First, how lucky are we to be represented by 2 of the best music stores in Chicago?!  Andy’s Music (2300 W. Belmont) has been a supporter of DrumFace since Day 1, and now the Old Town School of Folk Music is a fan, too.  See our work at the Lincoln Square “Different Strummer” store (4544 N. Lincoln).

Not in Chicago?  DrumFace drums are also available through the online Raquy Drum Store, which is based in Brooklyn, New York. (www.raquy.com/store).  You can also spot our drums in the Northerrn Liberties area of Philadelphia, at a sweet shop called “Colors by Padmini” (906 N. 2nd St.)

For a little seasonal cheer, we will be hosting a studio show and sale on Sunday December 4th, from 2-6pm.  Stop in and have a hot drink, see the newest of our instruments and enjoy the warm atmosphere that is DrumFace.  (3231 W. Armitage) Selected prints from our “Morocco Sketchbook Retrospective” show from earlier this year will also be available.

As I write, Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  It falls on our “Last Thursday” open house and veggie potluck night, and for a while we weren’t sure what to do.  But a few inquiring minds wanted to know, so we will not disappoint!  Swing by DrumFace between 7 & 9pm on Thursday, November 24th and enjoy an evening of music and smiles, and whatever veggie leftovers are brought to the table.

There will be no ‘Last Thursday’ potluck in December, since it falls directly on Quentin and Heather’s 10th wedding anniversary!  We will resume the regular pattern in January 2012, with open studio and potluck on Thursday, Jan. 26th.

Free Doumbek practices will continue, on the first Wednesday of each month from 7-8pm.  (Dec. 7, Jan. 4)  Multi-level session, bring a drum or use one of ours.  Learn rhythms and practice techniques on this very popular Middle Eastern style drum.

To finish off the year, let’s not forget Quentin’s Solstice Birthday, December 21st.  It falls on the same Wednesday that we are due to host the “Chicago cavers” social meeting, so DrumFace will be opening wide and saying “aaaahh”.  Cave fun will kick off the evening from 7:30-9:30, with birthday drum party to follow.  Anyone with an interest in caves and caving is welcome to attend “city cavers” (no experience required); acoustic instruments are welcome at the birthday drum jam.  Drums preferred, of course!  We have an inkling to do another “Party in the Dark” so you might want to bring a flashlight!

Did you know DrumFace hosts at least 2 free events every month?  That’s just because we’re nice.  No need to camouflage yourself like little Mothy here (who can’t really drum anyway of course).  Come out of hiding and have a little fun, why not?

Catch an open house, every month on Last Thursdays from 7-9pm. (9/29, 10/27)  See & play our newest drums, meet other nice people like yourself, and give us a really good reason to clean up our art studio!  Bring a dish or beverage to share in a veggie potluck, then grab a drum and play along with Chicago Aissawa (or other special guests)!

For the advancement of your ‘little grey cells’, Quentin will continue to offer monthly darbooka practice nights.  (10/5 & 11/2, 7-8pm)  Whether you just need a little motivation to stay in practice, or want to try some new skills n’ drills, you’ll be glad you set aside the time.  Free of charge; donations are welcome.  Great fun for any level of player!

Teeny-weeny ‘little grey cells’ are totally welcome at our Open Houses and occasional  family-friendly events.  Young people ages 14+ are welcome to join in the darbooka practice sessions; for more information please give us a shout (773) 772-4778; or email to:  info (at) DrumFaceChicago (dot com)

Keep on keepin’ on – your DrumFace, that is!

Also at DrumFace on October 19th: meetup for Chicago cave explorers and people interested in caves.  BYOB, 7:30pm

Yes, he truly is the nicest guy.  Rami El-Aaser, everybody.  Get your doumbek and push back your plans for Friday night, because Rami’s going to be delivering some seriously cool beats at DrumFace.

Think you’ve got the fastest fingers in the west?  Let’s put it to the test!  Work on techniques that will astound your friends and flatten your audiences.  Be amazing!

Friday September 9, 7-8:30pm.  $15  No matter where you are with your playing, there’s always somewhere to go!

See poster for details, or contact DrumFace (773) 772-4778; info@ DrumFaceChicago .com

Need a little warmup session?  Swing into DrumFace from 7-8pm on Wednesday Sept. 7th for a practice session with Quentin!  Part of our monthly series of FREE events.

Here are some dates you may want to add to your calendar:

Thursday, 25th of August, 7-9pm.  Veggie potluck, DrumFace open house, and Aissawa Kbir (big Aissawa) drumming session.  3231 W. Armitage Ave.  Free; donations welcome.

Sunday 28th of August, 3:30pm & 4:30pm.  DrumFace presents Chicago Aissawa plus Middle Eastern dumbek drumming performance at Rumble Arts Center’s Back to School Event; 3413 W. North Ave.

Doumbek Drumming session, Wednesday September 7th, 7-8pm at DrumFace.  Free; donations welcome.  All levels.  Practice and learn techniques & rhythms on the goblet-shaped darbooka (doumbek) drum.  Have fun, no pressure!  Bring your own drum or try one of the DrumFace instruments.

Once again, last Thursday in September (that’s the 29th), 7-9pm Open House, Aissawa Kbir, Veggie Potluck.  Hang out in the studio, chat with some really nice people, and do a little Aissawa drumming!  What a nice way to spend a Thursday.

New on the DrumFace site, we’ve added a page called “Getto Gnome Records”, our in-house record label.  2011 marks the first crop of CDs by Getto Gnome in several years, with the release of 5 albums of Moroccan field recordings, new work by Chicago Aissawa, and the current hot seller, the “2011 Morocco Sampler: Folkloric Music of Meknes”  (get it for $5!  email us: info @ DrumFaceChicago.com)  All of this work is self-funded, recorded and released by Quentin & Heather, and with the approval of the musicians.  As our part to save the environment and well, because we’re Getto Gnome, track lists and printable album art from all 5 CDs are on the new page.  Someday soon it will get updated with a full catalog of our past work.

If you didn’t get to read through our Morocco blog posts back in March, you’ll find the postings all together on the Morocco 2011 page.  Enjoy!  If you’re interested in joining the contact list for possible future trips, give us a shout.

Drum Care Cards.  If you need help caring for your natural skin drum, download this card!  We’re giving them out with all of our new drums, because more and more people are choosing to play real skins rather than plastic.  (Do we need to post a picture of the mass of plastic debris floating in the Pacific Ocean?) They need a little more specialized care, but the rewards of natural skins can be great.

Plus, check out these new photos by our pal and photographer extraordinaire, Dan (DanMerlo.com)!

New recording & photos of Chicago Aissawa have been posted online, at www.CoachHouseSounds.com !  Matt and his crew met with us back in February to record on their reel-to-reel tape.  We think it sounded great, and who knew there were photos?!  Sweet.

Next Aissawa/DrumFace open house & veggie potluck is Thurs. July 28th, 7-9pm at DrumFace, 3231 W. Armitage Ave.

Also, remember to catch one of our free doumbek drumming nights; there’s one coming up on Wednesday July 20th at 7pm!  There are some pretty sweet doumbeks in the DrumFace studio, but bring your own if you can.

That last open house was so much fun we’ve decided to add it to our monthly calendar!  Join us on the last Thursday of every month, from 7-9pm, for a vegetarian potluck and good times hanging out in the DrumFace studio.  See and hear what we’ve been working on, from our newest drums to some fresh compositions by Chicago Aissawa!  Pick up a drum and join us for another Aissawa Kbir drumming session, and you’re sure to go home dancing to a different beat.

Thurs. May 26th (8-10p.m.) = Fun time in the DrumFace studio!

For your enjoyment: live music from Chicago Aissawa & guests, an exhibition of new DrumFace drums, and selections from a decade of Moroccan travel sketches by Quentin and Heather.

Partake in a vegetarian potluck with a bunch of nice people, and get the whole room drumming and dancing with our new project, “Aissawa Kbir”.

Take something home, whether it’s a new drum, Aissawa CD, or just a smile and a new Moroccan beat (and a DrumFace card)!  What more could you want?  See you there!

DrumFace (773) 772-4478

3231 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago

the WHISTLER :::::: 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 at 06:00 pm

50 FREE RECORDS

6Apr: link to the Flickr page ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherfeather/sets/72157626313394659/with/5593238331/ )