For Jahmes Tony Finlayson, drumming is more than a hobby. It's also a spiritual practice and a way of life for Finlayson, who is a member of One Drum, Ko-Thi African Dance Company and the jazz ensemble Clamnation.
{INSERT_RELATED}Tonight, Finlayson and One Drum will perform at Shank Hall. The show starts at 10 p.m. and will run for a whopping 240 minutes.
The group tours extensively throughout the U.S. performing songs, stories and dances from African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Australian cultures. They are loud, colorful and energetic, resulting in an all-consuming experience.
With eight core members and more than 20 fringe participants, the shows are never the same. The diverse musicians play multiple instruments that include djembe, kalimba, congas, flutes, guitars, charango, djun-djun, oud, dijeridoo, bells, violin, viola, marimba, cabasa, talking drum and more.
The group also regularly performs for school-aged children, offering workshops and performances that range from instrument making to African dance.
One Drum will also perform this summer at Summerfest and Rainbow Summer. For more information about Finlayson or One Drum, go to www.onedrum.net.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
