The Panhandlers are a 10-piece community steel band. We've been performing shows across Vermont and NH for well over ten years. We play a variety of tunes, from Bob Marley to Jimmy Buffett to Island favorites. 

The joy of making music brings us together on Thursday nights, giving us a chance to practice our technique, learn new tunes, and have fun playing pan. During the pandemic we practiced outside until the end of October, and managed to share our music with seniors at the Homestead and the Thompson Center, both in Woodstock.  We are not currently rehearsing, but look forward to starting up again as soon as it’s safe.


Anyone interested in booking the band and/or learning pan should email Jen Cohen directly, at jen@calypsoconnections.com.

For more video footage and info on gigs please visit: https://www.facebook.com/Panhandlerssteelband/

A little Panhandler history!

The Panhandlers have been part of Seven Stars since they were formed in 2002 by Scott Paulson. At that time Seven Stars was known as the Vermont Independent School of the Arts. Scott and his wife Barbara Smith were the original founders of VTISA.
While visiting the Caribbean in 1992 Scott fell in love with Steel (Pan) Drums. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he started playing them in 1998 and began teaching pan in 2001. He directed the group for 13 years during which time the band recorded two CDs. 
​In this 2006 photo, Scotty is seated holding an inflatable Palm Tree and Barb is in the green grass skirt!