New England International Drum Expo Adds Pete Lockett to Lineup

New England International Drum Expo organizer, Cherie Willoughby, has announced the addition of several major participants to the upcoming drum event that is scheduled to be held in Manchester, New Hampshire (just 45 miles north of Boston) on October 6 and 7, 2007. Willoughby has confirmed that, along with a full schedule of drum clinics, manufacturers' exhibits and hands-on historical displays, the event will also feature a special appearance by international percussion artist, Pete Lockett, both as a solo clinician and in conjunction with U.S. drumming legend Steve Smith.

One of the most versatile multi-percussionists in the world, Lockett has immersed himself in percussion and drums from every part of the globe—from Indian to Arabic and from Japanese to Latin. He has been involved in a growing number of collaborative projects and the wide range of artists, including Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Bill Bruford, Jeff Beck, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Steve Smith, Evan Dando, Evelyn Glennie, Beth Orton, Hari Haran, Mel C, Sinead O'Conner and many others. Pete also appears with Steve Smith on the recent Vital Information CD, "Visualization."

In addition, local drumming hero Andrew Barr of the Boston-based rock trio The Slip has signed on as a featured clinician. Other recent sponsor and exhibitor additions to the show include Gibraltar, Gretsch, Tempus, Drumhead, Shure, Evans, Sonor, LP, Vic Firth and Hudson Music as well as the Drummer's Collective of NYC. The Collective's donation of a Five-Day Intensive Program scholarship brings the total of all raffles and giveways to well over $10,000.