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We're thrilled to have the well-known steampunk band Abney Park as part of the Saturday Night Steampunk Spectacular, a new evening program at this year's Maker Faire. If you're not familiar with the band, check out their website and media found there. Abney Park is not only a great band, they're also makers, with some of the instruments hand-built or modded. We hear rumors that a newly modded instrument may make an appearance at the show. Also on the bill will be the hard-rockin' Irish triad Culann's Hound... and PowerTool drag racing under the lights! The inimitable Hieronymus Isambard "Jake" Von Slatt of the Steampunk Workshop will be Master of Ceremonies. The evening's festivities and the Steampunk Spectaular will begin as the Expo and other halls close, after 6pm. See you on the dancefloor!

Members of Abney Park will also be in the Contraptors' Lounge (see below) on Saturday and Sunday. Captain Robert, of AP, along with Jake Von Slatt and Libby Bulloff of Steampunk magazine, will also be on the Heather Gold Show, streamed live from the main stage (Expo Hall) on Sat, 4pm.

The Contraptors' Lounge is an outdoor Victorian sitting room and cabinet of curiosities being set up at Maker Faire. Such steampunk/retro-tech icons as Jake von Slatt, Datamancer and Abney Park will play host. As one of the on-site activities, Datamancer and Jake von Slatt will be double-teaming the build of a special Maker Faire edition retro/steampunk keyboard in the Lounge. It may be raffled off or auctioned for charity at the end of the Faire. The two will also be giving a talk, on the main stage, about their work.

Related Contraptors' Lounge posts:

• Steampunk Magazine at Maker Faire
• Molly "Porkshanks" Friedrich at Maker Faire
• Datamancer works his magic, on desktop, at Maker Faire
• Victorian all-in-one PC

Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset May 3rd and 4th at the San Mateo Fairgrounds, CA (Upcoming.org). It's for creative, resourceful people of all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make things. Buy tickets now and save, discount ticket sales end on April 25th, 2008.

If you're in the Bay Area, or plan to attend Maker Faire add "makerfaire" to your Twitter, we'll be giving away tickets and will have updates before and during Maker Faire!