Drumming News :
Rhythm took over Music City (aka Nashville, TN) once again as the 5th Annual Music City Drum Show shook the walls of the Nashville Fairgrounds on July 19–20, 2025. From world-class clinics to mouth-watering gear, this year’s event was bigger and better than ever, blending passion, innovation and community into one unforgettable and almost overwhelming weekend.
A Paradise for Drummers
Spanning 46,000 square feet and packed with over 165 exhibitors, new releases and advances were everywhere with booths offering everything from high-end snares to cutting-edge electronics as well as a multitude of cymbals, hardware, accessories and hand percussion. Big names like Roland, Yamaha, Zildjian, Pearl, Paiste, Mapex, Gretsch, Sabian, Gibraltar, Rogers and DW shared the floor with specialty manufacturers like SJC, TRX, Varus, Turkish, British Drum Company and a host of independent/custom drum builders and cymbalsmiths.
In fact, one of the main attractions of the Music City Drum Show is that it showcases the majors right alongside the upstarts. This is also true of the drummers who attended and participated in the show.
In addition to a full-complement of world-renowned clinicians, including Jay Weinberg, Dylan Wissing, Bobby Torello, Leyan Senay, Gregg Potter and Jake Sommers, legendary drummers like Max Weinberg (Bruce Springsteen), Jake Garland (Memphis May Fire) Devin Attard (Word Alive), J Rod Sullivan (Janet Jackson) Q Robinson (Hamilton tour) Cami Akhamie (independent), Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr), Anton Fig (David Lettermen), David Garibaldi (Tower Of Power), Molly Rose (independent) and others were spotted hanging-out in the aisles and signing autographs at their sponsors’ booths.
More Than Just A Two-Day Trade Show
But what truly makes the Music City Drum Show so special is the community. People of all ages, genders and ethnicities come from all over the world. Attendees repeatedly praised the supportive atmosphere and opportunity to network with like-minded percussion enthusiasts.
It should also be noted that the industry’s investment as well as the show’s impact on the region continues to grow. A dozen top international drum artists sat in at Yamaha’s “Drum Night” at a local club on Saturday night while Pearl and DW presented show-adjacent clinics with Ray Luzier and Rich Redmond at local drum dealers. As an acknowledgement of this growth and their willingness to support it, the show’s organizer, Landon Hall, has announced that a major expansion of the expo is planned for 2026.
Counting Down to Next Year
Whether you were a seasoned professional or a beginner just picking up your first pair of sticks, the 2025 Music City Drum Show was more than an event—it was an experience. It reminded us why we play, why we listen, why we share and why the drumming world is like no other.
As the last cymbal crash and bass drum boom echoed through the expo hall, one thing was clear: we’re already counting down the days until next year.
See you back in Music City July 18-19, 2026. Bring your dreams… and your sticks.
photos: Music City Drum Show and Jackson Gorbutt
