Different Drummers Joyful Hearts Club Band

As I mentioned in our history, it is unusual for an open, freestyle community drum circle to be asked to perform publicly. Yet, my Massachusetts drum circle was often invited to perform and now my Yarmouth, Maine circle receives invitations.

At gigs we used to play drum piece after drum piece the way we would at a weekly drum circle. Today, because we have so much diverse talent within the group, we provide structure and interest to the improvised pieces by backing 'featured performers.' Those featured performers within our drum circle include my wife, Judy, who plays flute; Briana Crusin our vocalist, Martin Steingesser our poet/storyteller, and Rudy Gabrielson on blues harmonica. In 2008, we incorporated Margaret Williams who sings Scottish Gaelic songs and Rob Lindsay on didgeridoo. As long as creative talent keeps walking through our doors the possibilities are endless.

I used to have to ask for volunteers when we were invited to play a 'gig'. Often, I turned down invitations because of a lack of volunteers. Then, in late 2005, I began running into the problem of having TOO MANY volunteer drummers and having to turn some down. Today we have a core group of drummers who play the performances.

In July, 2006, Different Drummers received a last minute request from the Yarmouth Clam Festival to fill a few time slots. For those of you who aren't familiar, the population of Yarmouth, ME goes from 8,000 to 120,000 during the Clam Festival. On Saturday we took to the main stage and 'rocked the tent!' At first, people had come in out of the rain, but, after the sun came out the audience kept pouring in! All the seats were filled and loads of people were standing! I still get approached from time to time from folks who remember that performance. In July, 2007 we were invited to take the stage as scheduled performers. We were ALSO asked to participate in the Clam Festival Parade... On a float! It was one of the most fun things I did all year.

In October, 2006 we performed for Women In God's annual conference. It was one of my favorite performances at the time. It was the first time we tried the popular 'featured performer' format where we backup featured performers rather than play one drum piece after another. It is the format we use to this day.

In February, 2007 we were featured in "Drumming and Rumi: A Celebration of Love" which took place in Portland, Maine. Here we played to a capacity audience with readings from the poet Rumi's love poetry between our drum pieces. In September, 2007 we were asked to perform at the Common Ground Fair. They put us in the biggest tent available. So many people gathered to hear us play that there were 30 to 40 people listening at each entrance because there was no more room inside the tent! They asked us to play the Main Stage in 2008.

During the winter of 2007 we provided the music for an incredible show that featured the Poet Laureates of Maine and of Portland, Maine. We continue to be asked to provide music for church services of various faiths. I'm always proud to point out that we receive invitations from the Catholics, the Pagans and everyone in between! (A testimony to the power of drumming as a bridge-builder.)

2008 has really been our year. A CATV station in Augusta did a one hour TV special on a small group of us who played in Winslow, ME. We played countless church services and benefits. During the summer of 2008 we were scheduled to play 16 gigs! This amazes me because we have no booking agent. I do not contact venues and market us. Every gig, paid or otherwise, happens because someone asks us to play.

In 2008 we were given a bigger stage at the Yarmouth Clam Festival. One of my favorite gigs was a concert we did for Ferry Beach, a Unitarian retreat in Saco, ME. We played at the Bayside World Market and Fair in Portland, played again for the American Heart Association's "HeartWalk" and, for the fifth year in a row, a group of us performed at Portland's Pagan Pride Day Festival... this time joined by some incredible dancers. In September, 2008 we went from playing a big tent (2007)at the Common Ground Fair to playing on the stage in the main amphitheater. By that time we already had bookings for 2009!

Below are some video clips to give you a taste of our eclectic 'band' improvising on stage...