The 18th edition of Muhtadi International Drumming Festival (MIDF) will be held at Woodbine Park in Toronto on the weekend.

The two-day festival  (June 3-4) is multicultural extravaganza that showcases 30 plus performers/groups playing an eclectic array of drums, music and dance from many nations.

One of the themes of this year’s festival  is “Canada Our Home On Native Land ”

Headline performer  will  be Michel Bruyere, a Native American storyteller and musician from the Anishnaabe (Ojibwe) tribe.

Bruyere is the touring drummer for Buffy Sainte-Marie.He specializes in the North American Indian’s first instruments, the Big Drum and the Woodlands and Plains Flute

” With Bruyere as our headline performer, we will be paying a unique cultural tribute to our country’s First Nations, ” said Muhtadi, the widely known Trinidad-born percussionist who founded the Festival.

Also scheduled to perform at the festival is, Joey Muha from Port Dover, Ontario who is described as ” a virtual YouTube sensation.” Videos of his energetic and skillful solo drumming have gained him worldwide popularity.

In addition to the live performances, there will also be Drum Village workshops at the festival where members of the public can ” try their hands at various drumming styles.”

An innovative addition to this year’s festival will be ‘Let The Children Play.’

Children of all ages will be invited by the Muhtadi World Drummers ” to join in and play
various percussion instruments,” says a news release.

For additional information, check the Festival’s website at muhtadidrumfest.com or contact Joe Thomas, Festival Manager, at  joegtom@gmail.com  or  phone 437-991-6725.