Above: The scene at 2011's Drum Boogie Festival, held in Kingston's Cornell Park. This year, the biennial drumfest returns in a new location, at Woodstock's Andy Lee Field.
Dance the day away at the 2013 Drum Boogie Festival, set to take place Saturday at Andy Lee Field in Woodstock. This grand cultural convergence, brought to you by the good folk of the Woodstock Chimes Fund, unites continents, genres and star power in a glorious celebration of the Beat. Drummers will represent a multitude of traditions: jazz, Japanese Taiko, Middle Eastern, rock, classical, Native American, African, steel pan and more. Performers include Jack DeJohnette, the Midnight Ramble Band from the Levon Helm Studios, NEXUS, Simon Shaheen, members of Broadway’s The Lion King, the Saturday Night Live Band, SO Percussion, Stomp, and a host of others.
The event begins with a tribute to Woodstocker and xylophonist George Hamilton Green, whose ragtime compositions were rediscovered by the Toronto percussion outfit NEXUS in the 1970s. In a moment both joyful and reflective, they’ll be performing at 10am at the Woodstock Artists’ Cemetery, where Green is buried. Following that, the festival heads down the hill to Andy Lee Field for the opening of the main event.
With the world-class talent on display at the festival, organizers could probably get away with a hefty door charge on this one. But it’s family-friendly and free -- and with the groove rolling on til 8pm, it's a chance to spend some time strolling around Woodstock, too.
2013 Drum Boogie Festival. Andy Lee Field, Rock City Road, Woodstock. Free admission. Saturday, September 7; rain date Sunday, September 8. 10am to 8pm. For more information, see the Drum Boogie Festival website.
Below: Ulster Magazine film clip, "The Power Of Drumming," featuring the voices of performers known around the region and beyond.
