The Drum Festival

The Drum (and dance) Festival is a weekend festival of rhythm and dance, entertainment and education based on the Banks Peninsula.

Being the only dedicated festival of the drum in New Zealand, it is a catalyst for the gathering of drum performers from throughout the South Island and beyond. Workshops on African. We are planning a programme that involves over 50 performers/tutors with you as a participant. It's a family-orientated event.

The festival is held in the relaxed space of Manaia Native Habitat, beside the safe Okuti River, where participants can also stay (Little River Campground in Okuti Valley, Banks Peninsula).

This year's festival has a special guest from Australia, Milan Sylla, who will lead two drum and dance workshops. This is not to be missed. Also on the lineup are Takumi, Canterbury's very own Japanese Taiko group, the Nelson Sambassadors, Jeremy Cloake, Balinese Gamelan, Hila Koray, Dekaworwor and JoAD and of course Doug Brush. This is one stellar lineup.

BYO food + drinks as there may be no onsite catering. We hope to have food stalls, with drinks available.

Door sales are cash only.

Be sun smart - bring sunblock, bottled water and togs for a dip in the river.
Campsites for small tents are available. Vans and larger tents by request.

We are a zero-waste event, so what you bring in you take out.
If you'd like to volunteer for a free ticket, email littlerivercamp@gmail.com. See you soon.

This lineup is subject to change (but we'd hope not to)

Little River 2022 Drum Festival Line-Up

FRIDAY

7:30pm - Performance Hila Koray - a combination of African and Brazilian music with electronic sounds and looping

8:45pm Ngoni Workshop Jeremy Cloake

SATURDAY 19 November

9:30am - Djembe workshop Miro Klima

11:00am - Carlos Riegel- Spanish guitar, didgeridoo, percussion performance

12:00noon - Soul Star Tribe - Gypsy Caravan Style Dance performance and workshop

1:00pm - Persian percussion and dance group from the Simurgh Music School

2:00pm - Dekaworwor and JoAD - African drum and dance performance

3:00-5:00pm - Malin Sylla - African drum and dance workshop

5:15-6:00pm Polynesian Dance with Magaui

7:30pm- Jam Session lead by Carlos Riegel

8:30pm- Performance - Otuthahi 20, a 14-piece band paying tribute to the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti

10:00pm Silent Disco TBC

SUNDAY 20 November

9:45am - Tasmanian Leather String Drum performance - Dan Callaghan and Doug Brush

10:15am - Doug Brush and friends - Afro-Cuban folkloric drumming

11:00am - Christchurch School of Music Samba Band plus Nelson Sambassadors

12-2pm - Malin Sylla - African drumming and dance workshop

2:15pm - Balinese Gamelan Performance

3:00pm - Takumi - Spectacular grand finale with the incredible power of Japanese Taiko drumming

4pm - Finish. Pack up, please take your rubbish with you and drive safely. Thanks for attending.