Meinl Percussion is pleased to welcome Atom Willard to its family of Percussion artists. Atom is a drummer from southern California who has made quite the name for himself drumming in bands such as Rocket From the Crypt, The Special Goodness, The Offspring, Social Distortion and Angels and Airwaves. Most recently, Atom has been manning the drum chair for Canadian rock trio Danko Jones. Welcome Atom!

The 2012 Meinl Drum Festival will again be a two-day event taking place on Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June 24th on Meinl’s own premises in Gutenstetten, Germany.

“After the huge success of our first two-day festival back in 2008 and the sensational festival in Mexico last year, I can’t wait to bring the Meinl Drum Festival back to Germany again where it all started in 2005,” says Meinl’s responsible festival organiser Norbert Saemann. “My colleague Chris Brewer and I put a lot of thought into finding the right line-up and the company as a whole is very excited about it. I think it’s safe to say that it will be another milestone in Meinl’s Drum Festival history. We’re all looking forward to it and to seeing all of you here in Gutenstetten on June 23 and 24.”

In addition to the performances going on both days, Meinl’s full assortment of cymbals, percussion, and drum gear will be on display for everyone to see and hear. Guided tours through Meinl’s cymbal factory will be offered on Sunday only, and valuable Meinl gear will be given away among all attendees.

As every year, the Meinl Drum Festival’s technical production (sound, lighting, and video) will feature state of the art technology, assuring an absolutely overwhelming audio and visual experience.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 23

The first day will host a series of exclusive Masterclasses to a limited amount of attendees (300 total).

These tickets will only be sold on meinldrumfestival.com starting on March 01st on a first-come-first-serve basis and allow to attend both festival days.


MASTERCLASS INSTRUCTORS AND SUBJECTS:

Hannes Grossmann (Obscura)
Progressive concepts for technical metal drumming

Jost Nickel (Jan Delay & Disko No.1)     
How to use a click effectively when playing in a band and while practicing

Jens Herz (Bamberger Symphoniker - Bayerische Staatsphilharmonie)
Guido Marggrander (Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks)
Symphonic Percussion Masterclass

Mike Johnston (mikeslessons.com)
Travelling Through Time - Applying polyrhythms to practical drumming

Georg Feltes (FOH and instructor for Event Technique)
Sound Engineering for the drumset

Benny Greb
Groove Design – the art and science of playing, feeling and developing a strong groove

Each masterclass will last for about 60 minutes.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 24

The second day at the 2012 Meinl Drum Festival will feature performances of some of the best drummers in the world today.


DRUM PERFORMANCES:

JP Bouvet, USA
(Winner of the 2011 Guitar Center Drum Off Contest)

Milos Meyer, Czech Republic
(Dymytry, Kraken Exist, Drumming Syndrome)

Hannes Grossmann, Germany
(Obscura)

Mike Johnston, USA
(mikeslessons.com)

Matt Halpern, USA
(Periphery)

„DRIO“ the drumtrio, featuring
Benny Greb, Germany
Wolfgang Haffner, Germany (Till Broenner)
Jost Nickel, Germany (Jan Delay & Disko No.1)

An additional supporting program will feature several of Meinl’s percussion endorsees such as the Italian master conguero Giovanni Imparato, Onkel of the German band “Ohrbooten, and many others.
The 2012 Meinl Drum Festival will finish with a signing session of all participating artists.

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Two-Day Ticket Price / Saturday June 23 + Sunday June 24

Price per ticket                        € 35
Price per ticket / students        € 30

Two-day tickets are only sold on meinldrumfestival.com to a limited amount of attendees (300 total) on a first-come-first-serve basis.

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Ticket Prices / only Sunday June 24

Price per ticket – box office        € 23    
Price per ticket advanced sale:    € 20    (sold on meinldrumfestival.com)
Price per ticket for students:        € 12     (both advanced and box office)
Children up to 12 years of age:    free


Ticket sale will begin on March 01, 2012
only on meinldrumfestival.com.

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Meinl Percussion is pleased to welcome Mike Johnston to its family of percussion artists. Mike began studying the drums at the age of five. He spent the next 15 years studying privately with some of the greatest educator/drummers of our time including Pete Magadini and Steve Ferrone.

At the age of 21 Mike received his first major label record deal with his band Simon Says (Hollywood Records) and spent the next five years touring the world. He received a gold record for his contributions to the Varsity Blues soundtrack and has appeared on The Late Show with Dave Letterman as well as on MTV's Fashionably Loud. In addition, Mike has toured the US and Europe with Hollywood Recording artists Simon Says and Warner Bothers Recording artists FILTER.

Mike currently runs the educational website mikeslessons.com where he offers pre-recorded video drum lessons as well as "LIVE" on-line drum lessons nationally and internationally. Every year he hosts multiple International drum camps at the mikeslessons.com facility.,  Mike has also been announced as being one of the educators and performers at the 2012 Meinl Drum Festival in Gutenstetten, Germany.

COMFORT DESIGN FOR A MORE UPRIGHT PLAYING STLYE

New in Meinl's extensive cajon assortment is a unique Slap-Top cajon which is a conceptual step up to a new level. It is designed to bring the striking surface up closer to the player for a more upright playing style. The sound projects forward into the audience. High and low tones as well as a snare effect are built in to the sound board. 

Materials
Resonating body: Eco-friendly medium density fibreboard
Frontplate: Makah-Burl

Features
Comfortable design
Forward sound projection
Internal snare wires
Wide sound spectrum

http://meinlpercussion.com/goto/TOPCAJ1MB