DRUMLINE LIVE Kicks Off U.S. Tour in Philadelphia, 10/17 & 18

Drumline Live kicks off its fourth U.S. tour bringing the American marching band experience to the Merriam Theater, Wed.-Thurs, October 17–18, 2012. Fast with their sticks and just as fast with their feet, Drumline Live's cast of 30+ musicians and dancers have trained in marching band programs across the southern United States presenting dynamic, athletic performances to the rousing sounds of the great brass tradition, as well as contemporary, hip-hop, Motown, and gospel music. Tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, August 9 at 10 a.m.

Drumline Live's program features a musical blend of soul, funk, gospel, jazz and rock with songs by the legendary band Earth Wind & Fire and the urban soul group Tower of Power; and includes a performance of American Soul to Motown music by some of the greatest recorded artists of all time; hand-clapping, heart thumping southern gospel music; the sounds of the big band; soulful reinterpretations of top 40 hits; original compositions; the iconic halftime extravaganza of Historically Black College and University marching bands; and heavy doses of drum riffs, cadences and funky footwork.
Tickets for Drumline Live are available at $18-$45, and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office located on Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, PA 19102 (open daily from 10am to 6pm, later on performance evenings).
Creator and director of Drumline Live, Don P. Roberts was the Executive Band Consultant for the nationally and internationally acclaimed hit movie, Drumline (Twentieth Century Fox), nominated in 2003 by the NAACP as Most Outstanding Motion Picture, and American Choreography Award for outstanding achievement in feature filM. Roberts was responsible for training the actors, writing precision drills, rehearsing the band, etc. Most recently, Mr. Roberts was appointed as the associate producer and executive band consultant for the ESPNU Television series, The Battle, which features some of America's best Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Marching Bands. The five series weekly show debuted in fall 2010. Roberts also serves as president and musical director of Halftime Live, the official drum line company for the Atlanta Hawks from 2007 to present and the Atlanta Falcons in 2007.