Friday, January 15, 2010
	CANADA'S DRUM! HEADS TO VANCOUVER DRUM!, the extraordinary musical bond of rhythm, music, spirit and passion of our nation's cultural roots, has been chosen to perform in Vancouver while the eyes of the world will be on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February. Beginning February 15, the dynamic production will be seen throughout Vancouver and its surrounding communities with six performances in five venues before a global audience. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime for DRUM! Our show is the perfect fit for this exciting time as Canada hosts its second Olympic Winter Games," says Halifax-based producer Brookes Diamond. "We are thrilled we will be in Vancouver during the Games and showcasing Nova Scotia's founding cultures, which in fact are Canada's founding cultures, and an integral part of Canada's history. Like the Winter Games, Canada's DRUM! is a true celebration of our nation." Diamond and the cast are particularly enthusiastic about a new segment of the show called Drums of the World. For the shows in Vancouver, an expanded Drums of the World will include the diverse British Columbia-based cultural influences - Japanese, Chinese, East Indian - and a selection of musicians representing the four host First Nations - Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Wauthth. For the first time in history, the indigenous peoples have been recognized as an official partner in the hosting of the Olympics and the Paralympics. "We have invited drummers from other cultures represented from Coast to Coast to Coast to come and share the stage with us in our latest addition called Drums of the World," says co-producer Fiona Diamond. "They add a special resonance to the show and it shows how diverse cultures can all share the same stage. It's really something to see." A search is on for Inuit throat-singers to be included in Drums of the World. Canada's DRUM! was created seven years ago by Brookes Diamond Productions and has garnered rave reviews at festivals and venues throughout North America, including Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the last two years, last summer's opening ceremonies of the World Canoe Championships in Dartmouth, N.S. and the Milwaukee Irish Festival. When the idea was first conceived, the creative team wanted to tell the story of the arrival and settlement, struggle and ultimate coming together of four of Nova Scotia's founding cultures - Aboriginal, Black, Celtic and Acadian. The cast of 18 drummers, dancers, and singers demonstrates each culture's unique and distinct rhythm, by featuring each one and finally bringing them together into an electrifying rhythmic fusion of dance, music and song. While in Vancouver, Canada's DRUM! will take part in Nova Scotia Day (Feb. 16), with a performance with Mount Uniacke, N.S.'s "master of rhythm and rhyme" Buck 65, shows in nearby Granville Island, Richmond, Surrey as well as outdoor shows in Yaletown. VISIT OUR SHOWS PAGE FOR DETAILS ON EACH PERFORMANCE For interviews and more information contact: Fiona Diamond Vice-President Brookes Diamond Productions / DRUM! Live E: fiona@brookesdiamond.com T: (902) 492-1115 F: (902) 492-8383 or Greg Guy Publicist (902) 425-3348 (902) 456-9244 (mobile)

	Wednesday, December 2, 2009
	ECMA 2010 music & industry award nomination announced! The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) today announced the Artist and Industry award nominations for the 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival and Conference. DRUM! wishes to congratulate cast member Anna Ludlow on her first ECMA nomination in the Roots/Traditional Solo Recording of the Year category. The primary activity of the ECMA is the annual Awards, Festival & Conference. This event attracts industry professionals, talent buyers, media and record labels from around the globe. Since its inception in 1989, the ECMA Event has become a national and international event. The components of the conference have evolved to become the most comprehensive and exciting event in Atlantic Canada. The 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival & Conference will take place in Sydney, Cape Breton from March 4th to 7th. The event is organized annually by the East Coast Music Association, whose mandate it is to foster, promote and celebrate East Coast music locally and globally For more information on ECMA 2010, visit www.ecma.ca. To purchase Anna’s ECMA nominated album “Reel to Reel”, head on over to www.annaludlow.com

	Wednesday, June 24, 2009
	DRUM! live DVD On June 30th, 2009, DRUM! will release its first ever DVD. Featuring the DRUM! cast of musicians, dancers, drummers and singers from the Black, Acadian, Aboriginal and Celtic cultures, DRUM! Live was filmed over five days in October 2008, at the Bella Rose Arts Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia. DRUM! Live will be distributed in Canada by Fontana North/Universal Music Group. It is also available through the www.drumshowstore.com website. It is produced by Brookes Diamond Productions in association with Music Nova Scotia.

	Wednesday, December 2, 2009
	Halifax fall run with Symphony Nova Scotia You've experienced the electrifying music, rhythms, and dance of DRUM!. Now experience it with a full symphony orchestra for a truly incredible extravaganza. Symphony Nova Scotia joins DRUM! at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium for two very special performances Sunday, October 4, 2009. The pair of shows will conclude the 6 day, 8 performance long residency by DRUM! running September 29th through October 4th. There is limited ticket availability so get in early for the best seats!

	Wednesday, December 2, 2009
	Taking the show on the road Ottawa, July 1ST, Canada Day & Milwaukee Irish Festival, August 13 thru 16 Don’t miss DRUM! live on Parliament Hill for Canada’s 142nd birthday party! DRUM! is honoured to be opening the event in front of 100,000 people in the nation’s capital and for the national television audience. Fans at home can watch the performance on CBC and RDI starting at noon. Ottawa spectators will receive a further treat with two full shows in Major’s Hill Park, near Parliament Hill, at 4PM and 9PM. The original production will now include an exciting new addition. A host of local drummers and drumming groups from international cultures such as Japanese, Inuit, Middle Eastern, African and Caribbean will be asked to join the original four cultures to create a feature finale called, “Drums of the World”. "DRUM!'s invitation back to Canada Day for a second year is a special honour. While it originated in Nova Scotia, DRUM!’s story is reflective of our entire nation which makes it a great fit for the Canada Day celebration.” states DRUM! producer Brookes Diamond. “We're especially excited to be performing two headlining shows in Major's Hill Park, culminating with the Canada Day fireworks back-dropping our new 'Drums of the World' finale." On August 13 through 16, 2009, DRUM! will headline the main stage at North America’s largest Irish Festival with the “Rhythms of Our Nation” show. The Milwaukee Irish Festival, which boasts audiences upwards of 125,000, plays host to a Nova Scotia showcase presented in part by Music Nova Scotia and the Province of Nova Scotia. It is considered the number one Irish festival in North America. “I saw DRUM! two years ago in Halifax and loved it. We are delighted to have this outstanding production that tells so much about the history of this continent in such an entertaining way!” says Ed Ward, Milwaukee Irish Festival founder.

	Wednesday, December 2, 2009
	DRUM! suite of products Since DRUM!’s inception in the fall 2004, we have had many inquiries asking to bring the show to a wider range of audiences. What we have developed is a new suite of products that brings the DRUM! experience to schools, corporations and conferences, with shows like DRUM!POWER, an interactive learning session that sets participants drumming through a corporate training experience. This suite of products, in various sizes, allows DRUM! to satisfy the many requests we receive. DRUM! tells the story of the arrival and settlement, struggle and ultimate coming together of four of Nova Scotia’s founding cultures – Aboriginal, Black, Celtic and Acadian. The cast of 20 drummers, dancers, and singers demonstrates each culture’s unique and distinct rhythm, by featuring each one and finally bringing them together into an electrifying rhythmic fusion of dance, music and song.