Wonderful weekend with Drum Up JB 2.0

 

On the first weekend of October, drumming fans kept their date with Drum Up JB 2.0 as they made a beeline to the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House in Johor Bahru for matinee and evening shows planned from October 4 to 6.

 

A dramatic scene from Drum Up JB 2.0

After the first season of Drum Up JB in 2023, fans eagerly anticipated the next season of the drum shows and when tickets went on sale for Drum Up JB 2.0, they did not hesitate to snap up the group deals.

 

This season’s shows not only pleased drumming fans but was also an eye-opening experience for first-timers who had never ventured to watch such a presentation on the stage of the prestigious Opera House.

 

While many know that Chinese drums were used to perform the art of the 24 Festive Drums – and erroneously thought that this art of drumming was from China – they were not aware that this performing art was founded in Johor Bahru in 1988 by two Tans, namely the late Tan Hooi Song and Tan Chai Puan.

 

Tan Chai Puan [Center] with the Lim family
at the Drum Up JB 2.0 show

Among the first-timers at the recent show, were members of the Lim family who operate Hiap Joo, the traditional woodfire bakery* at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.

 

Members of this family are still doing the business started by their forefathers and from the long queues outside their bakery, patiently waiting to buy freshly baked pastries, we know that they have been very busy keeping their customers happy.

 

Even though the location of their bakery in the city’s heritage quarter is not far from the Opera House, it was their first time at the Opera House for their first experience of the dramatic drum show.

 

Another scene from Drum Up JB 2.0

Since its inception, the art of the 24 Festive Drums has been widely accepted among people of all races and performed for private or public events for its auspiciousness.

 

Many may have watched a live performance by the 24 Festive Drums at such events but a stage presentation of the dramatic drum show was an entirely different experience.

 

After the show, the Lim family met Tan Chai Puan, who was proud to learn that they and others in the audience, were simply wowed by the dramatic performance.

 

With Eric Lee [Right] and friends
from Hong Kong, Thomas and
Suzanna, holding My Johor Stories

Over the years, the art of the 24 Festive Drums have transformed from a high school activity to an impressive, internationally accepted art of drumming that not only preserves traditional heritage but also develops a high level of discipline among drummers.

 

I am familiar with the 24 Festive Drums as I had the privilege to document an exclusive story on co-founder, Tan Chai Puan, under Portraits in my 2017 MPH Non-Fiction Bestseller, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage.

 

When young drummers at Johor Bahru’s Foon Yew High School went abroad to further their studies, they started drum troops in their colleges and universities and brought this art of drumming to various nations.

 

The art of the 24 Festive Drums was thus exported abroad with drum troops now established in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and even in Africa.

 

Mr Tham is familiar with our 
family's badminton glory days

In Malaysia, this performing art continues to be actively promoted and developed by younger generation drummers and professional drum troops like HANDS Percussion, Orang Orang Drum Theatre and the JB Drums Troop.

 

I also documented the story on the Art of the 24 Festive Drums among proudly Johor brands in, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment launched in 2022, that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories books.

 

Unlike other drum performances that may be accompanied by cymbals, the 24 Festive Drums is a flexible and dynamic artform that really has no limit to creativity.

 

The Drum Up JB 2.0 project involved some 50 people, with a management team skilled in stage design, lighting and choreography, in support of the drummers on stage, who performed a dramatic 70-minute non-stop drum show.

 

Stacey and the Chey family with
My Johor Stories books

This creative and theatrical production, dubbed ‘The Drum Book’ presented in various chapters, portrayed the identity of the drums, the harmony of percussion instruments used by main ethnic groups here, along with the development of the 24 Festive Drums to its current status as a popular performing art form.

 

At the successful conclusion of Drum Up JB 2.0, the organisers expressed their desire to create a permanent cultural attraction that features the art of the 24 Festive Drums as a must-see show for visitors to Johor Bahru.

 

To meet this commitment, they need the support of sponsors, both individual and corporate, to provide the funds to help turn their dream projects into reality.

 

Taking a bow at the close of the
Drum Up JB 2.0 show

In addition to fund contributions banked into the JBDrums Centre bank account, support may also be through the purchase of Drum Up JB merchandise.

 

Visit the JB Drums Facebook page for more details on sponsorship and merchandise.

 

* Hiap Joo, the traditional woodfire bakery, is featured under Heritage Trades in My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

 

Note: My Johor Stories books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline. In Johor Bahru, books are available from Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO) and from my pop-up store at the drum shows.

Photos at Drum Up JB 2.0 show are used courtesy of JB Drums and Tan Chai Puan.