ROLAND, DW’S OXTOBERFEST EVENT 2025 BRINGS 20-PLUS NEW PRODUCT PREVIEWS R oland and Drum Workshop (DW) re- cently joined forces for OxtoberFest
2025, a three-day dealer event that brought together the drum retailers and artists from all over the world for a first-hand look at the latest innovations across the Roland and DW suite of brands. Held Oct. 7–9 in Oxnard, California, the annual OxtoberFest event featured a dynamic mix of more than 20 new product previews, interactive round- tables and live performances. Attendees got a first look at upcoming releases from Roland, DW, DWe, PDP, Slingerland and Latin Percussion (LP). New for OxtoberFest 2025, the second day of the event was held at The Canyon in Agoura Hills a longtime fixture in Southern California’s music scene. Artists demon- strated new products onstage, allowing dealers to experience the gear through a P.A. system in a live music venue. As Roland/DW head of drums and DW CEO Chris Lombardi welcomed dealers to The Canyon, he added, “The art and craft of drumming culminate here with our brands today. As a dealer, you demonstrate your sincere commitment to customers just by being here, and you are the most important conduit. Engage, learn, take notes and have fun. As you can see, we changed the venue this year to make room for all this incred- ible new gear and to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.” In a video message, Roland Corporation CEO, Masahiro Minowa, expressed gratitude to event attendees for their participation. He emphasized the uniqueness of showcasing electronic and acoustic drum products to- gether, noting that a shared commitment to innovation and inspiring drummers united everyone present. Minowa also conveyed optimism that the event would foster con- fidence in the future of everyone’s shared business efforts. Shane Kinney, owner of Drum Center of Portsmouth in North Hampton, New Hampshire, said he found value in the one-on-one time with brand managers and dealers at OxtoberFest. “It’s invaluable to share our experiences from the past year and connect with new colleagues,” Kinney said. “After 25 years in this industry, it can be hard to get excited
Attendees of Roland’s OxtoberFest 2025 event.
about new percussion product releases. We’ve been to the top of the mountain, but this year, I’m genuinely excited about what’s coming next from these brands. Many products in our industry are evolu- tionary, but several items showcased today were truly revolutionary.” Several artists joined OxtoberFest to celebrate and showcase the new products. Thomas Lang, international drumming virtuoso and educator, served as event MC and DWe demonstrator. He was joined by Kevin Ricard (demonstrating for LP), Grammy-winning percussionist known for his work with Stevie Wonder and The Tonight Show Band; Scott Pellegrom
(demonstrating for PDP), celebrated for his explosive live performances; Danny Seraphine (demonstrating for Slingerland), Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founding drummer of Chicago; Nate Morton (demonstrating for Roland), drummer for NBC’s The Voice; Gil Sharone (demon- strating for DW), virtuoso drummer of Dillinger Escape Plan; and Dave Elitch (demonstrating for DW), drummer with The Mars Volta. Later in the evening, the artists sat in jamming on the soon-to-be- released gear with the OxtoberFest house band led by Ed Roth, including a surprise performance by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. {roland.com}
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