed-off 55-gallon oil drum with the top stretched into a bowl and hand-hammered to create tone-producing dents that ring when struck by rubber-tipped mallets. Its tropical associations are hokey to some and delightful to others; but either way, the cliches tell only part of the story. Mostly, they just obscure the instrument’s fierce but woefully under-appreciated musical tradition, which has quietly reached levels of complexity, creativity and energy rivaled by few other musical artforms.
Panchromatic embraces the steelpan’s Caribbean origins while pushing forward into new musical territory. The band includes vocals, horns, flute, keyboards and multiple percussionists, and its all-gender musicians are as diverse as the instruments they play. With its multicolored (ergo “panchromatic”) palette, the band does everything from highly technical, jazz-inspired art pieces to danceable favorites by the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, Led Zeppelin and Stevie Wonder, taking them to new, uniquely memorable heights.
Facebook: @PanchromaticSteel

Art After Overture

In addition, families are invited to participate in “Art After Overture” in partnership with the Madison Public Library. The sessions provide arts experiences related to the morning’s Kids in the Rotunda performance. "Art After Overture" will take place at the Central Library location from 10:30am-12:30pm. 

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