Back to basics as Ash Soan and Neal Wilkinson do the business with Yamaha's 'Pocket Club' Tour

Ash Soan and Neal Wilkinson, two of the UK's most respected and successful session players, join forces in September to inspire and inform the next generation of UK drumming talent with an eleven-date nationwide tour which also takes the artists to Belfast and The Republic of Ireland.

Organisers, Yamaha point out that the concept of the Pocket Club tour and the content of the events will be very different from the traditional 'clinic' format. Ash Soan told us, "With this tour we are aiming to bring it back to what the instrument is actually about; what it's musical 'job' is. We’re not going to be playing riffs at a million miles an hour and bombarding audiences with content so complicated it's almost impossible to replicate. In my (and Neal's) view, that's not the most effective strategy for inspiring budding drummers, or, more importantly, for getting work!"

The tour will instead take a fresh approach; the emphasis will be on providing audiences with knowledge that they can realistically take on board, focusing on how you can be a great drummer by taking a more simplistic approach to playing. Both artists point out that this philosophy is the most effective method to becoming commercially successful. And they should know; between them they are the drummers of choice for many of the UK's major artists including Robbie Williams, Van Morrison, Adele, Olly Murs, Cee Lo Green, James Morrison and Duffy.

Ash and Neal both state that they want to address the aspirations of up-and-coming drummers and help them with grooves and techniques that they can realistically master. They will be playing Yamaha Club Custom kits at the events and, again breaking with tradition, they will play as a duo throughout.

Neal Wilkinson comments, "I am really excited about this more intimate and musical approach. We want to get across how effective, simple, soulful music can be played to maximum effect. We’re very much looking forward to sharing our knowledge and experiences."

Yamaha are currently in the final edit stages of video interviews and playing examples of Ash and Neal playing as a duo. They confirm that four programmes will be posted on Yamaha Download every Monday throughout August, starting August 1st.

Yamaha Pocket Club Tour Dates & Venues

Swansea                5th September                  Drumnutt

Poole                      6th September                  Absolute Music

London                   7th September                  London Drum Company

Eastbourne             8th September                  Bonners

Cannock                 12th September                Arcade Music

Lincoln                    13th September                Lincoln Drum Centre

Gateshead              14th September                Drum Shop

Manchester             19th September                Drum Centre

Co. Kildare              20th September                Naas Drum Centre

Belfast                    21st September                 Mr Drums

Glasgow                 22nd September                Rhythm Base

For more details on now to book your place and for dealer contact details, please visit: http://yamahadownload.yamaha-europe.com/drums_news.php

Contact :       David Jones (DJPR)  

Faye Grigson (Yamaha Music GmbH) 01908 329279