Weekly Drum Circle
Rating: 10/10
Cost: Free
Location: Golden Gardens Beach/ Gas Works Park
Parking: Both places have a tight parking situation during peak-hours, but you can always park a little farther and walk. It’s free in both places.
I have written in few articles how I got into drumming and became one of my fascinations. Thanks to the weekly drumming circle in Seattle, it’s allowed to develop my passion for drumming going from someone who freeloaded off drum circle’s drums to owning a djembe and tongue drum, sometimes playing it in the house solo. The fact that the drum circle events are hosted in beautiful surroundings such as Golden Gardens Beach and Gas Works Park with camp fire, lake view makes it even more enjoyable. When I joined, I didn’t know how to hold a drum let alone have any proficiency. I utilized the extra drums available and started playing. The people have always been supportive of newbies, never being judged. Therefore the minimum requirements for participating in an event like this is very low. Counter-culture from the 60's might have died, but with people dancing around fire to the sound of drums till 10 or 11 in the night is the ideal “hippy party” one envisions. I have set off Tuesday evenings from my schedule for the event, and I believe others can also benefit from the event so I am sharing it here.
Logistics / getting there
In summers, the event runs on Tuesdays at Golden Gardens Park Beach while in the winters it’s at Gas Works Park. While it’s every week in summers, the frequency goes to alternate weeks in winters. The transition is somewhere in mid-September when rains start lashing the Emerald City. The approximate times are 7–11 pm (till 10 pm in Gas Works Park) although it’s around 8 pm when things start picking up. At Gas Works Park, the venue is under the canopy next to the lake. In Golden Gardens, it’s end of the walkway along the beach past the restrooms. The sound of the drums amplifies as you near the group making it easier to locate them. Thus it’s a good idea to come after 8 if it’s your first time.
As usual, parking can be a little bit complicated. In winter months, there are no issues and a lot of empty spots. However in the nice sunny days at either venue, the spots dry up and then it’s either getting lucky to find someone leaving at a nearby spot or drive slightly away and walk from there. Coming very early (before 6:30 pm) almost guarantees a spot in either of the locations. After 8:30 pm, it’s the same. Golden Gardens has multiple parking lots, including few slightly away from the park on Golden Gardens Dr NW (towards Ballard). Using public transportation can be an alternative, but with carrying drums it gets slightly more difficult.
Experience
If there is an immersive, psychedelic experience without needing the use of substances, I’d rank drumming in a social circle among the highest. I’ve done 3–4 hours in a session losing track of time. The ambiance definitely adds to it. In summer nights sitting on a sandy beach, next to a vast lake with waves and having a campfire and a bunch of people dancing around the fire to the sound of drums is one of a kind experience. In winter months, the experience is similar with fire but it’s under a canopy and there’s no beach alongside hands getting frozen. The group puts a strong emphasis on the concepts of community, sharing and making everyone irrespective of gender, race, orientation feel welcome in their circles. Consumption of cannabis is minimal despite the fact it’s legal in Seattle. It can be a family experience as some of the existing drummers do bring their kids from time-to-time. You don’t have to play drums to enjoy the experience, although it’s very tempting to listen to the noise and contribute in some way. So do yourself a favour, follow the Ecstatic Noise page on Facebook and one of the days just decide to go for it. If you get to play a drum, odds are you’d return some day. Even if you don’t, you’d find a memorable experience.
