Category Archives: Music & Video
Drumroots Artist Spotlight – Iya Sako (Master drummer from Guinea)
This past year has been a tough one for performing artists, but with things starting to open up and the possibility of more live music events on the horizon, we thought now would be a good time to highlight some of the incredible West African artists we have had the privilege to work with. This will be the first in a series of blog posts, so please keep your eye out for more!
Mory Sako (known to friends and family as Iya) is a Malinke djembe master from Samakofadda in the Wassalon region of North East Guinea. We first met Iya in 2007 at a Drumroots Live event at the Rampant Lion in Manchester. He had recently moved to the UK, had heard about the event and decided to turn up. At this point, we didn’t really know anything about Iya, apart from his name and that he had recently moved here from Guinea.
(more…)Sidiki Dembele’s New Website
If you’re looking for something to bring a bit of joy and light into your life in these cold and dark,
wintry days, then look no further! Our good friend and world-renowned djembe master and Griot musician, Sidiki
Dembele, has a new website that is bursting with his positive energy! You can watch videos of his
explosive performances, sign up for online djembe lessons, buy merchandise and even think about
booking the holiday of a lifetime to the Ivory Coast…
Tanante to Perform at Beat-Herder Festival 2014
It’s that time of year again! Beat-Herder 2014 is nearly upon us and our African drumming performance troupe ‘Tanante’ will be performing as ever in the Stumble Funk tent, this year at 9.30pm on the Sunday night. Our friends, the Stumble Funk crew have put together an awesome line up to contribute to this fantastic festival. We’re really pleased to have a Sunday evening set time and following last years well received show we can only raise the bar- we’re hard at work preparing an extra special stage show for you all! (more…)
Sidiki Dembele Workshop @ Z Arts 3rd May 2014 (Video)
Following on from the success of our recent weekend workshops, Drumroots is pleased to announce we will be running a workshop for our friend, collaborator and awesome djembe teacher, Sidiki Dembele. Sidiki, from the Ivory Coast is one of the country’s top djembe players, regularly appearing not only with our own performance group Tanante but with other groups country and worldwide, including the mighty Ballet Nimba. Sidiki is an outstanding performer whose energy and charisma is clear to see in his unique teaching style contributing to the excellent reputation of his renowned and exciting workshops. (more…)
New Tanante Demo 2014 Tracks are Now Online
It’s been a long time since we put some new studio recordings out there and these ones have been ‘in the can’ for quite some time, but finally we are pleased to release three brand new Tanante demo tracks for 2014. The three tracks; Mendiani, Djaa and Dununba, were first recorded over two years ago with our techno man and studio wizard Andy Garvey. In the first session, Tananate along with special guest artists Iya Sako, Sidiki Dembele and Baba Galle laid down live tracks, which we then more recently added the vocals to and finally mixed them down, all at Studio Z (Z Arts Centre). (more…)
Drumroots Provide Teacher Training for Manchester Metropolitan University (Video)
As part of a national initiative to produce guidance and a resource to support new primary school music teachers, Drumroots were invited by the Manchester Metropolitan University to provide teaching technique and advice as part of their contribution to a collaborative project between Universities throughout the country. Our contribution to this project was to represent ‘Diversity’. Our music form is not not only ‘alternative’, but the methods and style of music education we provide are well outside the structure of what is used in mainstream curriculum, and we use a range of alternative techniques which we have developed in order to release musical potential in children and young people.
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Druroots African Djembe Workshops at Altringham Preparatory School
Drumroots team recently enjoyed a day at the wonderful Altringham Preparatory School for Boys. Running exceptionally large classes with children can at times be a challenge but not with this group of attentive young people! The groups of fifty odd enthusiastic and eager participants had a real buzz about them as we got into the sessions, and they gave us really excellent attention and energy. From time to time the sessions were visited by various members of school staff, including the head teacher and some of the school governors who were all drawn to space to observe the enjoyment that the children were taking from the session and the positivity and joy they were putting back in.
Tanante Performing at the Zombie Shack with Ibrou Soumah 2nd Nov 2013 (Video)
After a long break from performing, our troupe Tananate are back! We will be performing along with our old friend and awesome Dundun player, Ibrou Somah. Appearing at Saturday Night Alive @ The Zombie Shack (formally The Attic, under Oxford Road Station) we are being brought in to rock this increasingly popular club night. As this is a Halloween special we’re expecting the crowds to arrive on mass and we’ll be providing hypnotic, haunting and heavy rhythms for you all to lurch, thrash and freak out to. We’re all looking forward to this one and promise it’s gonna be a set to remember. See you there. (BTW, ITS FREE!!!!!!) (more…)
Drumroots Perform Walking Carnival Acts for Nando’s at Pride Festivals 2013 (Video)
The Drumroots performance team with friends and guest artists recently enjoyed a succession of fantastic gigs at this summer’s Pride festivals across the country. Once again working for Nando’s we have so far been a part of Pride parades in Blackpool, Newcastle, Liverpool and Leeds. For these events we take to the streets carrying our drums for high energy walking performance to bring joy, rhythm and movement to the crowds of thousands joining in the carnival, and yet more as entertained bystanders. Accompanied by the enthusiastic Nandos staff bearing masks and banners, as well as a dancing chicken, we make quite a spectacle of ourselves as we get involved in the festivities. (more…)
Tanante to Perform at Beat Herder Festival 2013 (Video)
It’s that time of year again! Beat Herder 2013 is upon us and Tanante will be performing as ever on the Stumble Funk stage, this year at 8pm on Saturday. Our friends, the Stumble Funk crew have put together an awesome line up to contribute to this fantastic festival. We’re really pleased to have a Saturday early evening set time and following last years well received show we can only raise the bar- we’re hard at work preparing an extra special stage show for you all, and also have a surprise guest artist…..! (more…)
