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 in 2022, 2023 and 2024 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, yet accessible and fun to play.

Who we’re looking for

We are a band of volunteers. If you would like to join Batala Lancaster, you must be aged 18 or over and have a reasonable level of physical fitness. Please note that this is an adult-only band, and members must be able to participate independently without additional support or supervision. You’ll also need to commit to attending rehearsals regularly 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 pm, and you will need to attend regularly to learn the repertoire.

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 in Batala Lancaster?

If we are recruiting, we hold a taster workshop, usually in the autumn. We may not recruit every year.

Currently band is at capacity, and we are not looking to recruit any new members unless players leave. You can join our waiting list by completing the form below; however, we already have a list of people interested in joining. When we have spaces, we will contact everyone on the list in the order that they applied, so it may be some time before we can offer you a taster session.

We do not publicly advertise our taster sessions, as we have people on the waiting list. Please come and chat to us at one of our gigs if you want to find out more.

What does it cost to be a member of the band?

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 towards the band’s running costs. 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 a taster session?

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.

Join our waiting list

Complete the form below to be added to our waiting list for new players. We will contact you when we can offer you a taster session.

Periodically, we email those on our waiting list to see whether they are still interested in joining. If we send you an email and do not receive a reply confirming that you are still interested, we will remove you from the waiting list.