Drummers In Exile last night at Trinity-Bellwoods Park was definitely one of the most amazing things that I’ve seen in Toronto since I’ve been living here…. WOW!

I could definitely hear the drums from Queen St West from the moment I stepped into the park it was loud and clear where “the pit” where all the drummers were drumming was located. To look down the valley and see so many people, drums, blankets, henna painting, crazy colours, dancing, hula-hoops, tree swing, and then as the sun went down the fire twirlers, oh and of course the unmistakeable scent of mary j floating around the park which just added to the total sensory experience… INCREDIBLE!

The whole time the rhythm did not stop. I joined the people in the middle dancing to the drums, closed my eyes and let the music guide my body. I was in a trance. So powerful are the sound of the drums, and the voice instruments (yells, screams, tribal noises, etc), it was so easy to get lost in the beat and forget that I was in Toronto (and not in some tribal nation somewhere)!

I didn’t get any good snaps of the drummers unfortunately. I arrived when there was little lighting and I haven’t worked out how to take decent shots with my point’n’shoot just yet. I did manage to get some pics of the fire twirling (so awesome!) and a video of the drumming.

Drummers In Exile is a weekly event in Toronto. For more info on upcoming locations and the summer schedule refer to www.drummersinexile.com

Highly recommended for anybody who hasn’t been yet.