From intimate theatres to massive festivals, from Europe to Asia, Africa to the Americas—this show is a high-octane tribute to 25 years of uniting people through the universal language of rhythm.
Now booking for theaters, festivals & cultural stages worldwide.
Contact us now!
Drums United
Birth of the Beat – 25th Anniversary Edition
An unforgettable journey through rhythm, culture, and time.
As part of Drums United’s 25th Anniversary Tour, the acclaimed percussion spectacle Birth of the Beat returns—revamped, recharged, and more immersive than ever before.
This milestone edition celebrates 25 years of rhythm without borders, tracing the heartbeat of humanity through drums, dance, and song. With breathtaking visuals, powerful live performances, and a cast of world-class international musicians, Birth of the Beat is more than a concert—it’s a dynamic cultural celebration.
Tell me more...
In this celebratory edition of Birth of the Beat, artistic director Lucas van Merwijk brings together both long-time collaborators and fresh talent from across the globe. The performance showcases the evolution of percussion, from ancient ritual drumming to modern cross-cultural fusions.
Audiences will be transported through time and continents with powerful projections, mesmerizing dance, and an electrifying musical journey—from African djembes and Venezuelan culo e’ puya drums to Indian tablas, Oriental frame drums, and the pulse of the modern drum kit.
But this is no museum piece. It’s alive. It’s loud. And it celebrates 25 years of global rhythm innovation. The new version of Birth of the Beat captures the spirit of Drums United’s legacy, while pushing forward into new sonic and visual territory.
Whether you’ve followed Drums United since the beginning or you’re discovering them now—this is the moment to experience the beat like never before.
Drums United is an explosive and exciting world-percussion group led by multi awarded drummer Lucas van Merwijk, that brings together rhythms and percussionists from all directions.
It’s a smoking live band that not only gives the audience an opportunity of listening and watching top players, but also imparts the underlying message that people from widely varying nationalities can work well together.
On both its previous show World of Rhythm and the current Ritmo Inferno the group mixes African, Latin, Spanish and Indian drum traditions with western drumming, utilizing contemporary electronic options open to the DJ.
Since its inception in 2002 the band has been virtually on tour all the time. Their first theatre program World Of Rhythm was recorded live and is out now on DVD as well as CD.
Drums United occupies a unique place in the world of percussion groups by combining elements of the rich traditions of percussion with those of song and dance.
Lucas has been at the forefront of the European jazz, latin and percussion scene for over 30 years He was elected 'Best Jazz drummer' in the Benelux countries by the readers of De Slagwerkkrant many times running between the years 1993 and 2020.
Press Quotes
‘...Drums United hits you like a bomb...’ Amersfoort Cultuur ‘.
..Driving, always overwhelming drums... Heartbeat is a revelation... ’ Mixed Magazine
‘...The magic of drums...ein Supersound...’ Sticks Magazine
‘...It's the extraordinary level of playing that makes this group so unique. What else can you expect, if you bring together the finest players and let them do what they do best!...’ The Telegraph
‘...One of the best Latin Drummers In The World...’ The Parool ‘
...Drums United has it all...’ De Slagwerkkrant
"A really amazing journey through the many path's of drums, percussion, and world music. Five stars all the way!!!!"
Horacio 'eL NEgRO' Hernandez.
" I remember when I first met Lucas, it was many years ago, as a member of Nueva Manteca. I was very impressed with his musicality, and he was my introduction to the great Dutch drum scene. I've been a fan of his drumming since first hearing him, then in 2000, had the pleasure of touring with him and Aly N'Diaye Rose, in the very first version of Drums United, as part of The Big Bang. There was just the two of them, but it sounded like many more!!! Today, their numbers have increased, and this great live DVD showcases real "world" drumming at its best. Congratulations to Lucas, and Drums United."
David Garibaldi (Tower of Power)
Discography
World of Rhythm cd Tam Tam Records
World of Rhythm dvd Tam Tam Records
Ritmo Inferno dvd Tam Tam Records
Heartbeat cd Tam Tam Records
Rhythm Dreams cd Tam Tam Records
Artists who worked with Drums United
Aly N'Diaye Rose (Senegal)
Misirli Achmet (Turkey)
Pape Thiam (Senegal)
DJ Kokos (The Netherlands)
Nuria Manglano (Spain)
Andres Marin (Spain)
Vince Mendoza (USA, Multiple Grammy Award Winner)
Luis de Luis (Spain)
Gerardo Rosales (Venezuela)
Ro Krom (The Netherlands)
Metropole Orchestra (Multiple Grammy Award Winner)
Artvark Saxophone 4Tet (The Netherlands)
Ryoko Imai (Japan)
Simone Sou (Brasil)
Julio Pimentel (Brasil)
Niti Ranjan Biswas (Bangla Desh)
Denise Jannah (Surinam)
Randal Corsen (Curaçao)
Drums United toured in
Canada, USA, Mexico, Colombia, China, Thailand, Surinam, Estonia, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria.
Line up Lucas van Merwijk (The Netherlands) • Drums & percussion Alper Kekeç (Turkey) • Oriental percussion Marco Toro (Venezuela) • Latin percussion Moussé Pathé (Senegal) • African percussion Niti Ranjan Biswas (Bangladesh) • Tabla's Juan ‘Bulu’ Viloria (Venezuela) • Sound Engineer 2001 start percussiongroup DRUMS UNITED 2002 Theatre tour Drums United program HIT 2003 Theatre tour Drums United program HIT 2004 Theatre tour Drums United 'World of Rhythm' 2005 Theatre tour Drums United 'World of Rhythm' 2006 Theatre tour Drums United 'World of Rhythm' (reprise) 2006 DVD recording Drums United 'World of Rhythm' 2006 Theatre tour Drums United ‘Ritmo Inferno’ 2007 Drums United tour to Bulgaria and Serbia 2008 Drums United tour to Cyprus and Germany 2008 Cubop City Big Band with Drums United Tilburg 2008 Cubop City Big Band with Drums United Grachtenfestival 2008 Dutch Theatre tour Drums United Slaat Door! 2009 Drums United tour to Mexico 2009 Drums United tour to Norway 2009 Drums United tour to Germany 2009 Drums United Theatre Tour ‘Slaat door!’ 2009 dvd Drums United Ritmo Inferno 2010 cd Drums United Heartbeat 2010 Drums United Canada concerts (London) Algoma) 2011 Drums United Germany tour 2011 Drums United with Metropole Orchestra 2011 Drums United Canada concerts (Montreal, Fredericton, Sherbrooke) 2011 Drums United European Heartbeat (Ireland) with Eamon Murray, Bohdran drum 2012 Drums United European Heartbeat (Turkey) with Misirli Ahmet, Darbuka 2012 Drums United Heartbeat tour Netherlands, Germany, Usa, Canada, Norway, Turkey, Luxembourg 2013 Drums United Heartbeat tour Netherlands, Thailand, Germany, Usa, Canada, Mexico 2013 Drums United on Germany Television 2014 Drums United Colombia Tour 2014 Drums United China tour & Nine Beats Clinics 2014 Drums United Album ‘Rhythm Dreams’ 2014 Drums United China & Thailand Tour. 2015 200 Year Kingdom concert Drums United 2015 Drums United China Tour 2016 Drums United Tour Surinam 2016 Drums United Tour China 2016 9Beats Summercamp China 2017 Drums United Tour Germany, China, Netherlands 2018 Drums United Tour Germany Netherlands 2019 Drums United Tour Germany Netherlands 2022 Drums United 'Birth of The Beat' Dutch Theatre Tour 2023 Drums United 'Birth of The Beat' Dutch Theatre Tour 2023 Drums United 'Birth of The Beat' Dutch Theatre Tour
Quotes De Slagwerkkrant: De percussietrein dendert in volle vaart over je heen met af en toe een verstild moment, soms een lach en soms feestelijke publieksparticipatie: Drums United heeft het allemaal in de vingers! North America press: Drums United a smash hit with young audiences! Jazzprofiles: Lucas van Merwijk is one of the great drummers of our time. He lays down so much good stuff that even the eyes of a trained drummer can't catch it all. Wolfenbütteler Zeitung Drums United takes the audience into the international world of drums and rhythms with an hypnotic charm.
Shop Drums United 25
World Of Rhythm
Drums United
€14,00 (+ € 3,65 shipping costs)
