Beats & Brews is a free, beginner-friendly drumming event coming to Newtown on 31 May, with hands-on kits, interactive lessons and prizes on offer.
If you’ve always wanted to learn the drums but never really got around to it, Roland Australia and Young Henrys are giving you a pretty good excuse. Beats & Brews lands at Young Henrys Brewery in Newtown on Sunday 31 May, running from 12pm to 6pm with free entry, and a free beer on arrival if you register ahead of time.
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The event is built for absolute beginners, curious kids and anyone who has wanted to give drums a shot. Instructor Simon Ayton, who’s been playing since he finally convinced his parents to get him a kit at age 11, will have you playing along to classic rock beats on a Roland electronic kit within 10 minutes. No experience needed and no pressure.
Melodics are bringing an interactive, Guitar Hero-inspired lesson element to the mix, including the Blast Beat Challenge. Throw any technique out the window and go for pure speed. For those who’d rather take it all in first, there’s also a replica of Josh Freese’s kit on display – the iconic drummer known for his work with Foo Fighters, Devo, A Perfect Circle, Guns N’ Roses and The Offspring – which you can get up close with and grab a photo.
Prizes are in the mix too, including personalised drumsticks with your initials on them, Roland merch and Young Henrys gear and beer giveaways.
Roland’s fingerprints are all over modern music history, from the 808 drum machine that shaped hip hop and the 909 that powered house and techno to the BOSS DS-1 that ran through Kurt Cobain’s rig at Nirvana’s peak. Young Henrys, meanwhile, have been a Newtown institution for years, community-focused and proudly independent.
As Roland’s David Whitehead put it: “With Roland V-Drums, playing drums is easier than ever and a fantastic way to destress, get some exercise and enjoy playing along to your favourite songs. We’ll get you playing a rock beat in just 10 minutes.”
Beats & Brews is free to attend. Register ahead for a complimentary beer on arrival. Head here for tickets, details here.
