See James on Saturday at 15:00 in The Percussion Experience Room
Hosted by Ayasa Instruments, in association with our first official Ayasa UK artist James Hunter-Crossley
Ever seen a handpan (often searched for as a “hang drum”) and wondered what it feels like to play? Or heard that unmistakable sound and always fancied giving one a go? Now’s your chance.
Born from the steel drum family, the handpan blends melody, harmony and rhythm in one instrument, which is what makes it one of the most accessible and rewarding percussion instruments to learn. Whether you’re a drummer looking for a new creative outlet or you’ve never played a note in your life, you’ll be amazed how quickly you can make beautiful music.
Join professional handpan performer and teacher James Hunter-Crossley – the first official Ayasa UK artist – for a free, hands-on introduction to the handpan. Everyone plays: instruments will be provided by Ayasa, from the new UK-made Ayasa Elements range, designed for beginners, through to the Dutch-built Premium handpans played on stages around the world.
Afterwards, James will be at the Ayasa Instruments stand for more chats, jams, questions and photos. (Yes, that James Crossley: the original Hunter from ITV’s Gladiators.) Drop by, have a play, and discover why so many drummers are falling in love with the handpan. We can’t wait to meet you.
About James Hunter-Crossley
James Hunter-Crossley is one of the UK’s leading handpan performers and educators and the first official Ayasa UK artist. Captivated by the handpan five years ago, he went on to found the London Handpan Academy, where he and his team have introduced thousands of people to the instrument through workshops, performances and online teaching, showing complete beginners just how accessible, inspiring and enjoyable the handpan can be.
His route to the instrument is anything but conventional. Before becoming a professional musician, James was a TV Gladiator – the original Hunter on ITV’s Gladiators (1993–2000) – as well as an actor and professional strongman. Years of pushing his body to its limits, and the injuries that came with it, set him searching for a more mindful, creative path. That search led him to the handpan and to sound healing, and to a passion for music that inspires, relaxes and brings people together.
Today James performs at festivals, corporate events, wellness retreats and concerts across the UK and internationally, and his duo The Handpan Gentlemen has reached well over a million listeners on YouTube with their forest handpan meditations. His mission is simple: to show just how expressive and how accessible this instrument can be.
James is also the creator of The Core Handpan Method, a structured online course taking complete beginners through to confident, competent players. UK Drum Show visitors receive 20% off with the code PANSPECIAL20 – enrol at soundhealingteachertraining.com/product/handpan-course.
James Hunter-Crossley Social Media
Ayasa Instruments Social Media
James is appearing in association with Ayasa Instruments.
About Ayasa Instruments & the Elements range
Ayasa Instruments has been making handpans in the Netherlands since 2013, when founder Ralf van den Bor built his first instrument and named the company after the Sanskrit word for iron. Today its Almere workshop is one of the most respected names in the instrument’s short history: since 2017 Ayasa has been the world’s leading manufacturer of handpan shells – the deep-drawn steel foundations many of the world’s makers build on – and its own Ember Steel instruments are played by leading artists worldwide, including Malte Marten (1.4M YouTube subscribers – plays Ayasa exclusively).
In 2026, Ayasa became, to our knowledge, the first international handpan maker to establish UK production with the launch of Ayasa Elements: a new range tuned and finished in Britain by a small select group of the UK’s most experienced makers. Built to the same standards as the Dutch originals but priced for first-time players, Elements is a genuine alternative to the mass-produced entry-level imports flooding the market – a real instrument, at a price that makes beginning possible.
