Musicians join together for Ted Reinhardt's Western New York Drumming Festival

Event to bring music & drumming community together

The Ted Reinhardt Western New York Drumming Festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, at the historic Old Man River Restaurant located at 375 Niagara St., Tonawanda. This event is free, outdoors, and open to all ages and levels of musical experience.

Funds raised will benefit the Ted Reinhardt and Bruce Brucato Memorial Fund at Kenmore East High School. The initiative provides $500 scholarships to seniors going to college for music or a music-related field.

A press release stated, “Ted Reinhardt’s Western New York Drumming Festival is the largest gathering/event featuring drummers and percussionists in this part of the region. Local drummers are invited to set up their drum kits, congas and djembes on the street and play along to recorded tracks all at the same time.

“Both Ted Reinhardt and Bruce Brucato are inducted members of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and were highly respected musicians throughout the WNY music community. Ted and Bruce were members of top WNY-area and local Buffalo bands, including Junction West, Rodan, Taxi and Gamalon. Ted was also the drummer on Spyro Gyra’s “Morning Dance” album.

The afternoon will include prize drawings, and 50/50 splits. There will be performances by JGB Shibuki Japanese Drumming at 1 p.m. and national recording artist and Najee drummer DP On Drums at 2:30 p.m.

Organizers added, “We want to thank our friends at Sacred Heart Productions for the stage and sound. The Ted Reinhardt Western New York Drumming Festival hopes to collect donations for the scholarship fund, as well as baby diapers, socks, underwear and clothing, which can be brought to this event for WNY Drummers for Homeless People.”

The Jim Harszlak Foundation will sell limited-edition festival T-shirts with numbers on them (buy in advance at brandingbuffalo.com). If one’s number is selected, they can win a cash prize.

For more information, contact Paul at 716-598-0387 or visit on Facebook: “Ted Reinhardt WNY Drumming Festival.”