Ludwig Announce Experience Room Masterclass Sessions at The UK Drum Show 2023

Drummer’s Review

Ludwig Drums have announced their session timings and special guests for The UK Drum Show 2023.

Ludwig, who are just one of a hundred or so brands to exhibit at what is being hailed as Europe’s largest consumer drum show, have expanded their exhibition booth for 2023, along with increasing visitor engagement with hosting their own Experience Room this September at the ACC Liverpool.

Guests visiting the show will be able to check out Ludwig artists Art Cruz, Graham Hopkins, along with Afrobeat and Ezra Collective Femi Koleoso.

Hailing from California, U.S. Art Cruz plays drums with metal heavyweights Lamb of God. Originally a fan of the band before rising to prominence as one of the genre’s top touring musicians, Art officially joined Lamb of God in 2019, following a stint of filling in during the band’s 2018 run of live shows with a whirlwind introduction.

Cruz commands his position with passion, sweat and expansive dynamics, supporting the band’s most recent release ‘Omens’, his second album with Lamb of God following their self -titled album in 2020.

Amongst a vast catalogue of sessions work, Art has also played with the likes of Winds of Plague, Prong and Klogr.

Femi Koleoso: Femi Koleoso is chief beatmaker in Afrobeat and hip-hop infused jazz five-piece Ezra Collective. He was a close friend and mentee of Afrobeat drumming hero Tony Allen – travelling to Paris during his formative years for one-on-one lessons and hangs with Uncle Tony.

The award-winning quintet Ezra Collective first emerged out of the Tomorrow’s Warriors initiative in 2012, quickly gaining traction for their tireless experimentation and live performance wizardry, having now toured the world playing sold out shows from New York to Paris via their hometown of London.

Femi also drums for Gorillaz and Damon Albarn, and previously Jorja Smith. Having personally benefitted and prospered thanks to the “each one teach one” inclusive approach to music, Femi strives to continue this ethos in his own work, hosting free inclusive masterclasses, otherwise known as “Good Vibes Day”s in his downtime from touring.

Graham Hopkins: Known as one of the most influential Irish drummers of his generation, Graham Hopkins was raised to the sounds of Dixieland jazz and has been playing drums since his early childhood…. His father being a professional jazz drummer.

Graham plays alongside artists such as Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Swell Season & The Frames. Other artists that Graham has toured and recorded with include Snow Patrol, Therapy?, Rosanne Cash, Dolores O’Riordan, Tom Jones and many more.

Timetable:

30.09.2023
Hall 10

11:00 – 11:45
Graham Hopkins

12:00 – 13:00
Art Cruz

13:30 – 14:15
Graham Hopkins

14:30 – 15:30
Art Cruz

15:45 – 16:30
Graham Hopkins

01.10.2023
Hall 10

11:30 – 12:15
Femi Koleoso

12:30 – 13:15
Graham Hopkins

13:30 – 14:15
Femi Koleoso

14:30 – 15:15
Femi Koleoso