In(SITE): Give the Drum Machine Some!

Charlotte Street's annual In(SITE) series with Brandon Draper showcasing Kansas City's drummers and percussionists.
About this Event

Charlotte Street's annual In(SITE) series with Brandon Draper showcasing Kansas City's drummers and percussionists returns on Friday, August 7th 7pm at the Charlotte Street Stern Theater. This performance is in celebration of the drum machine. The curated performances features Kansas City 's top music producers, beat makers and finger drummers. A special musical tribute to KC's own legendary drummer, James Gadson, will be performed by DJ JOC MAX.

The development of drum machines has transformed music production from simple automated accompaniment into a versatile and expressive form of musical performance. Early drum machines were designed to provide rhythmic support for musicians, but continued advances in electronic sound generation, digital sampling, and music technology expanded their creative potential. As these devices evolved, they became widely adopted across numerous musical genres, valued not only for their precision and convenience but also for their distinctive sounds and performance capabilities. Modern hardware instruments and digital audio workstations now enable producers to create realistic, dynamic rhythms through live performance techniques such as finger drumming, blending human expression with digital technology. Today, drum machines are no longer viewed solely as substitutes for live drummers but as essential instruments that have significantly influenced contemporary music creation and performance.