GearFest used to draw thousands to the Sweetwater Sound campus but has been moved online since the pandemic.

“The last one was in 2019, and we all know why that ended,” said Thad Tegtmeyer, senior vice president of campus operations and artist relations at Sweetwater.

In an attempt to draw folks back to campus, Sweetwater is now focusing on the “gear” aspect and will host DrumFest on Saturday, May 11.

“We felt there was an opportunity to do an event and concentrating on just one product category at a time,” Tegtmeyer said. “This is our first attempt at that. We did go out to a national audience of our customers who are designated as drummers. We think we’ll have over 2,000 people here for a one-day event. 

“We just wanted to get back to doing large-format, in-person customer events on campus. We know our customers enjoy visiting our campus. We know they like to come to the events that we do. We do all sorts of artist events throughout the year. We’re ramping all of that back up again.”

While the event is free, you are encouraged to go to sweetwater.com/drumfest to register.

“Everyone gets a badge, so when you show up, you’ll check in,” Tegtmeyer said. “Registration will just make it go that much faster.”

Do not leave empty-handed

In September, Sweetwater attracted crowds back to campus with their Tent Sale. Following DrumFest, Tegtmeyer said the campus is planning to play host to Guitar­Fest in August.

Tegtmeyer sees DrumFest as a win-win for all involved since top drum vendors will be on campus. Customers get a chance to interact, and Sweetwater gets to sell some merchandise.

“It’s a unique opportunity for our customers to actually engage with our vendor partners: kind of getting word on the industry and the product categories straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak,” he said. “I think that’s a unique opportunity for our customers, as they don’t usually get to do that.”

There will also be giveaways, with a Noble & Cooley 5.5-inch-by-14-inch Ulysses Owens Jr Snare Drum, an Offset Eclipse Double Bass Drum Pedal, and a Yamaha EAD10 Module with Mic and Trigger Pickup up for grabs.

You might need to get lucky to win some prizes, but everyone will be taking at least one thing home for free.

“We’re actually giving a 14-inch drumhead to everyone,” Tegtmeyer said. “They can go around to all the booths where vendors are present, and they can get autographs from the artists, who will be in the booths — I’m sure they’ll be doing some playing on some of the kits.”

Meet acclaimed drummers

As you’re getting the down-low on what the likes of Zildjian, Alesis, Roland, Evans Drumhead, Gretsch, Pearl, and others are up to, you’ll also get to meet drummers Daru Jones (Jack White, Nas, Pete Rock), Eric Moore (Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves), Queen Cora (Prince, Pink, Beyoncé), Stanton Moore (Galactic), Ray Luzier (Korn), Brian Frasier-Moore (Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Janet Jackson), Art Cruz (Lamb of God, Winds of Plague, Prong), Hannah Walton (Prince, 3rdEyeGirl), Kaz Rodriquez (Josh Groban, Chaka Khan), and the world’s fastest drummer, Mike Mangini, who will be conducting a masterclass the following day.

On top of getting their autographs, you may see them wandering about and even joining in on some drum circles.

“I think you’re going to see some instances where artists are collaborating a little bit, impromptu, which will be cool for our customers to see,” Tegtmeyer said. “Just stuff you don’t see anywhere else.”

Among those things you won’t see anywhere else are kit displays from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, the late Elvin Jones of John Coltrane Quartet, The Roots’ QuestLove, and hall of famer Dennis Chambers of Parliament Funkadelic.

All are welcomed

On top of all the interaction, a free event-branded drumhead won’t be the only thing you’ll leave campus with.

“We know a big component of GearFest was the sales,” Tegtmeyer said. “All of that other stuff is fantastic, but the customers are definitely here to buy stuff, too. We have created some real special deals for DrumFest. We have several of our vendors who are participating in special offers. We’re kind of using the opportunity to clear some stuff out of the warehouse and make some people some awesome deals on some great gear at the same time.”

The fun and deals are not limited to those you can keep a beat.

“You don’t even have to be a drummer,” Tegtmeyer said of attending DrumFest. “Even if you’re a fan of drumming, that’s fine. 

“If you’re interested, we’d love to have you. The more the merrier.”

And if drums are not your instrument of choice, there’s always GuitarFest in August.