the official blog of the Percussive Arts Society

Porter & Davies
Porter & Davies Used By Drummers With Bruce Springsteen, Greta Van Fleet, Jessie J, Hans Zimmer & More

Porter & Davies, renowned for their world class silent tactile monitoring systems, are proud to announce new drummers using their range of products. These now include:

Max Weinberg, the longtime drummer of the legendary Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band. He has been using his BC2rm since the summer and will be using it when the 2024 world tour kicks off in March. Another new family member is UB40’s iconic drummer and founder member Jimmy Brown. 2024 will see him put his new Gigster to good use as he and the band celebrate forty five years together with a tour and new album.

Internationally acclaimed drummer Adam ‘Smiley’ Wade has graced the stage with some of the industry’s most notable talents including Jessie J and Craig David. He is now using a BC2 when drumming live and in the studio. Aicha Djidjelli, drummer and percussionist with multi Oscar and Grammy Award winner, Hans Zimmer, has just purchased a BC2 to aid her with both acoustic and electronic drum playing.

The portable BC2 puts a drummer right in the heart of the kit allowing them to feel every nuance of every beat without latency. Now using the BC2 on tour are: Clemons Poindexter playing with Kahlid who supported Ed Sheeran earlier in 2023, Greta Van Fleet’s Daniel Wagner and Blas Elias with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Also using the BC2 are Adam Savage with While She Sleeps, Matt Yonkerwith Less Than Jake, Justin Brown with multi Grammy award winner Thundercat and Jimmi Naylor playing with indie legends The Pidgeon Detectives.

The big brother to the BC2 is the TT6 Equipped Throne which is designed to be driven by existing monitor amps. Bill Ransom the accomplished drummer with the Grammy nominated blues singer, Beth Hart, opted for this choice as he heads out on her 2024 tour.

To find out more about enriching studio and live performances please go to porteranddavies.co.uk.

Aicha Djidjelli photo by David Phillips

GRETSCH DRUMS 
140th Celebratory Concert at NYC’s The Cutting Room
Gretsch Drums announced Gretsch Night in New York City: a special one-night-only event to celebrate 140 years of Gretsch Drums history, featuring performances by drummers Mark Guiliana, Will Calhoun, Nate Wood, and Bill Stewart. The event will be held Tuesday, May 23. from 7–9 p.m. EDT at The Cutting Room in New York City and will be released on a limited edition vinyl album. For more information about this concert and to buy tickets visit eventbrite.com/e/gretsch-night-in-new-york-city-tickets-603991343367.

HIT LIKE A GIRL 
Partnership with POUND Fitness
Female advocacy organization Hit Like A Girl and fitness innovator POUND Fitness have teamed up to raise awareness and promote drumming and drumming-related activities as an ideal way to enhance physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

“Both of our organizations have realized the power that music and rhythm have to unlock something in us that makes us feel more connected, empowered and at home in our bodies. Hit Like a Girl does that through empowering young women to play drums and celebrating those that do, and POUND does that through fitness classes that allow participants to become the instrument and connect with their bodies and those around them.” says POUND Founder and CEO Kirsten Potenza. 

Hit Like A Girl and POUND recently came together for a kick-off event in Los Angeles that included a drumming-inspired, drumming-supported workout session, a performance by a mother-daughter drum duo, and the opportunity for attendees to have a hands-on drumming experience. The event concluded with an all-female panel discussion on the benefits of music and rhythmic movement on wellness that included a music therapist, professional drummer, and a wellness coach with a focus on body percussion. 

In addition, POUND is currently offering a free, 6-month membership for its “Backstage” on-demand exercise courses to all Hit Like A Girl contest participants as well as selling a specially-priced HLAGxPOUND Backstage bundle with all proceeds matched by POUND and going to support Hit Like A Girl’s outreach.

POUND and Hit Like A Girl indicated that these programs are just the first steps in establishing an ongoing relationship between the two organizations based on a unified mission to facilitate growth, empowerment, and a healthy lifestyle for girls and women around the world.

For more information, visit www.hitlikeagirlcontest.com and www.poundfit.com. 

ITALY PAS
Percussive Arts Web Contest
The Italy PAS Chapter has announced the 7th Percussive Arts Web Contest (PAWC) for Duo and Percussion Ensemble. Judges will be Gordon Stout, W. Lee Vinson, Naoko Takada, Nino Masayuki, She-e Wu, Pei-Ching Wu, Jeanni Zhang, Jingjing Li, Frederic Macarez, Dennis Kuhn, Nils Rohwer, Walter Mertens, Luigi Morleo, Claudio Santangelo, Tarcisio Molinaro, Maria Vittorio, Ivan Mancinelli, and Jessica and Vanessa Porter (Duo winners of the 1st edition).

One can participate by sending a link with a YouTube video of only one piece.

The Categories are: Category A. Duo (percussion solo); Category B. Duo (percussion and piano); Category C. Duo (percussion and any other instrument or voice — no piano; Category D. Percussion Ensemble from 3 to 6 percussionists; Category E. Percussion Ensemble from 5 percussionists onwards (for middle and secondary schools with musical orientation).

Age limit: Categories A, B, C, and D from 16 years up.  Category E 10–18 years.
Registration: www.italypas.it/project/pawcmoduloiscrizioneview/
Registration deadline: May 5
Video, fee, photo, and identity card or passport must be received by June 5.
Cash prizes €15,000.00 offered by Italy PAS.
Click here for rules: www.italypas.it

Italy Percussion Competition and Days of Percussion
The 20th edition of the Italy Percussion Competition and Days of Percussion festival will take place from August 28 to September 3 at the music conservatory L. D'Annunzio in Pescara. The competition is organized at two-yearly intervals: In 2023 the contest is for Marimba and Timpani. In 2024 the contest will be for Vibraphone (classic and jazz) and Snare Drum.

These artists will be present for Juries, Concerts and Masterclasses: Marimba: N. J. Živković,  Eric Sammut, Pei-Chin Wu, Tatiana Koleva, and Claudio Santangelo. Timpani: Nick Woud, Shiniti Ueno, and Claudio Romano.

Registration is open. Application and documents deadline is July 7. Registration fee: 100€. Click here for: Rules, Repertoire, Prizes: www.italypas.it

Age limit: Marimba and Timpani: Category A max. 19 years old; Category B 20–26 years old; Category C 27–36 years old.

Composition Contest
Italy PAS is also holding a composition contest. Judges will be John Psathas, Julie Spencer, Todd Ukena, Luigi Morleo, and Richard LeVan (HoneyRock public).

Registration is open. Deadline: July 7. Registration fee: 70€. No age limit.

Documentation and score must be sent to italypas@hotmail.it by August 1 2023 in pdf along with a copy of an identity document and copy of the entry fee. If sent through Wetransfer or Filemail, the full score should be in pdf (in format Sibelius, Finale, Encore).

Click here for Rules and Prizes: www.italypas.it