Bang A Drum, Win Some Gear

Tom Mungovan is a graphic designer, business owner, poet, educator and drummer – as eclectic as all that is, it's the drummer in him that's focused on promoting a unique event, coming soon to a night spot near you.

is, as far as he knows, the first event of its kind in this area. It's happening April 21 at Murphy's Taproom in Manchester.

Mungovan, of Nashua, said this is just the beginning. He's working hard to get the word out to fellow music lovers and, especially, dedicated drummers, to come out and enjoy this inaugural event.

Beyond the prizes and $3,000 in drum-centric loot that's up for grabs in the planned raffle, Mungovan wants to build something unique, including a sense of community.

Drum roll, please...

1. So, Tom – tell us a little about yourself and how Drum Fun came to be:

I have been playing drums myself for 29 years. I love drums and everything
related to them. I can literally sit for hours just listening and watching
drum solos on YouTube. When I listen to music, I separate the drums from
the other instruments in my mind. My legs and hands are constantly going
as I tap all day long doing variations of fundamental beats. Drums are
always on my mind.

About six years ago, I started thinking about doing something drum-related as a fun side project to my other business. I have been running my own graphic design and illustration business for 19 years. I also have two books published, "The Screenplay Workbook" and "Heavy Metal Speaks!", I've also written 29 books of poetry, which will be sold by the end of the year on amazon.com as e-books. I was aware of drum festivals in Montreal and in Europe, but none around here. I started to think of what I could do that was different from what was currently available for drummers. In my research, I realized that NH has never had such an event.

In 2009, I registered NH Drum Festival as a Non-Profit, got my board of
directors together and started to make plans for an event. Drum Fun is the
amateur section of the bigger whole concerning the NH Drum Festival. For
me, a smaller section of the festival was easier to plan and organize then
the full 3-day event, which involved professional celebrity drummers,
sponsor trade show and drummer-taught workshops.

2. Why a drumming event?

New Hampshire Has never had a celebration and public offering of drummers to highlight their talents. Drummers like to stick together. This is a fantastic way to do that.

3. What can people expect?

People attending Drum Fun on April 21 from 6-9:30 p.m. at Murphy's Taproom in Manchester can expect 16 drummers, aged 9 years old to 53 doing 5-8
minute drum solos on their own kits. Genres will be from metal to fusion
to jazz to rock. The top three placers will be awarded prizes from three
professional drum judges. The drums will be mic'd and run through a PA
system. Drum Fun will be professionally videotaped and photographed. The
raffle section is loaded with donations from top-name drum manufacturers
such as Zildjian, TAMA, Paiste, Vater and Best Buy, along with local music
shops such as HEI Music, Drum Center of Portsmouth and Manchester Music
Mill. The raffle prizes are worth more than $3,000 in value. There will be four
tiers/chance to win. Tickets will be $5 each.

4. Are there more drum-centric events in the works?

As Drum Fun is only a section of the bigger NH Drum Festival concept, other events focusing on the amateur section are in the works. Another drum event later this year will have many more drummers playing on the same kit, raffling off that kit at the end of the night. High sponsorship levels are expected for this event. It's too soon to say anything, but it's already generating some industry buzz.

5. Are there other informal drum circles going on that you know of? I have no idea.