Here you will find various videos of Saint Helenian musical performances.
This page will be updated as recordings become available.
The Big Easy (2024)
This film captures the Big Easy performing on one of the busiest nights on the Saint Helenian calendar: the Festival of Lights. around Christmas time, the population on island swells with saints returning from abroad to spend the holidays with their family. As mentioned in Part 3, Singing Together, music is a primary vehicle for togetherness on the island, and the Big Easy’s performance here functions to get people together and enjoy each others company after a year or more working away.
featured in this recording:
Deon Yon (vocals, guitar)
Glen Yon (vocals, guitar)
Merle Peters (vocals)
Gareth Drabble (vocals, guitar)
Tom Wortley (trumpet, vocals)
Andrew Yon (drums)
Nigel Joshua (bass guitar)
Filmed by James Fantom and Louie Youde
Two “S” - Squares and Seabird (2024)
Matthew “Squares” Williams and…Seabird (I don’t actually know his really name) make up a two piece band utilising something that is a mainstay of Saint Helenian music - the arranger keyboard.
The Dry Bottle Band (2023)
recorded by Fantom Island Music
This video was recorded in the home of Vincent and Vilma March.
Vincent March - Mandolin, Vocals
Vilma March - Guitar, Accordion, Vocals
Georgie March - Harmonica
Jackie Stevens - Fiddle
Stedson “Mountainman” Stroud (2023)
Stedson included this writing with his recording:
A LOVER OF MOST CULTURAL MUSIC FROM AROUND THE GLOBE; OBTAINED BY HIS EXTENSIVE TRAVELS, BY BACK PACKING, OR WORKING HIS WAY.
HE WOULD ALWAYS FIND REAL PEOPLE PLAYING THEIR OWN BRAND OF MUSIC AND VOWED ONE DAY HE WOULD DO THE SAME, ALTHOUGH HE COULNT PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS HE JUST HAD A GOOD EAR FOR RAW DOWN TO EARTH CULTURAL STUFF.
STEDSON ALWAYS LIKED OLD MISSISSIPPI DELTA BLUES - ALSO FOLK - AND GOSPEL SONGS. HE USE TO LISTEN TO THOSE AS A YOUNG BOY ON THE BBC WORLD SERVICE ON HIS BROTHERS TRANSISTOR RADIO IN THE EARLY 1960S.
LATELY STEDSON HAD LEARN TO USE BUSKING INSTRUMENTS, AND NOW PLAYS THE MARTIN D35 ACUSTIC GUITAR, SEYDEL, HOHNER, LEE OSKER HARMONICAS WITH A NECK HOLDER, FOOT AND LEG TAMBOURINES, AND A BATTERY DRUM MACHINE.
HE NOW ENDEAVOURS TO WRITE AND SING HIS OWN SONGS ABOUT THE ISLANDS PEOPLE, HISTORY, AND CULTURE. ANCIENT AND MODERN.
HE LIVES AS CLOSE TO THE LAND AS HE POSSIBLEY CAN, BACK ON THE ISLAND OF ST HELENA WHERE HE WAS BORN.
ST HELENA IS THE TOP OF A LARGE BEAUTIFUL SEA MOUNT THAT IS JUTTING OUT OF THE SEA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT KNOW ABOUT THIS ISLAND, YOU DO NOW, SO DONT MAKE IT TO LONG BEFORE YOU VISIT.
MOUNTAINMAN.The New Generation (2024)
A band made up of year 8 students at the time. This was recorded at the Mule Yard for Culture month (May). To see such young talent was incredibly encouraging for many.
At the time, the lineup was:
Laine George - Guitar
Kirk Grant-Lawrence - Bass Guitar
Jude Jacobs - Drums
Tatum Cornelian - Vocals
Marley Thomas-Lawrence - Vocals
Aidan Isaac - Keyboards
The Young Turks (1985)
Not much information exists about this recording. I know that it was recorded inside what is now The Queen Mary store. At the time, it was a cinema. I also know that is Stewie Leo on the drums.
Unkown Band - Barry Brooks (n.d)
One of my favourite videos of music on Saint Helena. I don’t know much about this recording, other than Barry Brooks uploaded it and is playing the guitar here. I am sure someone will tell me more. Filmed in the Jamestown Community Center.
Salvation Army Christmas Carol Service (2024)
Every year the Salvation Army hosts a Christmas service on the grand parade and invites performances from churches around the island. a well attended event which shows more of a communicative, get together style of making music. Keith Yon also leads the brass band throughout.
Mark Simon (2026)
After his 2026 interview, Mark and I stepped into a side room in Mantis Hotel and recorded him singing a Saint Helenian favourite - Tennessee Whiskey.
Nothing’s Gonna Change(2024)
Whilst not exactly a ‘performance’ the music video for this song represents a significant Saint Helenian creative output.
Music composed by Christian Castell
Arranged and Produced by James Fantom
Video directed and shot by Louie Youde of Smudge Dog Media
Where to now?
