Drummers, educators, and gear makers from across the U.S., and far beyond, are making plans to descend on Nashville this summer for the fifth annual Music City Drum Show. Set for July 19 and 20, 2025, the event returns to the Nashville Fairgrounds Expo Center with more than 100 companies confirmed and 46,000 square feet of exhibition space. It’s expected to be one of the biggest percussion events of the year.
What began just five years ago as a regional meetup has grown into a nationally recognized hub for all things drums. The show’s appeal rests less on spectacle and more on its community-driven focus. Industry veterans, young players, collectors, and boutique builders all share the same floor: talking, learning, and exchanging ideas. It’s not just about new gear (though there’s plenty of that); it’s about putting drumming culture at the center of the conversation.
This year’s main stage lineup reflects the event’s broad reach. Saturday kicks off with Dylan Wissing, a studio veteran whose credits include tracks with Kanye West, Alicia Keys, and Eminem. He’ll dive into the space between live groove and studio precision. Jay Weinberg follows, bringing an entirely different energy: his background with Slipknot and Suicidal Tendencies speaks to the louder side of drumming. Closing out the day is Leyan Senay, whose clinics span cultures, drawing rhythm from across continents and shaping it into a cohesive, contemporary language.
Sunday leans into legacy. Bobby T. Torello, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, opens the day with stories and techniques from decades behind the kit. Later, Cathy Rich and Gregg Potter offer a tribute to jazz icon Buddy Rich, bringing a historical layer to the weekend. The final slot goes to Jake Sommers and Mat Maxwell, both known for their work with Luke Combs. Their session turns the spotlight toward modern country grooves, where pocket, tone, and precision all come into play.
Tickets remain affordable: $15 for a single day, $25 for the weekend. Attendance looks strong already, with educators, students, and working drummers planning the trip from across the Southeast and beyond. Alongside performances and product demos, the event includes clinics, roundtable talks, and plenty of informal moments: hallway conversations, quick kit tryouts, unplanned jams, that continue to define its inclusive feel.
In an era where so much of the music world lives online, the Music City Drum Show doubles down on presence. There’s no livestream, no virtual showroom: just the sound of sticks on heads, of conversations that start over cymbals and drift into everything else. For two days, Nashville’s music identity stretches past guitars and vocals. The pulse of the city, for that weekend at least, is built on drums.