2006

Geelong’s Drumming Week Wrapup!

Check out the photo gallery by clicking on the photo below

Drumania opened with Chris Brien from Sydney with an impressive performance on his Sonor Delite kit and set up of percussion instruments. Chris demonstrated with skill many intricate rhythms from around the world and showed that having a very high level of independence makes for some interesting playing. Chris happily shared more of his time back at the Music Den signing autographs and chatting to many satisfied drummers.

Saturday’s event was once again a huge day with an enormous list of performances and clinics by some of Geelong’s best players together with Magesh and Daniel Luttick from Melbourne. Student concerts were once again a smash with local players enjoying the opportunity to perform a solo on the big stage and show off their talents. It was obvious from the first concert that the skill from some of these young performers has certainly taken to a new level.

A very welcome and anticipated visit from both Magesh and Daniel Luttick added to the value of the day. Both players presented entertaining and very informative clinics on groove playing and double bass playing while their drum solo performances demonstrated their mastery of the drum kit and showed why there are both such in demand players.

Some of Geelong’s best local drummers took to the stage to present a range of drum solos that had varying flavors and styles. Opening the solos was Aren Hill playing an original composition that presented a number of smooth blending time signatures. This was Arens first Drumania solo and the packed venue was very appreciative of both his drumming and song writing skills. Vish returned to Drumania for a second time and presented a cool display of Carter Beauford chops. Vish’s performance demonstrated both a high level of technical skill and musical awareness and showed why he is one of Geelong’s up and coming players.

Peter Flynn made his Drumania debut with a powerful and energetic display of classic rock tunes and beats from some of the influential rock drummers of our time while Geelong jazz drumming veteran Kevin Simmonds once again performed both clinics and solos demonstrating some very useful brush techniques to help drummers get a good start on their brush work. Kevin’s solo once again drew a large crowd who surrounded his kit to get a glimpse his flawless rudiments around the kit.

Drumania favorite and Geelong drumming icon Karl Inderberg once again performed a dazzling solo of powerful and dynamic chops and style. The ‘Iceman’ impressed many onlookers with his skills around the kit and displayed grooves that are uniquely his. Hilton Winiecki presented a number of well attended clinics on drum tuning and developing independence while his original percussion performance was witnessed by a full room keen to hear a battery of unusual instruments. Hilton also performed a drum kit track off his solo cd which mixed rock with latin grooves.

Alex Vega continued with the Drumania festival a few nights later with an interesting and toe tapping display of Latin percussion. His clinic demonstrated amazing hand drumming techniques and various styles of groove and feel. Also on display was the new range of LP products at the Music Den.

Drumania concluded the following night with the highly anticipated performance from Grant Collins. Never before had such a large drumkit graced the Drumania stage and somehow it all managed to fit. Grant performed solo after solo, theme ideas flowing from one to the next and new sounds being explored continuously. The audience was equally appreciative of his subtle hand techniques as they were for his monstrous double and quadruple bass playing. This was Grant’s second visit for the Music Den and judging by the crowd’s reaction at the end of his performance, certainly not his last.

Now we count down the days until Drumania 2007. Who is coming to Geelong’s drumming event next???