As a cure for the wintertime blues, Akron Civic Theatre, a Knight Arts grantee, is bringing an island beach party and the ever-popular University of Akron Steel Drum Band to drum away what ails you.

The Steel Drum Band generates an audience wherever it appears. The group shows up often during at the Downtown Art Walk festivals, and can be caught on warm summer days at various places (like lunchtime plaza spots) on and around campus).

What the Akron Civic Theatre has planned is this: a fun beach party in the grand lobby before the show, a special performance by the Summit Academy Steel Dragons Band; and, family-friendly activities and treats like snow cones, beach balls, face painting and flying fish.

The University of Akron Steel Drum Band. Photo courtesy of Akron Civic Theatre

At the concert, the pulsating rhythm of the steel drums, organizers have said, will transport you to the beautiful sounds of the islands.

This ensemble is dedicated to performing the musical art form of and from the island of Trinidad and Tobago and to educating people about the history of pan. If you look it up, you find that this drum refers to the steel drum containers from which the pans are made; therefore the steeldrum is more correctly called a steel pan or pan, and is technically not a membranous drum as we think of the instrument.

Whatever it is, it’s always fun to listen to the exotic and fun sounds and rhythms conjured up by the Steel Drum Band.

The University of Akron Steel Drum Band began in 1980 under the direction of its creator Dr. Larry Snider. At the time, it was one of only three colleges in the United States to have a steel drum ensemble. All of the University’s steel drums are built and maintained by Cliff Alexis. The band is comprised of undergraduate and graduate percussion students.

The University of Akron Steel Drum Band will have one performance on Sunday, January 27 at 2:30 p.m. in the Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron; 330-253-2488; www.akroncivic.com. Tickets are $10 ($5 for children 12 and under).