NAOMI FORBES: The Powerhouse Player Talks All Things Drums…

From the Royal Albert Hall to The UK Drum Show Main Stage, Naomi Forbes is absolutely smashing it!

Having played for the likes of Paloma Faith, Cat Burns, and Leigh-Anne from Little Mix, Naomi’s career has been nothing short of iconic—and she’s only just getting started.

She picked up the sticks at age 5, and by 16, she was already tearing it up at iconic venues around the world. Now, she’s bringing her powerhouse drumming to the main stage of The UK Drum Show, performing at 11:15am on Saturday 18th October…Grab your tickets for the UK’s hottest drum weekend HERE

In this interview, Naomi shares her thoughts with The UK Drum Show Main Stage presenter Ollie Winiberg on the importance of networking, using social media as a tool for growth, overcoming hearing loss, and why preparation is everything. 

01:12 – Getting gigs like Paloma Faith

02:20 – Networking and Social Media

03:55 – Getting the call

05:15 – If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail

06:14 – Music is a gift

07:00 – Drums is the best instrument

08:04 – Going deaf

10:15 – Advice for aspiring drummers

12:10 – What to expect at The UK Drum Show

Naomi Proudly Plays…

Mapex Drums

Zildjian Cymbals

For more interviews with some of the biggest names in drumming please subscribe to The UK Drum Show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@theukdrumshow and click on the bell icon to be notified as soon as each new video is released.

Also, be sure to check out our sister-site: www.drummersreview.com where you can find many more big name interviews along with completely impartial video reviews of all of your favourite drum gear.

Biography

Multi-instrumentalist Naomi Forbes has been playing drums since the age of 5. Her journey started in church, playing alongside her musical siblings in her early years.

Naomi’s professional music career began at the age of 11. By age 16 she had already performed in iconic venues like The Royal Festival Hall and The Royal Albert Hall, on multiple occasions.  Following her passion for music, Naomi went on to continue her musical education at BIMM, receiving a first-class degree in Music Performance BMus (Hons).

To date, Naomi’s musical career has seen her perform across many renowned venues and festivals, globally. Most recently, she performed at Montreux Jazz Festival and graced Glastonbury’s flagship, Pyramid Stage in the summer! Naomi also just completed a UK & Europe tour, drumming for the brilliant Paloma Faith.

Naomi has also worked alongside artists such as Cat Burns & Leigh-Anne (Little Mix). Watch out for Naomi in 2025, as she takes her Mapex kits to stages around the world!