Category Archives: Uncategorized
Thanks from Drumroots for the Mamady Keita 2013 Weekend (Video)
A belated, but nevertheless massive thank you from Drumroots and Tanante to all involved in organizing the Mamady Keita Weekend 2013, last month. We had an awesome time at the event, really enjoyed being there and both supporting Iya Sako’s workshops and participating in Mamdy Keita’s. There was an ace vibe at the venue and it was excellent to see lots of old friendly faces that we haven’t seen for a while.
As for the evening’s entertainment; sadly we didn’t get to see much of the other acts, but Tanante with Iya Sako and Sens Sagna hugely enjoyed performing for you all. Thanks to everybody present who cheered, clapped and danced to our music, and a massive thanks to our friends who joined us on stage for the end of our set. (more…)
Drumroots Workshops & Tanante performance for unity day at North Hertfordshire College
North Hartfordshire College is holding a free event to celebrate diversity in the community on Wednesday 13th February at the Stevenage Centre. We are proud to be a part of this fantastic community event and will be running three hour long African Djembe drumming workshops for all ages and abilities from 1pm until 4pm.
At the college there will be a chance to experience the multimedia art exhibition “Keeping Memories: The Rwandan Community in the UK exhibition.”
Throughout the day there will also be a whole host of other activities including dance performances and workshops run by Act One Arts Base which is a local, accessible dance organisation run by disabled and non-disabled people. (more…)
Tanante perform for Nando’s christmas party at the Birdcage
Tanante were recently invited to perform at the birdcage in Manchester city centre for the Nando’s Christmas party. The famous chicken restaurant chain Nando’s held its staff Christmas party at the Birdcage venue in Manchester city centre. Nando’s employees from all over the North West enjoyed an African safari themed fancy dress party with stilt walkers, African acrobats and of course the West African drumming sounds of our very own band Tanante. (more…)
Drumroots support and Tanante to Perform at Mamady Keita 2013: West African Drum & Dance Weekend, 13th-14 April 2013
Drumroots are proud to announce that we will be supporting the upcoming Mamady Keita Weekend. The full weekend of workshops and performances surrounding the visit from the world’s most popular and celebrated djembe player, Mamady Keita is a huge event in the West African music scene’s calendar in this country, and all those who know and love West African drumming will be excited in making preparations for getting involved in this extra special weekend! (more…)
African drumming workshops at Didsbury Road Primary School
Drumroots recently enjoyed leading African drumming workshops for the nursery children of Didsbury Road Primary School. Joining us for this special occasion was Andy Garvey an excellent djembe, dun-dun drummer and balafon (West African xylophone) player, from our very own performance troupe, Tanante.
The enthusiastic groups of three to four year olds joined the workshops dressed in their own home made African clothes and were wearing the fantastic masks that they had made. Each child displayed amazing drumming skills through the fun activities that we lead. They especially enjoyed playing the games ‘we are the elephants’ and ‘rumble in the jungle’. (more…)
Drumroots with Sens Sagna at Bury African outreach 13th October
Drumroots were invited to St Gabriels high school for the Bury African outreach Charity coffee morning. Our job: to bring the space to life with our drumming, lead djembe workshops and to perform with the participants on the main stage. For this event we were joined by our talented Senegalese dancer, drummer and singer Sens Sagna. As we arrived we realised that this was no ordinary coffee morning but in fact Bury African outreach’s 20th year anniversary, and a very busy fund raising event with activities such as wheel of fortune, tombola and many stalls selling all manner of things; African food, flowers, cakes, bric-a-brac and sweets, all to raise money with all proceeds going to the Bury African Outreach charity. (more…)
Maitre Samsou and The Beat Artists Performance 27th Oct 2012: African Dance Party (Video)
The Beat Artistes are back! With our African Drumming Master Samsou, we’ve been working hard over the summer in preparation for this event. Our new set raises the bar with heavy African rhythms, polished arrangements and choreographed dance moves. We’re really looking forward to taking this practice public, and what better place to do it than at a happening new African Dance Party event.
Joining us for the event and on the bill will be the outstanding African Drumming troupe, Kontaani. This hard working collective from Macclesfield are incredible to watch and perform with awesome energy and good vibes.
There will also be an early evening dance workshop to kick things off and later on DJ’s playing a range of quality African dance music.
Just to wet your appetite, here’s a video of one of the Beat Artistes, featuring Iya Sako, recent performances at Manchester’s Parklife festival. Watch the video then read on for details of the African Dance party, we’ll see you there! (more…)
Drumroots Workshops for Music Therapy Students of The Nordoff Robbins Charity
We at Drumroots were lucky enough to work with eight musically talented pupils on their masters degree training course with Nordoff Robbins. This mixed group were not only great musicians but great fun to be around. Over the course of four separate two hour sessions held in the Royal Northern College of Music studios we taught, as well as games and exercises, a number of different traditional rhythms with accompaniments, breaks, solos, songs and dun-dun bass lines. This developed their West African drum playing skills to a high level whilst teaching drum circle leadership. (more…)
Drumroots Perform at We Face Forward Closing Celebrations
As the grand finale of the performance aspect Manchester based African Arts festival ‘We Face Forward’, Drumroots and Tanante members teamed up with some of the region’s top African musicians for a free public concert. The event in association with Band on The Wall, included a collection of performers as coordinated by Sens Sagna (Tanante/ The Kajamor Family). This unique set of musicians, though a mixture of bands, colleagues and friends, had never publicly performed together, so what better way to collaborate than by delivering a stage show on a busy September afternoon in the centre of Manchester city centre’s Picadilly Gardens. (more…)
Drumroots Mail Order and Repair Service
If you’re not based near us in Manchester or in the North-West, you can still make use of Drumroots top quality drum repair service, find some of the best quality djembes available and source spares for your drums.
Repair
If you’ve a drum that needs repairing send it to us via courier, and we’ll carefully assess what work needs doing and call you with advise with a quote or pricing options. Repairs take an average of one to two weeks to turn around from when we receive them, to be returned by courier. To read more about our repair service, visit our ‘repairs and skinning’ page.
New Djembes
We stock a wide range of djembes to suit different levels, if you’re interested in a new djembe, give us a call and we’ll advise you of our range and of the best instrument for you. (more…)
