Steel drum.

A very unmelodious name for an instrument that is beaten, cooked and then pounded some more before it can set toes to tapping with its peppy rhythms and sounds that evoke carefree images of the islands where it had its birth.

In the 60 years since it was developed, the steel drum has moved beyond its island origins and steel drum bands now draw crowds not only in its native Trinidad, but all around the world, including Down East Maine. This weekend, Maine music lovers will have the chance to surround themselves with the sounds of pan at the 12th annual Pan New England Steel Band Festival in Blue Hill.

The festival will feature more than 200 steel drum players and 19 steel bands from throughout New England and beyond, and has influenced popular music from reggae to rock. The highlight of the festival, according to organizer Carl Chase of Brooksville, will be the weekend appearance of the Samaroo Jets Steel Orchestra from Trinidad, legends in the world of steel band music led by its founder, Jit Samaroo. The Jets will perform in concert to open the festival and also will participate in public workshops during the festival.

The steel drum grew out of the rough-and-tumble ghetto streets of Port of Spain, Trinidad, as ex-slaves sought replacements for the traditional drums and rhythm instruments that government officials had outlawed. Eventually, they turned to everyday objects – pots, pans, garbage can covers and even the 55-gallon oil drums the U.S. Navy base had discarded. Eventually, they discovered that dents in the steel drums could produce different notes and began experimenting with “dishing out” the drums and tuning them.

Creating a steel drum begins with dishing out, or “sinking the pan,” which involves pounding the bottom of the oil drum into a concave bowl shape. After the drum is tempered by heating and quick-cooling, the pan maker will hammer individual notes into the bowl, and then tune each note until the notes are blended.

According to Chase, a drum maker, tuner, player and teacher for more than 25 years, the sound of the steel drum and the traditional island beat have been big factors in the popularity of the instrument.

“Everybody likes Calypso music, they have ever since Harry Belafonte,” he said. “Everybody responds to the steel beat.”

Steel drum music has gone beyond the shores of the island and even traditional steel bands have broadened their repertoires to include various styles of music, such as show tunes. Its appeal extends to all segments of society, according to Gov. Angus King, who in March proclaimed May as Steel Band Month in Maine.

“Pan music cuts across social divides and brings all of us together,” King said in the proclamation. “The state of Maine recognizes the contribution that pan music has made to the engagement and education of our youth.”

Part of the appeal of the instrument, Chase said, is that it is accessible to just about everyone.

“You don’t need a big musical background. You don’t need to know how to read music. Anybody can step up to a drum and within a half-hour can be part of the band,” he said. “It’s accessible, and that’s fantastic for a school system. It’s an instrument that every kid in the school can respond to.”

Chase has taught steel drum in local schools for several years and has started several school and community steel bands. It was that kind of involvement, in fact, that led to the start of the festival. Chase had started a steel band at a school on Cape Cod, Mass., and was working with a teacher at North Yarmouth Academy in Maine, who also had started a steel band. The two teachers arranged an exchange concert which they called a festival.

“Every year we’d add more bands, and we’ve run it every year since then until last year,” he said.

The festival has been held in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but last year a host could not be found for the festival.

This year’s weekend festival will kick off Steel Band Month in Maine. The festivities will start with the Samaroo Jets in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Blue Hill Congregational Church. From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, the Jets will lead several workshops at the Blue Hill Consolidated School that will give festival participants the chance to try playing the instrument and to learn more about its history and other types of music from Trinidad.

At 7:30 p.m., there will be a dance at the school featuring the Samaroo Jets and the opening band, Chase’s Atlantic Clarion Steel Band.

On Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m., the 19 steel bands will perform as part of Panorama, under a tent at the Blue Hill Consolidated School. Each band, including the Jets, will perform three numbers, and then join together on the finale, a calypso song called “Dollar.”

Tickets to the opening concert are $12 for adults, $6 for children; for the Saturday workshops, $10 per workshop; for the Saturday dance, $5 adults, $2 children; and for the Sunday finale, $5 adults, $2 children.

For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, contact Chase at 326-9324.