Beat Your Feet Around the Globe: Annual Drum Festivals and World Music

Include some annual Drum Festival action into your globe-trotting plans this year to really get your feet moving to the beat. Starting early in the year, near the equator, you can celebrate the rhythms of the planet as you begin your travels around the world throughout the calendar year.

The centuries old African heritage in Venezuela has produced a rich tapestry of Fiesta's, woven from the blend of cultural and religious experiences and having the drum as their pivotal feature.

Los Diablos de Yare

Yare, a town just a two hour drive from the national capitol of Caracas, celebrates The Devils of Yare, a truly drums-only musical holiday highlighted by the traditional dance and multi-colored painted masks. At this Corpus Christi celebration early in February, masked participants, wearing colorful jewelry and costumes of mostly red fabric, dance to the rhythms of the drummers. Extend your visit in Venezuela into early March to enjoy the many other drum oriented occasions such as The Drums of Barlovento (Los Tambores de Barlovento) at the Fiesta de San Juan which ushers in the rainy season.

Pan Jam

Point your steps in the direction of the lighthouse district in the town of Kemah, Texas for their "Pan Jam" Steel Drum Festival. During the third week of March you will find this annual street party that features art and craft booths, tropical attire and hat contests, fire dancers, bungee jumps and a Texas chili cook-off. Accompanying the casual crowds in bright tropical clothes, are authentic Caribbean steel drums, Calypso and Reggae music and local performers from the Lone Star and San Jacinto College steel drum programs as well as the University of Houston "Pantagonists".

The line-up of performers from the 2009 Pan Jam will give you an idea of the cosmopolitan flavor of this event. Hannah's Reef, Coconut Dave, The Outriggers and Earl La Pierre of the Cayman Islands headline the show and there are rumors that the "soon to be famous" Kemah Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) Bagpipe Band will give an impromptu performance. The firefighters will also be cooking up some tasty burgers, BBQ and Fajitas for the pleasure of the revelers. Proceeds from this event are donated to the KVFD and a good time is to be had by all who take advantage of the free parking and local accommodations to attend this charity event.

Celebrate the Rhythms of Mother Earth

Heading to southern Utah during the middle of May you will hear the Zion Flute and Drum Festival performers, celebrating the rhythms of Mother Earth, for three days with the sound of Native American flutes and drums. At Unity Park in the town of Ivins, located near Snow Canyon State Park, the days events can be enjoyed for a nominal fee. There are paid workshops available and in the evening, concerts at the nearby Tuacahn Amphitheater.

Rather be at the beach in the middle of May? Take steps to be at The World Music Drum Festival at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Here you will find free performances of Jazz, Rock, Afro-Cuban world music, Kodo, Native American, African and Classical drum music. If you want to show off your own natural rhythm, be sure not to miss the 'drum circle' held on the beach and open to the public.

Around the Globe

After four consecutive celebrations in Germany, the Meinl Drum Festival goes international. The Palace of Youth in Moscow, Russia is the scene for Russian and European drummers to showcase their various styles, the first week of June 2009.

On to Bali for the Fes Festival, featuring Gamelan, an orchestra of percussion that features hand drums and cymbals as well as gongs and xylophones. The festival features dance and music along with theatrical presentation to celebrate Hindu folklore.

The end of June through the beginning of July the New Orleans Dance Festival will celebrate with music that features the drum.

"African and Caribbean Dance and Drumming in New Orleans, the Caribbean Gateway to America"

This is the theme of the dance and music program produced by Tulane University Department of Theater and Dance with the Newcomb College Dance Program. History, drumming, dance and singing - all in an interactive learning experience.

The Night of a Thousand Drums

The New Orleans Dance Festival is over and you have one day to beat your feet north to Auburn, New York. In the Finger Lakes region, the New York Institute of Dance and Education Auditorium hosts The New York Drum Festival. They are giving workshops and Master classes for drummers, beginning to advanced, in the morning and then it is the "Night of 1,000 Drums". This massive event features drummers, dancers and Frank Jones' Instruments of Praise.

Hot Time

Early August is a very hot season in the Caribbean and the perfect time for Carnival in Grenada. The festival of Spice Mas, the intoxicating music and hypnotic dancers draw your feet to the islands with their captivating spell.

Cool Music

Late October is the time to hot-foot-it to Canada for the Montreal Drum Fest with their line up of some of the hottest drummers on the planet. The Fall is the time of golden leaves on trees and also the annual Golden Drum Festival in Portoroz, Slovenia.

Little Drummer Boy

The Zambombas Christmas Drum Festival in Jerez, Spain runs from the 8th of December to the 31st. For almost an entire month the drum is once again pivotal in the observance of the sacred in its ubiquitous way.

To mention a few is to leave out many. This is just a sampling to whet your appetite, a reminder that, if travel is your meat, it's time to beat your feet, around the globe. You can find annual and impromptu drum festivals anytime of year. Feel the Rhythm.

Reference:
www.houstonartist.org
www.nyide.com
www.caribbeanlogue.com
www.topics-mag.com
www.yeinjee.com
www.beachstreetusa.com
www.zionfluteanddrumfestival.com
www.goldendrum.com
www.pentagrammi.wordpress.com