The UK Drum Show 2025 – Inside The Event With Organiser Neil Golding

Ollie Says…”Last weekend, I swapped the familiar sights of Essex for the rolling hills of Devon, and not for a holiday (though the views did tempt me to linger). Instead, I packed my bags and made the journey west to sit down with my boss – yes, my actual boss – Neil Golding. Now, I’ll be honest, when you tell friends you’re going to your boss’s house for the weekend, you get a few raised eyebrows. But this wasn’t some awkward appraisal meeting over tea and biscuits. This was an opportunity to chat with the man responsible for The UK Drum Show and The Europe Drum Show – the two biggest dedicated drum exhibitions in the world.And where better for such a conversation than Neil’s own home? The Devon countryside provided the perfect calm backdrop, though ironically, all we talked about for the next half hour was noise: glorious, rhythmic, inspirational noise.

With the 2025 edition of The UK Drum Show fast approaching (mark your calendars: October 18th–19th at the ACC Liverpool), I wanted to uncover what makes this event tick. What’s the secret sauce that transforms a weekend of clinics, performances, and gear demos into a global pilgrimage for drummers?

Neil began by sharing the story of how The UK Drum Show first came to life. Like so many brilliant ideas, it started small. It was a vision, a spark, a determination to create something the drumming world was missing. That first show was ambitious, but it laid the foundations for what is now the must-attend event for anyone with sticks in their hands. Listening to Neil talk, it’s clear that this isn’t just business for him – it’s personal. He knows what it means to the community because he’s part of it.

We then got into the detail of the artist selection process. And let me tell you, it’s not just a case of rolling a dice and hoping the right names pop up. Neil and his team carefully craft the line-up, ensuring a balance of genres, generations, and styles. He described the annual buzz online as drummers speculate and celebrate each new announcement – and honestly, you can see how much joy he gets from watching the community light up.

Another subject close to Neil’s heart is supporting local drum shops, something he feels strongly about after seeing how COVID impacted retail across the board. While he encourages drummers to keep their local stores alive, the show itself also brings together an incredible range of brands under one roof – from smaller, up-and-coming names right through to the biggest players in the industry. Head downstairs at the ACC Liverpool, in the Exhibition Centre, and you’ll find around 90% of the world’s drum brands represented. Of course, sales happen, but the real magic is in the face-to-face interaction: meeting the people behind the brands, putting personalities to logos, and having real conversations. It gives punters the chance to ask questions directly to the companies who design, build, and innovate the gear they love – and that two-way exchange is what makes the weekend so unique.

And that’s the thing… the show, the brands, the performances, even the gear sales. It all comes back to connection. Neil spoke with real pride about the friendships forged across its halls. Strangers meet in Liverpool, swap a few stories, trade a few tips, and leave as mates for life. It’s that sense of community that sets the show apart.

We also talked about the Main Stage Mini, a feature introduced a couple of years ago to give children their own platform. Watching young players get behind a kit and experience the buzz of performing is something so special for the next generation of drummers. It’s proof that the show isn’t just celebrating drumming today – it’s nurturing tomorrow’s players too.

And then, of course, there’s the legendary Post Hang. On the Saturday night of the show, drummers flood a local Liverpool pub for a few beers, a laugh, and some well-earned downtime. It’s become just as much a tradition as the performances themselves, and Neil chuckled as he described the lively atmosphere that carries on well into the night (and for some, into the morning!)

Interviewing Neil at his home felt like pulling back the curtain, not only on the show but on the man behind it. He’s passionate, driven, and very inspiring…

So, as October draws nearer, one thing’s for certain: The UK Drum Show 2025 isn’t just another date in the diary. It’s the heartbeat of the drumming community – and if Neil has anything to do with it (spoiler: he does), it’s going to be the biggest and best one yet.”