Petoskey Steel Drum Band returns for Summer Concert Series
Back for their third season, the Petoskey Steel Drum Band will perform at the Lakeside Park Band Shell at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 8. They will perform Calypso, Reggae and some Soca. Under the direction of Barry Bennett, most of the members of the group are percussionists with the band program including marching band and concert band.
The group consists of 21 students, mostly juniors and seniors from the Petoskey area. They continue year after year to tour throughout the state and country including Epcot Center, Walt Disney World and at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Their chosen instruments originated on the island of Trinidad in the 1930s. The drums, known as ?pans,? have continually evolved since that time. They are a skillfully hammered 55-gallon oil drums that are carefully tuned to produce unique tones.
The steel drum carries the full chromatic range of notes, and can produce just about any type of music so that even the most complicated classical music can be played on them. Most bands choose something that captures the music?s free spirit. All concerts are free and are made possible through a grant from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, and the City of Rogers City.
Local sponsors include Huron National Bank, Independent Bank, and Welcome Aboard. Call 734-2191 for more information.