Woodstick back to set record, raise money for charity

It has been declared an international battle of the bands as hundreds of Northwest drummers join together on Sunday, Nov. 1, for the 7th annual Woodstick Big Beat Drum Event. Northwest drummers will join drummers in 11 cities across the U.S., for the largest gathering of drummers ever assembled.

Drumsticks in hand, hundreds will gather at the Juanita Field House in Kirkland to make sweet (and extremely loud) music.

Those participating in this year's Woodstick Big Beat Drum Event are hoping to set two new world records, one for the most drummers playing simultaneously in one location and another for the most drummers playing simultaneously under one director via internet connection.

Drummers out of Birmingham, England hold the current world record for most drummers playing simultaneously in one location. Last year, 588 drummers gathered in Birmingham, beating the record of 533 drummers set in Seattle in 2006.

"England beat us last year, but we are determined to take our title back," said Donn Bennett, the founder of the Woodstick Big Beat Drum Event and owner of Bellevue-based Donn Bennett Drum Studio. To qualify for the world record, Bennett will submit a sign-in sheet documenting the names of all the drummers and video feed from the event.

The Woodstick Big Beat Drum Event began seven years ago when Bennett and a friend came up an idea for an event that would bring local drummers together. The word spread and each year the event grew in size, stretching to other states and eventually spurring a competition overseas.

The drum event has caused such a stir in the music community that several famous musicians will be participating in this year's Big Beat including Jason McGerr of Death Cab For Cutie, Ray Luzier of Korn, Jeff Kathan of Paul Rogers, and Chris Slade of AC/DC. The celebrity drummers will play in various event venues across the country.

Drummers of all ages are welcome to participate in the Big Beat. The Juanita Field House in Kirkland can hold up to 600 drummers. Registration for the event is encouraged and those participating are asked to bring their own drum sets on the day of the event.

"This event is all about having fun and bringing together hundreds of people who share the same passion," Bennett explained. "You've never seen - or heard - anything like this before."

This year's event will also raise support in funding for two community charities. Participants are asked to raise pledges for Camp Korey, a camp for children with serious and life threatening diseases, and for Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, an organization which supplies musical instruments to local under-served schools.

"This is similar to a walk-a-thon, only there's no walking involved. Just a lot of drummers having a good time for a good cause," Bennett said. To date, the Woodstick Big Beat Drum Event has raised more than $75,000 for local charity.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.

The Woodstick Big Beat Drum Event at Juanita Field House, Juanita High School, 10601 NE 132nd, Kirkland, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2-4 p.m., Doors open at 10 a.m. Basic registration is $12. For more information, call 425-747-6145, or visit www.BennettDrums.com.

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