Sometimes they’re in your town. Sometimes they’re on the other side of the country. And sometimes they’re halfway across the world. Drum festivals unite world-renowned drummers with the global drumming community in a day-long (or several days-long) event. Usually taking place in an auditorium or theater, a fest is a great way to check multiple players off your ‘to-see’ list all at once.
If you’ve never been to one – and want to know why the tickets or flights are 100% worth it – here’s why you should go at least once.
Most people only get to see their favorite drummers on stage with bands or in online videos. At a festival, many artists are performing by themselves to an audience of drummers, so you really get to focus on the drummer without being ‘distracted’ by other musicians. And if the drummer is playing with their band, they might still treat you to a killer solo!
How often do you get to be in a room (or theater) full of other drummers? Drum festivals are perfect meeting grounds for the international drumming community. Take advantage of the time in between performances to meet new people, talk shop, and revel in the fact that everyone around you is as excited about drumming as you are.
Many drum festivals also host masterclasses, workshops, and/or clinics for focused time with top drummers in a more intimate setting. This is your chance to watch your favorite players break down beats, talk about their music careers, and perform for a smaller audience. If you want to go home with useful takeaways and knowledge from the pros, you can often get access to it at a drum festival.
Whether they’re hosting a meet and greet or walking around between performances, you’ll have a chance to meet some of the featured drummers at festivals. The best way to guarantee meeting someone is by going to a meet and greet or signing session. But if you run into someone in a casual context and want to say hi, make sure they aren’t busy and always be respectful.
If you’re looking to make a major change in your playing this year, think of going to a festival like making an investment in your drum education. Spending a day or two surrounded by drummers and incredible playing can be enough to give you that massive mental shift you need to get to the next level. And there’s definitely something to be said about witnessing an inspiring performance or workshop in person. Step outside of your comfort zone and see what happens!
There are some amazing drum festivals that focus on the drum set. Here’s a sample of events and their dates this year:
| Date | Festival | Location |
|---|---|---|
| February 21-22 | Drumeo Festival | Vancouver, Canada |
| May 24 | Victoria Drum Fest | Victoria, Canada |
| June 27 | Meinl Drum Festival | Gutenstetten, Germany |
| September 26-27 | The UK Drum Show | Manchester, UK |
| October 17-18 | Drum Fest International | Quebec City, Canada |
| November 8 | TamTam DrumFest | Sevilla, Spain |
If we missed one, let us know.
If you haven’t bought tickets to the Drumeo Festival yet, and you want to enjoy two days of incredible performances and priceless hangs with the drumming community, click here!
Samantha Landa is the editor of The Drumeo Beat. She currently drums with Conquer Divide and has been featured by outlets such as Sick Drummer Magazine and DRUM! Magazine. Sam proudly endorses Mapex Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads and Los Cabos Drumsticks.
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