A new drum beat beckons...

 

This September, the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House roared to live again as Drum Up JB presented four dramatic drum shows over three days in, Drums: A New Beat Beckons.

 

A dramatic scene from, Drums: A New Beat Beckons
Photo Credit: Ms Wong Siew Heong

My Johor Stories have had the privilege to partner with Drum Up JB since 2023 and it was my pleasure to join them again at the, A New Beat Beckons series of shows.

 

This is because Book Three of My Johor Stories, documented the Art of the 24 Festive Drums among the Johor brands that were proudly established in Johor, spread nationwide and also exported abroad.

 

Guests listening to the pre-show introduction
held in the foyer of the Opera House

The contents of My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment to complete the trilogy of My Johor Stories, is made up of a collection of Johor stories that feature Johor culture and heritage, proudly Johor brands as well as some of my own grandfather stories.

 

To this day, many still think that the Art of the 24 Festive Drums is a Chinese cultural performance from China. While they are right about the drums – which is a traditional Chinese drum – the Art of the 24 Festive Drums is NOT from China but a performing art that originated in Johor Bahru.

 

Display of the Warisan Orang Hidup awards
presented to the the co-founders,
Tan Hooi Song and Tan Chai Puan

This art of dramatic drumming started in Johor Bahru in 1988 by the two Tans – Tan Hooi Song and Tan Chai Puan – and it gradually spread to schools, colleges and universities nationwide.

 

And when young drummers went abroad to further their studies, they brought along their passion for this art of drumming and started drum troops in universities across Asia, Europe, North America and even Africa. To date, there are some 600 drum troops established worldwide.

 

In recognition for their dedication and contribution to culture and heritage, the two Tans – Tan Hooi Song (2008) and Tan Chai Puan (2018) – each received the Warisan Orang Hidup (Living Heritage) award from the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, Malaysia.

 

Cast and directors of A New Beat Beckons
taking a bow at the close of the show

On 14 February 2009, the 24 Festive Drums was honoured as a Malaysian National Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage.

 

Over the years, this art of drumming gradually evolved into a performing art of dramatic proportions where traditional drumming blends with contemporary elements and ethnic Malaysian percussion instruments to present a unique showcase of creative drumming, choreography, theatre, music and storytelling.

 

Cast, directors with co-founder, Tan Chai Puan,
and Drum Up JB advisor, Lee Sheah Liang

This performing art continued 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.

 

Drum Up JB was formed in 2023 by Orang Orang Drum Theatre and JB Drums as a new entity aimed at preserving and sharing the cultural artform of the 24 Festive Drums, in the heartland of Johor Bahru where this performing art was born.

 

With Tan Guang Mei,
daughter of Tan Hooi Song

As the Drum Up JB shows earned a proud reputation as a quality performance presented at the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House and gained popularity among drumming enthusiasts and new fans, it also earned the prestigious Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s Choice Award in 2024.

 

When the Art of the 24 Festive Drums was nominated by the Malaysian government for the 2026 UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, Drum Up JB has taken on the mantle of cultural activists who are intent on preserving and sharing the 24 Festive Drums artform, not just locally but all across the globe.

 

It is the vision and desire of Drum Up JB that this year’s performances will raise enough funds for this show to become a permanent performance at the Opera House, just like, ‘The Lion King’ in Broadway, or ‘Les Misérables’ in West End.

 

With Mrs Ivy Lee,
mother of Lee Sheah Liang
 

Then visitors who come to Johor in 2026, will have the opportunity to watch Drum Up JB shows at the Opera House.

 

At the A New Beat Beckons season this September, Drum Up JB provided a gallery of visual information in the foyer along with pre-show introductions – conducted in Chinese and English languages – for guests to have a better appreciation of the Art of the 24 Festive Drums.

 

My Johor Stories had the pleasure to compliment this effort as I chatted with readers who were keen to read and learn more about the Art of the 24 Festive Drums, documented in English, from my books.

 

Among them were Raymond Chin who came from Kuala Lumpur to experience the drum show for the very first time and Eipeldauer Wolfgang of Eastern & Oriental Express, who was delighted to discover that besides the Art of the 24 Festive Drums, another familiar Johor brand, My Liberica Coffee, was also documented in my book.

 

With Raymond Chin who came from
Kuala Lumpur to enjoy A New Beat Beckons

I was both pleased and so proud when Wolfgang told me that My Liberica Coffee was served on board the unique and luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express train. [This gave me yet another reason to have my own experience on board this train!]

 

It was always heartwarming to meet with Tan Guang Mei, daughter of the late Tan Hooi Song, and Mrs Ivy Lee, mother of Lee Sheah Liang, and for Tan Chai Puan, co-founder of the Art of the 24 Festive Drums, to stop by to capture a we-fie with me.

 

Then a group arrived later than the show’s start-time and the crew gently told them that they had to wait for a break in the show before they could enter the theatre. 

This was just courtesy, to avoid any disruption to the audience’s viewing pleasure and the artistes’ performance.

 

With co-founder, Tan Chai Puan

While waiting, a couple of ladies looked at My Johor Stories. It was amusing when one expressed surprise when she suddenly realised that my avatar printed on my book cover designs resembled me and she exclaimed, “Ah, it’s you!”

 

While Drum Up JB enjoyed a memorable season for, A New Beat Beckons in September 2025, preparations are underway for the next season, coming very soon in November 2025.

 

Look out for the dates and details, available soon on the Drum Up JB webpage and social media platforms.