On June 8th and 9th D’Addario UK hosted two back-to-back events in London as part of the ongoing D’Addario LIVE initiatives this year: an event at Bell Percussion, a retailer and hire company with teaching, rehearsal and performance spaces, followed by a student-only event at BIMM London, one of the six independent colleges part of BIMM Institute with over 5,600 students that specialises in the provision of British and Irish Modern Music education in Brighton, Bristol, Dublin, Manchester, Berlin and London.
At Bell Percussion, Periphery, one of the current hottest bands among aspiring musicians, provided a concert and masterclass where students enjoyed a band performance followed by a Q&A session offering an opportunity for the band to share stories, advice, and answer questions.
This was followed by breakout sessions, which allowed for smaller, focused groups to interact with band members who were able to talk and demonstrate in depth how they found their sound, and how D’Addario’s products are a part of that achievement. After an hour of playing and chatting, the band had a short break and mingled with the crowds.
The drum masterclass was held in the main venue, and Periphery drummer Matt Halpern discussed problem solving, products and gear, his personal set up, and practice tips. Ben Alldred, D’Addario’s UK Percussion Specialist, was also on hand to discuss the newest D’Addario Percussion products to interested drummers, including the newly launched Red Hydraulic and Calftone heads, as well as Promark’s new ActiveGrip drumsticks.
The guitar masterclass featured all three Periphery players – Misha Mansoor, Jake Bowen, and Mark
Holcomb – answering questions about their influences, their relationship with D’Addario, and why they play NYXL strings. In the bass and production masterclass, Adam Nolly Getgood spoke of the importance of developing a trust with other band members.
After the breakout sessions the D’Addario UK team, was on hand to answer questions regarding product information, custom setups and share feedback on their experience with the brand. Once the show was over, each attendee left with a goodie bag of D’Addario swag, with products ranging from NYXL strings to Promark sticks.
D’Addario LIVE events continue throughout the year, with upcoming shows scheduled for the following cities in 2016: LA, Boston, Chicago, New York, Shanghi and San Francisco
Info: www.daddario.com