'Tis the Season of Drum Festivals

From northern Vermont in the northeast of the US across to Oregon in the Pacific Northwest and back across to Montreal in Canada, there's a whole host of skin-related offerings being presented in the next few months...and we don't mean sunbathing in Florida. And if you're not all drummed out before the year is over, you can begin making plans to journey north (way north) for the Cape Breton International Drum Festival in Nova Scotia, Canada in April.

KoSA Eleven - August 7-13, 2006 - Johnson State University, Vermont, USA

Held at Johnson State College in northern Vermont, KoSA 11 will include a fascinating mix of both KoSA veteran faculty and newcomers to the KoSA experience. KoSA is aiming to provide an enhanced program of study featuring some new open forum events that should prove to be as interesting to listen to as they are to participate in. The concert performances at KoSA should prove to be exciting and entertaining events. Click here for a teaser video of the festival.

Drum Camp Oregon - August 14-20, 2006 - Camp Latgawa, Oregon, USA

Kalani Music's sixth annual World Rhythms! Drum and Dance Retreat will this year be held at Camp Latgawa, Oregon. Instructors include Mouminatou and Mohamed Camara, Kalani, Ryan Camara, and Lamine "Dibo" Camara. You can participate in the drumming and dancing portion of the week or just the dancing portion. Kalani, the program director, is a keynote presenter, speaker, clinician, performer, author, and educator. He designs and presents music-based programs for education, professional development, and health and wellness.

Montreal Drum Fest - November 10-12, 2006 - Montreal, Canada

If you only travel once for a drum festival this year, make it the Montreal Drum Festival in November. The city is gorgeous at that time of the year and the line-up of accomplished drummers and rising stars at the festival is always inspiring. Yvette "Baby Girl" Preyer will be featured at this year's festival, as well as perennial faves Dom Famularo and Liberty DeVito. New this year will be the "Drums & Percussion Show Friday" at the Montreal Music Festival.