Great Lakes Steelpan Fest to honor legends April 13

The Great Lakes Steelpan Festival is returning to Creekside Middle School in Woodstock on Saturday, April 13.

The festival is open to all music lovers and culminates in an evening concert at 7 p.m.

It is the only music festival in the Chicago area specializing in the steelpan, the musical instrument from the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago, also commonly called the steel drum.

This annual event is hosted by the Woodstock based 501(c)(3) organization, Culture, Arts & Music.

It will feature local and guest musicians from Wisconsin and Minnesota along with guest artists coming from as far as London.

Guest artists include Sterling Betancourt, Dave Longfellow, and Potts & Pans Steelband.

This is a very special year for the festival as GLSF19 honors some of the legends of the steelpan community.

One of the guests, Sterling Betancourt, is one of the original members of the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra that traveled to London in 1951 to introduce the world to the steelpan.

During the music fest, they also will honor the memory of Dr. Clifford "Cliff" Alexis and Dr. Elliott "Ellie" Mannette.

Ellie Mannette is regarded as the father of the modern-day steelpan and has been a frequent guest of the Great Lakes Steelpan Festival going back to the inaugural year of 2013. Cliff helped to shape the NIU Steelband into one of the most respected steelbands in the world.

GLSF19 is a full day of incredible music culminating in a concert at 7 p.m. that features all participating musicians and guest artists.

From steelpan aficionados to casual music lovers alike, GLSF19 is sure to deliver lasting memories and leave attendees yearning for next year. No matter what prior exposure audience members have had to the steelpan, the music fest will make every person in the room think a little differently about the instrument and what it is capable of.

For more information about the festival, contact information or to purchase tickets at a reduced price, visit www.steelpanfestival.com.

Great Lakes Steelpan Festival was created to fill the void in top-level steelpan performances and educational events in the Midwest. Imagined by two Midwest pannists, that decided to start the music in order to create a closer option for bands like theirs, after meeting in Virginia for a different festival. The festival is run by local charitable organization, Culture, Arts & Music.

Culture, Arts & Music celebrates world diversity, transporting people to different countries through immersive learning experiences. Visit www.cultureartsmusic.org.