Drumathon fundraiser hits upbeat note from 14 May
Go to www.drumathon.live to drum, dance and donate!
Now in its third year, DrumathonLIVE has previously featured high profile drummers from acts including Coldplay, Depeche Mode and Kasabian – and this year the event is set to beat all records.
The 2022 line up so far includes Will Champion (Coldplay), Richard Jupp (Elbow), Jason Cooper (The Cure), Cherisse Osei (Simple Minds), Errol Kennedy (Imagination), Matty Brown (Stomzy), Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai) and Nick Hodgson (The Kaiser Chiefs).
Also appearing will be Aicha Djidjelli and Holly Madge (fresh from the amazing Hans Zimmer tour), Mike Malyan (Monuments), Charlie Morgan (Elton John’s Live Aid drummer), Raghav Mehtrora from NYC, We.Are.Alien. and the legendary Andy Gagandeen. And there are more star performers still to be announced…
Join me and an amazing group of drummers from around the world for DrumathonLIVE as we raise money for children’s mental health.
Jason Cooper from The Cure
I’m excited to be involved with DrumathonLIVE to raise money for children’s mental health. The past couple of years have been really tough and it’s brought mental health to the forefront for me – it’s important to have good mental health. And this is why I wanted to be involved as it’s such a vital aspect of our lives. Please come and join us to watch, drum, dance, and please donate.
Cherisse Osei from Simple Minds
I’m drumming for mental health, and along with the drumming community, let’s unite as we raise money and awareness for children’s mental health.
Paul Stewart from The Feeling
Hitting a rhythm alongside the stars will be thousands of pro and semi-pro drummers who will join livestreams to contribute to 250 hours of non-stop drumming. DrumathonLIVE has also partnered with manufacturers JoBecky and Roland to invite UK schools and youth organisations to create their own events in the biggest charity drumming marathon ever. Other partners include JHS, Vici Drum Co and Adoro Drums.
Mike Dolbear, the UK’s godfather of drumming and mastermind behind the 2012 London Olympic 1000 drummers, will be running a master class on Saturday 14 May from 6pm-8pm at The Tileyard, London for everyone to join in on drums, pots and pans, as he paradiddles and invites super drummers from all over the world to chat with him about their musical experiences.
DrumathonLIVE is the creation of drummer Errol Kennedy, of 1980s funk stars Imagination, and fellow musician Bev Sage, founder member of the Techno Twins, who started the annual event during lockdown in 2020.
To date it has raised over £160,000 for children’s and mental health charities. DrumathonLIVE also inspired and took part in the 2021 BBC Children in Need Drumathon, featuring TV weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans, which raised over £3.8million.
It all started when Errol and myself banged waste bins from our balcony in Hackney for the NHS during the first lockdown in 2020. Then Errol decided to take it up a notch and played non-stop for 24 hours raising money for the NHS – and it’s just escalated from there!
Bev Sage
DrumathonLIVE will support three charities for 2022: Variety, the Children’s Charity, The Anna Freud Centre and Child Bereavement UK.
Drummers, schools and youth organisations wishing to join in the fun should visit www.drumathon.live to register and download an activity pack.