Join Batala Lancaster

Who we are

We are Batala Lancaster, Lancaster’s original samba-reggae drumming band, established in 2004. Batala Lancaster is part of the Batala Mundo family of bands, and we have 45 sister bands in 17 countries, comprising over 2,000 people. As part of this collective, we’ve won Best Brazilian Band for the last three years running at Notting Hill Carnival, the largest carnival event in Europe. By ourselves, we’ve got repeat bookings from Kendal Calling festival, Edinburgh Fringe, Lancaster Pride, Lancaster Music Festival, and many smaller local and charity events.

What we play

Batala plays samba-reggae music written by Brazilian composer Giba Gonçalves. He teaches the same music to all of his bands worldwide, allowing us to perform in unison at huge global events where he leads the band. It’s loud, intricate, and intense, but it’s also accessible and fun to play.

Who we’re looking for

We are a band of volunteers, and we’ll take on anyone aged over 18 who wants to play a drum! If you can count to four, this is enough to get started. We don’t expect perfection, but we do expect practice; you’ll need to be able to attend practices and take ownership of improving your skills on your instrument.

Practices take place each Monday at Ellel Village Hall, Galgate, from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m, and you must commit to attending regularly.

Once you’re ready to perform, we’ll ask you to play at least half of our booked gigs per year, preferably more, and we’re busiest on weekends in June and July. This works out at about 15 gigs over the course of the year. You’ll be able to play more if you want to – many people do – but we aim to allow you a fair balance between drumming and your regular life.

Sounds good! How do I get involved?

We hold a Taster Workshop each year, usually in the Autumn.

Our waiting list for our 2025 taster session will re-open in the new year. Please check back at a later date to join the waiting list.

What does it cost?

Your first taster workshop costs £15. This covers all tuition and equipment loan.

If you enjoy the taster session and would like to continue, we will be able to advise you which sections we are recruiting to at that point. You will attend our regular Monday rehearsal sessions where we will teach you our repertoire, playing alongside the main band.

If you join the band, you will pay £10 per month in subs. Once you have committed to the band, you will also need to purchase your own playing kit: drum belt, sticks or beaters, knee pads, and ear protection.

What should I bring to the sessions?

You should wear clothing suitable for exercise and bring your own water bottle. We will loan you all the equipment you need for the initial sessions.

We supply single-use foam earplugs for your taster session, but we would encourage you to get your own pair of reusable, good-quality musician earplugs as soon as possible if you continue to attend practices. The foam ones will prevent hearing loss, but reusable, comfortable, high-quality earplugs will provide a much better experience. You can also buy musician earplugs from us at a discounted price or source your own.

Our next taster session will be in 2025

Thank you for your interest in joining Batala Lancaster. Please check back to join our waiting list when we re-open it in 2025.