The measure of success for any drumming festival is always gauged by how many come home from it with big smiles on their faces..

The Mapex-sponsored La Rioja Drumming Festival is a different way to understand, feel, and live drums and percussion. The Festival brings the drummer to center stage and seeks to promote the musician's skill and musical prowess to the public. In its five years the festival has boasted an attendance of some 14,000 spectators. The event is publicly funded and the festival is a non-profit organization.

On 3rd September this year, nearly 4,000 attendees from across the world traveled to Rioja to participate in the this fantastic festival, structured into two main parts: a masterclass by one the festival's visiting artists in the morning, and a full-production show at night treating the festival audience to a dazzling display of virtuosity, skill, and musical diversity.

This year, Mapex was represented at La Rioja by three of our endorsers: Dom Famularo (the godfather of La Rioja Drumming Festival!), Claus Hessler (master educator and performer), and the talented Bartek Pawlus (winner of Drummer of Tomorrow 2010). Not only did our artists' abilities command the attention of all who witnessed their bravura performances, but this was also the perfect opportunity for Mapex to demonstrate the range and versatility of our drums: 11-year-old Ander astonished masterclass attendees with his rendition of a Metallica groove (truly, the drummer of tomorrow) on Claus's MP5045 Jazz-based configuration, no less! Both Claus's kit and Bartek's MP6225 Studio kit were donated to the festival, to be raffled off: many congratulations to the lucky winners. Mapex wishes them many happy years of music-making.

To learn more about this festival, check out the official website of La Rioja Drumming Festival.
For more information about Dom Famularo, visit http://www.domfamularo.com
For more information about Claus Hessler, visit http://www.claushessler.de/

Dom Famularo, the godfather of this event.

Dom and Alex Acuña's energetic drum battle.



Claus Hessler generously shared his knowledge and skills.



Drum masters!



The 2010 Drummer of Tomorrow winner Bartek Pawlus wowed the crowd with his powerful, dynamic live show.


Ander playing on Hessler's Mapex drum set: he couldn't wait to enjoy its perfect sound!