The British Drum Co. welcomes DYLAN drummer Connor Hopkins to the family of artists. Connor is a UK touring drummer, best known playing for the artist DYLAN. His career highlights include supporting Ed Sheeran on his Mathematics World Tour, Bastille on their Give Me The Future Tour, Tate McRae’s European Tour as well as playing at various major festivals around the globe. After his visit to the BDC factory in November 2022, Connor is delighted with his decision to join the community of artists. "I feel honoured to be joining the BDC family. Some of the greatest looking and sounding drums out there, all made in the UK. The level of detail throughout the drums is second to none and unlike any other drum company." Connor chose the Legend Series drumkit in a Whitehaven finish with black palladium hardware. "I’ve always been a huge fan of white drum kits" Connor adds, "But for my new kit, I wanted something that would stand out when lit up on stage." "The Whitehaven finish is the perfect finish for me, with the combination of a white base colour and various different colours when light hits the sparkle." - Connor Hopkins British Drum Co.'s CEO, Keith Keough is delighted to have Connor join the BDC artists. Keith writes "I'd like to welcome Connor to the BDC artist family. Connor is a highly skilled upcoming drummer and we're looking forward to watching him perform on his new Legend Whitehaven kit." You can read more about Connor Hopkins, including his kit setup, on his Artist Page. Learn more about Legend Series here.

The British Drum Co. announce Grade 1 Scottish Power Pipe Band to their family of Marching Artists Leading drummer Jake Jørgensen commented “Scottish Power Pipe Band are proud to be joining up with British Drum Company. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with this innovative drum manufacturer” The Band has won most major championships over the years and will be furnished with drums from the Axial Series, with their chosen finish to be released early 2023.

Seasons Greetings! As we slowly start to turn off the plugs and stow away the equipment we look back on another year that has past us by in a flash. It's fair to say coming out of covid has been hard for the marching arts but youth bands, pipe bands and all other types of marching organisation have soldiered on and it seems like we're now at the end of it. 2023 looks like being the first normal year since precovid for competitions and bands touring and traveling all over the globe to take part in tattoos and other exchange type programmes. This year has seen some new additions to the marching division with the likes of Peter Vulpherhorst, Mark Reilly and more recently Jake Jørgensen and Scottish Power joining the ranks. You can read more about Jake and Scottish Power further down. Drum Corps Hall of Fame November saw BDC artist Mark Reilly inducted into the Drum Corps Hall of Fame. The event was held at Valley Forge Casino Resort in Philadelphia. Mark was award the International Achievement Ward for his work working with and connecting with drummers for all over the globe. Jake Jørgensen & Scottish Power Pipe Band What better way to finish off the year year then signing up Jake & Scottish Power to the BDC marching roster. Jake will be visiting BDC HQ on our first day back after Christmas ,where he'll be given the full tour of our facility and more importantly choose the finishes for Scottish Power and his own individual drums. We're already looking forward to seeing what he decides to go with. 2022 Photo Round Up Some highlights from events this year where BDC has been represented. Marching Merch! It's not too late to add a few items to your letter to Santa or better still send him the link which can be found here ;-) Well that's me done for done 2022. At the start of the new year, you will be able to download all previous editions of "Marching Orders" in one pdf. I just want to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry and safe Christmas and a Happy New Year. Until 2023! Stay safe Stu

British Drum Co. welcomes independent marching artist Jake Jørgensen to the family ! Originally from Denmark, Jake started learning the drums at the age of 11 with the Copenhagen Caledonia Pipe Band. In the early years, he received instruction from local drummers Per Nørklit, Sven Harboe and Jens Hedegaard. He was able to take inspiration from visiting tutors, such as Tom Brown, Reid Maxwell, Eric Ward and Barry Wilson. Jake commented “I am immensely excited to be joining British Drum Company - a team full of talent, passion and knowledge. The design, build quality and sound of the Axial range is impressive and I look forward to playing these superb instruments”

New Look! This time 12 months ago I wrote the first 'Marching Orders' blog. The time has flown by and it's been great letting all our readers know what's been going on at BDC HQ. To celebrate this we've given the Marching Orders covers a bit of a makeover. At the end of the year you'll be able to download the entire 12 months worth in one pdf so you can catch up during your daily commute or during your downtime. Each month the blog is a quick 2-4 min read to let you know what has been going on in the Marching Division during the previous months. Royal Logistic Corps October saw the Corps of Drums from the Royal Logstics arrive at BDC HQ for a tour of our facility. The Corps of Drums have recently taken ownership of 20 RS1 Regimental Series drums which have been sent away to get hand painted. It was good to give them the guided tour and show them how we make our drums by hand as well as some of the other products we make at BDC that many people aren't aware of. Drum Major Will Morris brought the drummers up from their barracks in Winchester, Hampshire Society of International Rudimental Drummers Symposium ( SIRD) In September, British Drum Co attended the 2022 SIRD symposium (originally scheduled for 2020) as one of their main sponsors. There were over 100 drummers and fifers in attendance from over 16 countries. The event was a mixture of presentations, tuition and just some general pad jamming. This gave the opportunity for our 3 newest marching artists to perform together. Peter Vulpherhost also picked up his RS1G in military livery and his Cosmic blue sparkle burst Axial snare drum which he used with his performance with Jon Wooton. There were some great performances including a fantastic display by the Connecticut Patriots Fife & Drum Corps against the backdrop of the Spinnaker Tower and HMS Warrior, as well as a very informative presentation by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band. The Tambour de l'Amitie (Drum of Friendship) symbolises the passion, spirit and traditions shared by all rudimental drummers. By passing the Tambour de l'Amitie from one country to another at each symposium is a symbolic of their continued pledge to "share the tradition" across the globe. This year it was handed over from one BDC artist to another as Russ Piner (Portsmouth lead 2022) handed it to Mark Reilly who will be the lead for the next symposium which will take place in Washington DC in 2024. On The Sofa With... Another "On The Sofa With..." has been recorded and is currently being edited ready for later on in the year. This time we managed to drag Russell Piner up from the sunnier climes of Portsmouth to BDC HQ. In this interview Russ talks about his inspiration for drumming and the history within his family for military drumming. We also find out that Russ was responsible for designing and naming an important part of the Regimental Series! Make sure you keep an eye on on our social media channels for his interview to find out what it was. Well that's another blog done and I can't believe we've hit the 12 month since the first article back in 2021. The next newsletter will hit your mailboxes during the festive season by then I'm sure the BDC HQ office staff will already be sick of mince pies and Christmas tunes! Until next time… Stay safe Stu

The British Drum Co. is pleased to announce that Mark Reilly is the latest addition to its Marching Division artist family. Mark Reilly is considered by many to be one of the foremost military music connectors in the world. As an internationally recognised performer, speaker, educator, and consultant, Mark’s experience has allowed him to travel the world extensively working at the state and royal level. He most recently served as the Acting Commander for the United States Army “Old Guard” Fife and Drum Corps and previously served as Corps Sergeant Major, Drum Group Leader, Snare Drum Section Leader, and Percussion Arranger for the Corps. Mark is also a proud alumnus of the world-famous Top-Secret Drum Corps from Basel, Switzerland and his newest endeavour, The Washington Tattoo aims to bring a world-class international music and arts festival to the Washington, DC metro area. Mark has presented at such prestigious institutions as the Amsterdam Conservatory, the Royal College of Music, and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria. His collaborative work with His Majesty’s The King’s Guard of Norway, Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, The Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums, the Finnish Defence Forces, the Singapore Armed Forces Band, de la Garde Republican and the Pontifical Swiss Guard has given him vast experience in international cultural events. Mark holds degrees in Music Education from Northwestern State and Boston Universities, is a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) candidate at American Military University, and is an adjunct professor at West Virginia University. Commenting on the new addition to the Marching Artist Family, British Drum Co. Marching Division Manager, Stu Warmington, said “I am extremely humbled that Mark has agreed to join British Drum Co. as an artist for the traditional side of our Marching Division. It goes without saying that Mark’s reputation as a top performer, clinician and educator is second to none and his ability to connect with drummers from all over the globe is outstanding. I’m extremely excited about Mark’s future here with us at British Drum Co.” Mark Reilly commented “Joining the British Drum Company team was like coming back to family. Stu Warmington and the BDC have amassed an incredible collection of top players from around the world of Marching Percussion that bridge multiple traditions, styles, and backgrounds. Their attention to detail, world class artist relations, and love of their craft comes through in every drum, handshake, and smile they share with customers and artists alike. I am humbled to join this innovative team and be among this amazing array of Rudimental drummers that represent the very best in the idiom from all corners of the world”. Mark will be using the Regimental Series RS1 snare drum as well as an Axial Series snare. His unique choice of finishes for these drums will be released at a later date.

Well the factory has officially come back after its summer block leave and the drums are back in production. The run up to the factory holidays was incredibly busy due to the the fact we had the World Pipe Band Championships right before it (more about that below). Moving forward through September and October we have a busy time ahead as September see us sponsoring and attending the Society of International Rudimental Drummers Symposium. We also have more "On The Sofa with..." videos penciled in the diary to record and the launch of the new finishes for 2022/23 sees us updating the website in the new few weeks. The World Pipe Band Championships 2022 After a 2 year hiatus the World Pipe Band Championships eventually took place once again on the famous Glasgow Green. Over 40,000 people attended the event over the 2 days with 146 bands taking part. A lot has happened since the Axial Series launched at the last championships in 2019. This year the BDC marquee was bigger and a lot busier than last time - in fact it was the biggest structure on the field. It had to be - we had over 40 drums on display! The event saw us launch the new finishes for 22/23 including the much talked about Exo-Skins. This allows the user to change the look of their drum by applying the Exo-Skins to the X-Frames on the snare drums. There are two design options with a total of 12 different colour finishes for each design. As player of our Axial drums we were lucky enough to have Brisbane Boys' College Pipe Band & Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band play in front of the marquee to entertain the masses and after many requests we even managed to get all the BDC artists together for a jam with the Drum Corps from Police Scotland and Federation. We had many guests pop in throughtout the 2 days including Mark Reilly who managed a quick jam with Gareth & Steven (more about Mark later on in the blog) as well as The Big Rab Show team who popped in to see what we'd been up to since the last time we met. This year BDC bought its merchandise stand along so that combined with the Jim Kilpatrick shop meant we had a vey busy tent to say the least. It also seemed popular with the Sons of Holyland Pipe Band as they were able to buy souvenirs to take back with them after their incredible journey to the their first World Championships. This year we also had the BDC VIP Area. This was an area for friends and BDC artists to chill out and get away from it all. It also provided a great place to chat to people in a quieter environment. Being a BDC artists meant that all food and drinks were provided and ice cold water was definitely in high demand during the sweltering hot temperatures. We also had the guys in from Duncan Taylor Whiskey who were providing drams of Black Bull for anybody in the VIP area who wanted one. The entire event was a huge success and believe it or not we've already planned out what we're doing for next years event. Personally I'd like to thank everyone who came along to the BDC marquee and spent time chatting. It was great to see old friends but also great to make new connections. We're all already looking forward to the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships! On The Sofa With... Prior to the RSPBA World Pipe Band Championships we were extremely lucky to grab a day with David Henderson from Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band where he spoke about lockdown and how the band coped during the pandemic. He also spoke about his business D2 Percussion and what he has planned for the next 12 months. Just like Tyler Fry, we will also have a week of David Henderson on our social media platforms so make sure you keep an eye out for that! New Artist Alert!! Mark Reilly Joins British Drum Co. Marching Division It's with great pride that I can officially announce that top performer, clinician and educator Mark Reilly has joined the BDC Marching Division. Mark has performed in professional groups such as the Top Secret Drum Corps, and the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums to name but a few. More recently he was the acting Commanding Officer in charge of The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps as well as a performer in the Snareline. Mark is also the CEO of The Washington Tattoo which is an international cultural festival that provides visitors to Washington DC the unique opportunity to view the world through the sights, sounds, and soul of global music and food. The event's mission is to connect the world through cultural diplomacy and real time experiential learning. To read the full Press Release click here! That's it for this issue, the next edition will see us hit the 1 year mark since I first started the "Marching Orders" blog. We'll also have a feature on the Society of International Rudimental Drummers Symposium taking place in Portsmouth in September. Until next time… Stay safe Stu

Well, we're now officially half-way through the year and it's great to see the marching scenes opening back up again. It seems like a lifetime ago since I've watched marching bands parading down the street or pipe bands performing on the green. The Regimental Series has been heavily shown on the world stage during the Platinum Jubilee but more about that later on. Once again this month I'll be offering a special subscribers-only deal with our "Swag of the Month" so don't miss that!! Platinum Jubilee Celebration The first event saw the Corps of Drums of Her Majesty's Royal Marines take part in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebration entitled ”A Gallop through History” held within the grounds of Windsor Castle. The Corps of Drums performed with the Top Secret Drum Corps much to the delight of Her Majesty The Queen. The Queen's Birthday Parade was next on the list and this time it was the turn of the 1st Btn Irish Guards to Troop their Colour. The Corps of Drums had recently taken ownership of their Regimental Series RS1 drums. These drums were all emblazoned by hand using the finest oil colours and both 24ct gold or white gold leaf. LSgt Hamilton was the Lone Drummer who had the honour of performing the Drummers Call. To end the weekend of celebrations the Corps of Drums of Her Majesty's Royal Marines opened the Party at the Palace concert playing with Queen and Adam Lambert after the iconic beat was started by Her Majesty The Queen and Paddington Bear. I can't think of any better way to end the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. On The Sofa With... With the RSPBA World Pipe Band Championships fast approaching we will be releasing the interview we recored with Tyler Fry when he was over earlier this year. We will discover what he's been up during COVID and if we can expect any new TyFry Ltd products. New Artist Alert!! In the next edition we will meet the newest member of the Marching Division artist family. Stay tuned for more info ;-) That's it for this issue, in the next edition we'll be delving into the World Pipe Championships! Until next time… Stay safe Stu

Welcome to British Summer Time! We may have lost an hour of sleep but I for one am hoping we're going to be gaining some serious sun over the next few months. It's been an extremely busy month here at BDC HQ, not only have we had the The UK Drum Show (more about that next time), but a few of us also managed a weekend in London. This allowed us to catch up with friends, old and new, as well as seeing some of the sights you don't normally get to see as a general tourist. Mountbatten Festival of Music Friday 4th May saw a few of the partners head down to the Royal Albert Hall to attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music by the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. They are the only military band who can sell out this venue for 3 performances in a row each year. This year also just happened to be the 50th anniversary since the start of these concerts which raises money for the Royal Marines Charity. The concert was incredible and incorporated music from Elton John, Two Steps From Hell and even a Tribute to the Prodigy which heavily involved the Corps of Drums using their RS1 snare drums, high tension drums and even some Roland RMP 12s. In our boxes we hosted guests from the Tower of London, Royal Hospital Chelsea, Household Calvary and some old friends. Tower of London The following night we were invited to watch the ancient tradition of Ceremony of the Keys. This ceremony has taken place every single night at the Tower of London without fail; while London was being bombed during the Blitz, during the Black Plague, during the Great Fire of London, even through lockdown – the Beefeaters and Tower Guard have been ensuring that the Tower of London was safe and sound from outside attack. We were invited by an old friend of mine, Yeoman Warder Darren Hardy. We started the night off in the most exclusive bar in the world "The Keys" where we were lucky enough to partake in a beverage or two before heading out for a private tour of the Tower and to witness the Ceremony of the Keys. On completion of that we were invited back into "The Keys" before being escorted out of the Tower just before midnight. It was amazing to meet other Yeoman Warders and hear about life living inside the Royal Historic Palaces. Royal Hospital Chelsea Last year we presented some Regimental Series RS1 snare drum to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and it was during my visit then that I was told if we're ever in the area again then just to let them know. So what better way to finish a great weekend in London than with a private tour of the Royal Chelsea Hospital followed by lunch in the Great Hall. Dave Godwin was our guide for the day who gave the group the most interesting and extremely funny tour of their facility. Seeing the very first berths that were made from wood from the captured ships to the facilities they have today is nothing more than amazing. One of the highlights for me was meeting up with Billy Knowles former Drum Major of the 1st BN Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The last time I saw Billy was at the Colchester Military Tattoo back in 1988, almost 34 years ago! Everybody thoroughly enjoyed this visit and it was great to get a chance to speak to some of the "old boys" later on in the day over tea and biscuits. If you like to donate to the Royal Hospital Chealse then please click HERE Drums, Drums, Drums! Recently we sent some very special Axial Series drums to our friends at the Spirit of '76 Pipe Band. The band had requested the drums to be finished in our military livery normally only seen on our Regimental Series drums. The band debuted these drums at the The Washington Tattoo's inaugural Gala. The band performed alongside the Ozscott Highland dancers for the VIP reception before taking to the field later on the evening for the mini tattoo event held at The Winery at Bull Run earlier this month. Photo ©Erik Lindquist. Swag of the Month This month's featured merchandise item has to be the Marching Division and Axial Series T-Shirt. Available in sizes S - XXXL "We've got you covered" Head across now to the official BDC Merch shop That's it for this issue, in the next edition we'll be delving into the UK Drum Show & BDC TV! Until next time… Stay safe Stu

Happy New Year!! Well I was intending for these newsletters to be every month but it’s been so busy here at BDC HQ that this month is a combination of both January & February. I will get another one out by the end of March!! Armed Forces Covenant As previously mention in the December issue we recently signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant. Less than 1 month later and we’ve now been awarded Bronze status. British Drum Co. recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. As an employer of veterans, we’re proud to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and we look forward to continuing and growing our support to the Armed Forces community. Drums, Drums, Drums! Recently, Melvin Knapp won a competition run by James Laughlin as part of his Pipe Band Drumming Inner Circle business. As Melvin was in the UK I invited him up to BDC HQ so he could take a tour and pick out the woods he wanted to use on his custom Axial snare drum. Melvin chose a Torched Aspen finish with a centre band of English pipped Oak veneer inlaid into it. It was then finished off with our unique Antique Copper hardware on the X-Frames and polished hoops. I'm sure you'll agree it's a stunning drum!! Kingston Police Pipe Band recently took delivery of their new snare drums. The band decided to go for the extremely popular Scarlett Merlin finish. They’ve recently just ordered the tenors and bass to match and if you think they’ve gone for the same then you’re in for a big surprise. Keep an eye on their social media platforms for more information! The Washington Tattoo Our friends at the Washington Tattoo are holding a gala at the winery at Winery at Bull Run in Virginia USA. This evening will be filled with international performances, fine wines and a fantastic networking opportunity all set in an idyllic setting. The evening will also include raffle prizes as well as silent auction prizes that 'money can’t buy'. British Drum Co. has kindly donated a Royal Marines Regimental Series RS1 snare drum complete with the wood from Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship HMS Victory. To find out more about the gala or the Washington Tattoo then head over to their website. As I bring this blog to a close a few of us are getting ready for a trip down to London to watch the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines perform at the Royal Albert Hall. As well as that there are some other things happening in London which I'll cover in the next blog ;-) Until next time… Stay safe Stu

Seasons Greetings! Well here we are once again! Another year nearly over and the promise of a better year next year. For the British Drum Co Marching Division, it's been a great year, we've seen more and more people move across to BDC and we've invested heavily in new technology and machinery to make sure we stay ahead of the game. As the world changes we also need to evolve with it and carry on maintaining the highest standards expected from BDC. The Northern Ireland Arts Council Grants came and went and it's great to see so many marching bands from Northern Ireland switching across to our drums. I look forward to seeing them on the road next year. In 2021 we've seen new finishes, products and artists added to the Marching Division and 2022 doesn't look like it will be slowing down either. Later on in the blog you'll see a couple of new finishes for 2022. Here's a quick rundown of what's been happening since the last 'Marching Orders' blog. Armed Forces Covenant British Drum Co is proud to work with our Armed Forces and as such have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant. This is our pledge which ensures that those who serve, or who have served in the armed forces - and their families - are always treated fairly. Stocking Fillers After being asked numerous times for "Marching Merch" we've finally managed to add a couple of items into our online shop for all you marching fans out there. The first is a black Axial T-Shirt. What better way to "rep the brand" than by showing your passion for the Axial Series. Secondly, we have a Marching Division T-Shirt, this is a grey ringspun cotton shirt with a distressed print to the front. Although not marching related, but something that is always asked for, we've added a long sleeve t-shirt. Featuring a white British Drum Co. logo on front and “Look Amazing! Sound Amazing! Feel Amazing!” on left sleeve. We have added more to the shop so if you'd like to see what else is new, click here Drums in Action! On the first weekend of December, Brentwood Imperial Youth Band gave 3 performances for their annual Christmas concert. In total, there were 85 musicians on stage spreading Christmas cheer for all those lucky enough to be able to grab tickets before they sold out. Having worked with the band in the past it's great to see a youth band thriving, even during the current climate and especially after the mass lockdown we encountered. As mentioned in the last marching blog, the Royal Marines used one of their new tenor drums to form the drum altar during the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance. As you can see from the photo above, the drum has the newly designed hoops which feature our new head stress management system which sees the metal flesh hoop of the drumhead completely disappear from view. The new design massively strengthens the hoop as it now has a metal ring inside due to the drumhead flesh hoop. This system was first adopted by our Axial Series and due to its popularity we've now moved it across to the Regimental Series. Recently, British Drum Co dealer D2Percusssion supplied a full corps of Axial Series drums to The Glasgow Academy Pipe Band. The band went for the stunning Cosmic Purple Sparkle finish with Silver Hardware and Georgian Oak hoops for all tenors and bass drums. BDC Marching Artists Recently, we were lucky enough to be visited by none other than pipe band tenor drumming legend, Tyler Fry, during his visit to the UK. While he was here we took the opportunity to record a serious amount of content for use online including the new BDC feature "On The Sofa With", which is due to be released early next year, so keep an eye on out on our social media platforms for that. We also found out what Tyler was up to and what possible new products could be coming out of TyFry Ltd over the next year or so and what life has been like for him during the COVID-19 pandemic. New for 2022 After the recent success of the Axial Merlin range this year we've added 3 new finishes for 2022. Along with the current Merlins we're now adding Emerald, Platinum and Violet finish options. These new finishes will go alongside the current Merlins and will be available to order from all Official British Drum Co Specialist Marching Dealers from 1st January 2022. To find your nearest dealer click here As I bring this blog to a close, I'd like to thank all customers and dealers who have supported British Drum Co throughout the year and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and an extremely Happy New Year! Until next time…. Stay Safe Stu

Welcome to the penultimate Marching Orders blog of 2021. Here's a run-down of what's been happening in the Marching Division at British Drum Co. over the past month. ROYAL MARINES KEEP THE BEAT GOING! The Royal Marines took delivery of their new bass drums along with a tenor drum to make the drum altar at this year’s BBC Festival of Remembrance. You can watch the video of their Corps of Drums display here. We’ve also had Regimental Series snares and bass drums head off to the Household Cavalry but more about them at a later date. Later on in the month we had a visit from some of the cadets and adult instructors from TS Brilliant who came for a tour of BDC HQ and to pick up their drums. They have decided to go for a mixture of RS1 & RS1C drums to help keep the sound the same whilst allowing the younger members to take part in their engagements. We have a new website which now features the new finishes for the drum set world but if you keep watching you may see a couple of new finishes appear in our Axial Series ;-) www.britishdrumco.com CHILDREN IN NEED I’m sure most of you will have seen the recent success of Owain Wyn Evans' 24 hr Drumathon for Children in Need. At the time of writing this blog the total has just passed £3.6m which is an incredible record-breaking amount for an individual fundraiser. There was plenty of BDC drum set artists on hand to give Owain morale support throughout the event, even the Royal Marines Corps of Drums came down from Scotland and with help from Pudsey managed to cheer Owain on to the 24-hour mark. There's still time to help, click the link below or more information on how to donate https://bit.ly/3nEpJA0 If there's anything you'd like to see in the Marching Orders blog then please do get in contact and we'll see what we can do. Just click here Until next time…. Stay Safe Stu