National Drum Fair 08

This year´s National Dum Fair will take place once more at the Cocks Moor Woods Leisure Centre in Kings Heath, Birmingham, on the weekend of the 27 and 28 September.

The show will include exhibitions, clinics and trading stalls, plus vintage rarities on display from all the historic drum manufacturers - Gretsch, Camco, Ludwig, Leedy and more. The NDF is a friendly, non-profit show, with private stall holders, collectors, custom drum builders and enthusiasts all rubbing shoulders. Bring your unwanted gear to sell - grab those missing parts you simply can´t find anywhere else.

Also included in the admission are clinics by the brilliant Gail-Louise James (back in Britain after studying in the USA), Young Drummer of the Year 2008, George Barnett, and top big band star Bob Howard. The raffle yet again includes the incredibly generous first prize of a Craviotto solid shell snare drum.

Honorary president is the legendary Jack Parnell, and illustrious visitors this year include William F Ludwig III and Rob Cook, organiser of the Chicago vintage drum fair and author of massive tomes on the great American drum lines.

Open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, tickets are just £5 per day or £8 for the two days. Car parking is ample (and free) and food and drink (not to mention swimming) are available on site.

For more info...
Tel: 0121 464 1996.
www.ukdrumfair.com
Email: info@ukdrumfair.com

Chris Barnes

I'm MusicRadar's eCommerce Editor. In addition to testing the latest music gear, with a particular focus on electronic drums, it's my job to manage the 300+ buyer's guides on MusicRadar and help musicians find the right gear for them at the best prices. I dabble with guitar, but my main instrument is the drums, which I have been playing for 24 years. I've been a part of the music gear industry for 20 years, including 7 years as Editor of the UK's best-selling drum magazine Rhythm, and 5 years as a freelance music writer, during which time I worked with the world's biggest instrument brands including Roland, Boss, Laney and Natal.