drumSTRONG™ is a unique, multicultural charity event held in the pastures of Misty Meadows Farm to encourage people of all ages to focus attention on cancer awareness, education, support and funding for research.

The Guinness World Records organization has been informed that we will participate in the planet's longest, continuous rhythm "drum•a•thon" ever held. drumSTRONG™ will raise funds to be distributed among local and national cancer initiatives.

Welcome to the slideshow!

When and Where

May 3 & 4, 2008 in Weddington, NC, (just outside of Charlotte), 4 miles south of Hwy 485 on Providence Rd. at the corner of Ennis Rd and Providence Rd. S. 455 Providence Rd. S. Weddington, NC 28173. Please carpool. Drumming begins at 1:00 pm Saturday afternoon, May 3 and continues into the late afternoon on Sunday, May 4. rain or SHINE. Campers are recommended to come early. Come early, stay late! Driving directions are posted on the F.A.Q.'s page.

Registration

Registration is $25.00 for individuals 10 and over, and $50.00 for families with children under 10. Registration is good for both days of the event (all 24+ hours), May 3rd and May 4th, 2008. Please remember that the registration fee is a donation to our worthy causes.

We also have a variety of corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Guest Artists & Schedule

SATURDAY May 3

1:30 Special Guest Speakers

2:00 Kick Off :: Charlotte Community Drummers

2:30 Frank Bloom :: Thunderdrums

3:45 DEP :: DeadEndParking

4:30 Beledi Beat Belly Dancers w/PotBelly Dance Troop

5:00 Spirit Driven

6:00 Skinny Legs & All

8:00 The Stragglers :: Woody Mitchell, Tom Kuhn, Ivan Strunin, John Wicker, Rob Thorne (Spongetones) and special guest Jack Lawrence

9:00 PowerHouse Dave Yelverton, Andre Farrere

11:00 Soulganic

12:00 Foxes That Fight

12:30 All Night Reggae Jam :: Philip Sprinkle, Scott Swimmer, Iword, Dave Yelverton, Jim Brock, Mike Buzbin, John Shigoda & friends

SUNDAY May 4

10:00  Rhythm Cats

10:30 The Lamping Shades :: Mason Swimmer, Conor Delaney, Chris Tuorto, Paul Gramigina, Timmons Mervin  

12:00 Sponsors BRUNCH – MayPole Dance

12:30 Native American Drum/Dance/Sing :: Catawba/Navajo

1:00 capoeira group Academia Aprende

2:00 Trans Phat :: Simon George, Frank Elliot, Walker Barnes Simon

2:45 Jim Brock, Rick Blackwell, Tim Murray & Friends

4:00 DrumCircle finalé

then ::

? Arlo Guthie

? SImplified

Smithfield :: the Painting/Drumming (2x cancer-surviving!) Pig ::

Arthur Hull and a multitude of world class Drum Circle Facilitators ::

Drum Circle Facilitators

We have world class, professional drum circle facilitators present to play with us and direct our rhythmical interchange.

Arthur Hull www.drumcircle.com, the venerated 'godfather of drum circle facilitators' will be directing traffic all weekend. Some of the most fun, energetic (crazy) facilitators on the planet are coming to play with us :: Greg Whitt www.oakcitydrums.com, Simon McCarty www.worldofrhythm.com, Ken Crampton www.everybodydrum.com, Amy Jackson www.conundrums.org, Tom Harris tomharris57@comcast.net, Colleen Caffrey colleencaffrey@gmail.com, Matt Zavadil villageevents.net, John Scalici www.GetRhythmPrograms.com and Roger Johansen rjohansen@sc.rr.com.

There will be on site, in motion hand drum rhythm instruction throughout the weekend.

Vendors

Lots of really nice drums and cool percussion toys for sale.

Beautiful books and music as well.

Please contact Scott Swimmer at scott@drumstrong.org or call 704.375.7177 if your company is interested in being a vendor at our event.

Health Fair

Specific cancer societies, medical, cancer support organizations and integrative health missions and methods will be represented on the grounds.

The music will bring many people to an event where questions about health (particularly cancer) can be addressed. People can receive guidance from the exhibitors and familiarize themselves with some of the resources available nationally and regionally that help address cancer concerns.

Please contact Scott Swimmer at scott@drumstrong.org or call 704.375.7177 if your company is interested in being an exhibitor at our event.

View This Year's Exhibitors

The Event Grounds

Misty Meadows Farm is a privately owned horse farm whose owners have generously donated their pastures for our event. Please respect the property and remain within the distinctly marked boundaries. These are very nice people. The horses are nice. Be nice people and only do nice things. Do not approach, touch, spook or feed the horses. They will like you just the same. And PLEASE keep it clean! Place all trash in receptacles And RECYCLE!!!

The Rules

Please respect each other and this property.

No smoking on the property. We like to breathe clean air. AND, This is a horse farm. If you didn’t know, horses will eat your (cigarette) butts and do major damage to their systems.

There is a designated smoking area just outside the main entrance.

No Alcohol or illegal substances. This is a family event; drugs and alcohol encourage you to do inappropriate things. We need you conscious and conscientious at all times :: 26 hours of drumming, baby!

No swimming in the ponds – they contain snapping turtles – ‘Nuff said

Do not cross the yellow-taped property lines – or you will be fed to the dragon.

No open, unsanctioned fires or fireworks – these are serious fire hazards! (cook stoves are OK). There will be a controlled bon fire burning throughout the entire event.

No Pets – We love furry friends, but this a farm with many other furry friends – so please leave yours at home.

No glass containers – Again, this is a horse farm and broken glass will injure the horses.

No weapons – Duh!

Traffic / Parking

Please carpool whenever possible. Just follow signs (and be nice to the parking/traffic control folks). Driving directions are posted on the F.A.Q.'s page.

Concessions

There will be vendors providing great “hydration” and “fuel” on site available for purchase (very reasonably priced).

Camping

There are beautiful rolling pastures designated for camping. If you plan to stay the duration of the event, bring a tent and/or sleeping bag. There are no shelters or running water. You are encouraged to bring any special food and drink items but camp fires will NOT be permitted due to the fire hazards. Lots of Port-o-Jon facilities available. And there is handicap accessability. Sun and rain protection recommended. This is a rain or SHINE event.

Registration and Fundraising Information

Registrants receive the following packet. If you need to download another copy of the registration letter and sponsor sheets, please click below.

registration letter & sponsor sheet (pdf)

Here’s a sample letter that you can send to all of your family, playmates, workmates, employees, and all of the good-hearted folk you can think of.

sample fundraising letter (word document)
sample fundraising letter (plain text)

T-Shirt

When you pre-register you will receive your email confirmation that entitles you to admission to the event and access to all facilities. Recruit 10 drummers or 5 sponsors, and receive FREE t-shirt.

Children’s Health

DrumsForCures is developing programs to help assimilate children with compromised health and varied abilities into the social environments. We also bring rhythm into children's hospitals. If anyone is interested in participating in this ongoing service activity, please contact Scott at scott@drumstrong.com

Performers

If you’re a performing artist and want center stage time, please contact Scott at scott@drumstrong.com.  See the Guest Artists & Schedule for Stage activity.

Accommodations & Local Restaurants

Also, if you’re a guest artist from out of town or just need a nice place to stay; contact carola@drumstrong.com for assistance with finding accommodations and local eateries, etc.

Instruments

If you don’t have a drum we will rent or sell small djembes, tambourines, claves, shakers and other fun percussion instruments for a small donation. There will also be fine craftspeople on site in our artisan fair area with quality instruments for sale.

Serious drummers :: watch the weather; you might want to bring synthetic skins in case of inclement weather/drumming conditions.

Children's Activities

Face painting, shaker-maker station, Smithfield the Potbellied Painting & Drumming Pig, and other children’s activities will be on site.

Media

The Great Powers will be listening – (including the Guinness World Record folk). TV and radio personalities and newspaper and magazine reporters will be present during the course of the event. The entire event will be web-cast, film and photo documented.