Manchester’s The UK Drum Show 2018 (29th & 30th September) promises to be even more of an attraction than the inaugural event, with an impressive list of celebrity drummers just announced including: Jojo Mayer, Benny Greb, Mike Johnston and Richard Spaven. Organiser Gold Media and Events says that this is just the starting point and more names will be added over coming months.
Exhibitors already confirmed include: Meinl, Evans, Promark, Ludwig, Alesis, Remo, British Drum Co, Sonor, and homegrown brands Highwood, Guru and Jobeky to mention a few. Plus a warm welcome newcomers to TKUDS2018 to the Sound Proofing Expert, DeBroize Custom Drums, Soundhoops and Mercury Hearing.
Show organiser Neil Golding says: ‘As organiser, you are charged with so many responsibilities, but for me, visitor experience has to be the top priority, followed closely by exhibitors. For 2017, we had an excellent first turnout with 2,399 visitors heading to Manchester. Importantly, 40% of our visitors, said it was the first time they had ever been to a drum show. What’s more, only 13% of our visitors had ever attended the London Drum Show (official survey results gained post TUKDS 2017 and LDS 2017 from GME), which shows we have a completely new audience at Manchester – not just the same old faces. The challenges not only for us as show organisers, but for our exhibitors too, is to constantly seek new audiences to engage with or risk stagnation or fewer sales. If companies want to meet new potential customers, Manchester is where to do it.
‘With tickets sales for 2018 already 100% up on the same time last year and new and further partnerships to be announced, GME would like to thank existing and ongoing media partner Mike Dolbear for all his support with the launch, along with newcomers Drummerszone from the Netherlands and Drummerworld from Switzerland, all of whom now share the wider message of The UK Drum Show. TUKDS 2018 hopes to continue to attract international guests; whilst the UK is facing an uncertain Brexit, The UK Drum Show has its doors wide open to its neighbouring European visitors who benefit from the weak pound and with guests purchasing tickets in the last month from LA, NYC, Georgia and Illinois, the community of drummers willing to travel from even further abroad seems very apparent, too!
To exhibit at The UK Drum Show 2018 (September 29&30) Manchester Central contact organiser@theukdrumshow.com or call +44(0) 1271 861 571.