Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor! 

Woodbine Park, Toronto, ON Canada
June 9-10, 2012

The 13th Annual Edition of The Muhtadi International Drumming Festival Changes Location to Woodbine Park.

It’s official: The 13th Annual Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor! will occupy the grounds of Woodbine Park on June 9th and 10th, 2012.

The Muhtadi International Drumming Festival (MIDF) celebrates the drum (el ¡Tambor! in Spanish), its universality as an art form, and its presence in all cultures around the world. MIDF is the only annual festival in North America celebrating the drum. It is a free festival that is gaining additional recognition year after year. The event promises to be a 2 day family-friendly celebration full of multicultural performances and passionate, artistic people.

Adding to the experience, MIDF hosts a wide variety of vendors with an array of cultural garbs, jewelry, and ethnic foods. It is a festival where all cultures come together, drumming and dancing to one beat!

WHEN:

Thursday June 7th from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Wynchwood Barns (601 Chistie Street). Festival Launch Reception.  An evening where the artists and friends of the festival will mingle to kick off the festival.

Saturday June 9th from 12:00pm to 10:00pm. Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor! at Woodbine Park - Coxwell Boulevard and Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto, ON Canada. Come and enjoy cultural percussive rhythms from around the world. A family friendly event with lots of food, arts and crafts from around the world.

Sunday June 10th from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor! continues atWoodbine Park - Coxwell Boulevard and Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto, ON Canada. Live percussive music with international artists and lots of family friendly things to do.

WHERE:

Woodbine Park Corner of Lake Shore Boulevard East and Coxwell Ave.

WHO:

MIDF 2012 PERFORMERS

Main Stage Saturday June 9th

1:00 pm Northern China’s Waist Drum and Dance Group (China)
1:30 pm TBA
2:00 pm SamulNori Canada (Korea Traditional)
2:30 pm Hanulim Drum Circle (Korean)
3:00 pm Joy Lapps Trio (Pan)
3:30 pm Cuban Percussion Ensemble
4:00 pm Bass’ment Sound Crew
4:30 pm Michel DeQuevedo (Latin Jazz)
5:00 pm Muhtadi & the World Drummers (West African) 
5:30 pm Beyond Sound Empijah
6:00 pm Baque de Bamba led by Aline Morales (Afro Brazilian)
6:30 pm Hummingbird Tassa Group (Trinidad)
7:00 pm  Joaquin Hidalgo (Cuban Rhumba Workshop)
7:30 pm Umurisho (Burundi Drummers)

Main Stage Sunday June 10th

10:00 am Amara Kante (Hand Drum Workshop)
12:00 pm Blue Raven Drummers
12:30 pm Parkview Public School
1:00 pm Gahu Ensemble – J.R. Wilcox Public School
1:30 pm Northern China’s Waist Drum and Dance Group (China)
2:00 pm Alexander Muir Public School
2:30 pm Mexicree (Aztec)
3:00 pm Isshin Diako (Japan Traditional)
3:30 pm Dhol Circle (African, Brazilian and Indian)
4:00 pm Samba Squad (Brazilian rhythms)
4:30 pm Toronto All Stars Steel Orchestra (T.A.S.S.O)
5:00 pm Muhtadi & the World Drummers (West African) 
5:30 pm Hummingbird Tassa Group (Trinidad)
6:00 pm Baro Dununba (Traditional West African and Diasporic rhythms)
6:30 pm Maracatu Mar Aberto (Afro Brazilian)
7:00 pm Iyá Iré (Cuba)

Archie Alleyne Stage Saturday June 9th

3:00 pm Archie Alleyne Evolution of Jazz Ensemble (Jazz)
3:30 pm Njacko Backo & Toumkak Drummers (Cameroon Contemporary African)
4:00 pm Alpha Rhythm Roots Students  (Guinea, West Africa)
4:30 pm FND Drummers (African)
5:00 pm CU (Casineros Unidos) Productions Dance Lessons, Exhibition & Workshop (Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton)
6:00 pm Norman Marshall Villeneuve (Jazz)

Archie Alleyne Stage Sunday June 10th

1:00 pm CU (Casineros Unidos) Productions Dance Lessons, Exhibition & Workshop (Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton)
2:00 pm Samba Elégua (Brazil)
3:00 pm Archie Alleyne Evolution of Jazz Ensemble (Jazz)
4:00 pm FND Drummers (African)
5:00 pm Steafán Hannigan (Bodhráns for Modhrans! Celtic Drum Workshop)

Roaming

Northern Legs Southern Fists (Kung Fu, Dragon and Lion Dance Team)

Workshops

CU (Casineros Unidos) Productions Dance Lessons, Exhibition & Workshop (Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton) 5:00  pm Saturday June 9th at Archie Alleyne Stage

Joaquin Hidalgo (Cuban Rhumba Workshop), 7:00 pm Saturday June 9th at Woodbine Park Main Stage

Free Hand Drum Workshop with Master Drummer Amara Kante, 10:00 Sunday June 10th at Woodbine Park Main Stage

CU (Casineros Unidos) Productions Dance Lessons, Exhibition & Workshop (Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton) 1:00  pm Sunday June 10th at Archie Alleyne Stage

Bodhráns for Modhrans! Celtic Drum Workshop by Steafán Hannigan 5:00  pm Sunday June 10th at Archie Alleyne Stage

Muhtadi International Drumming Festival presents el ¡Tambor!  Includes a Children’s Play Area, ethnic cuisine, exotic arts and crafts, workshop programs and for the adults in the crowd a strategically placed expanded refreshment area with a great vantage point of the main stage.

In previous years, the festival has taken place outdoors at Queen’s Park North, featuring over 30 drumming groups that display the diverse cultural traditions and drumming styles from various countries. This year the festival moves east to Woodbine Park, right across the street from Ashbridges Bay.

Woodbine Park is a part of the larger Beaches area in Toronto; a community known for its vibrancy, natural surroundings and great outdoor sound stage – a perfect location for this year’s MIDF because it mirrors the festival’s characteristics.

The park is situated at the corner of Coxwell Boulevard and Lake Shore Boulevard East. It is known to play host to various other summer festivals including the Beaches International Jazz Festival and the Beach BBQ and Brew Fest. Muhtadi International Drumming, the not-for-profit organization behind MIDF is excited to bring live music and dance to the versatile Woodbine Park because it’s well suited for their growing and energetic festival.

For more information about the Festival, to obtain high resolution assets or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Email: media@muhtadidrumfest.com

For additional information about the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival, please visit: http://www.muhtadidrumfest.com
call 416-848-3838,

Follow us on Twitter @muhtadidrum Facebook www.facebook.com/muhtadidrumfest

# # #