in concert
Rinse feet after reading,
because nothing gets you closer to the beach
www.oregoncoasttoday.com
Making a
boOm
via Zoom
Each year in Newport one of the
harbingers of the summer tourist season has
been the sound of primeval drums ringing
through historic Nye Beach.
But there are no drums to be heard in
Nye Beach this year and no visitors to hear
them. Th e drums that would have signaled
the Newport Community Drum Circle’s
13th season have been silenced due to the
statewide “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order.
But the drum circle’s coordinator,
Chandler Davis, says the venerable non-
profi t organization has no intention of
dipping silently below the horizon.
“We’ve been looking into this for some
time ... and we have come up with an online
model for a virtual community rhythm
format using the Zoom conferencing
platform that will preserve most of the
therapeutic and community building
benefi ts and other joys and benefi ts of group
drumming and music participation.” he
said. “I believe it’s also the best way for us to
preserve the excitement, variety, and fun of
our large outdoor summer stage shows and
other live performance events in the safest
way possible.”
Th e premier broadcast of the new free
and family friendly Virtual Global Drum
Circle & World Beat Rhythm Celebration
from Newport will take place this Saturday,
May 9, from 4 to 7 pm. Th e event will feature
multicultural traditional and indigenous
rhythm and song from Davis on drums and
mbira/kalimba; Th under & Lightness with
Terry Filer on the Native American fl utes;
Ocean Th under World Beat Drummers; and
many of the familiar special guests from the
Summer Celebration shows at Cafe Mundo.
In addition to the guest artists that many
locals will remember from past summers,
Davis said he will also be inviting prominent
folkloric and world music artists from
throughout the Pacifi c Northwest (and
maybe the world) “since distance is no longer
an obstacle to participation.”
Participants can join the event from their
home or offi ce or from remote locations
anywhere in the world.
Th e drum circle segments will be
family oriented and will require no musical
experience and all ages and skill levels
are welcome. Davis said he’ll suggest
and demonstrate household items that
can be pressed into service as percussion
instruments for those without drums.
Acoustic instruments other than
percussion are welcome, but will be expected
to follow and accompany the drums. Special
guest musicians (experienced or professional
performers) and others wishing to perform
individually need to contact Davis in
advance.
To fi nd the link and password for the
Zoom event, go to the Newport Community
Drum Circle Facebook page. For other
questions or details, contact Davis at
chandler@chandlerdavis.com, via Facebook
or at 541-272-4615.
oregoncoastTODAY.com • facebook.com/oregoncoasttoday • May 8, 2020 • 15