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DECEMBER 2023 - New release; The Drums of Nar is available to purchase as a download from the music store and Bandcamp. This is a hypnotic and tribal instrumental which features the drums and drones from Nar, and would also be well suited for dance and movement practices.

JULY 2023 - We are very pleased to announce that our new album 'This Life' is out now and is available from the music store.

JUNE 2023 - We are excited to announce the release of our new single; This Life, the title track  from our forthcoming album. We will update you about the album release very soon.

JULY 2022-NEW ALBUM TITLE CONFIRMED -THIS LIFE. We have been very busy this year finishing off the album and are now in the process of mixing. We can't wait to share new music with you!

MAY 2020 - A short animated film, 'Drakeena The Dragon' by Rod Sugden features Riad from the Marrakech album as its soundtrack. It's a delightful film for children and can be viewed on the Videos page. Password: Drakeena 

MARCH 2018 - Welcome to the all new Madrum website. The old one served the band well from 2005 but our online presence was in need of a major upgrade. The Madrum project has been dormant for a few years now but it is heartening to know there is still a lot of interest in the band, especially within the movement and dance communities, with CDs and downloads selling steadily. There are as yet no plans to begin writing together as we are very active with our own creative endeavours but with both of us now living in London we are still open to the possibility of creating again as Madrum in the future. Thank you for your continued interest and support. 

OCTOBER 2013 - The nature of the Madrum project has changed somewhat over recent years to embrace our shifting life circumstances. I am currently living in Vancouver, Canada, and working on my orchestral compositions (www.lawrencekelson.com). Gavin has recently written an album to accompany a children's book and is embarking on a solo album of chants as well as other material. - Lawrence

DECEMBER 2012 - We are excited to announce that our albums Soma and Marrakech are now available in mp3 format and can be purchased as downloads from the Music Store.

NOVEMBER 2012 - Madrum have created a new track 'Dance of Light' available as a download from the Music Store.

APRIL 2010 - There are no performances planned for the immediate future. This is giving us both the much needed space to explore other avenues of our own individual creativity. Gavin is learning the art of studio recording and one project in the pipeline is a CD of chants. Lawrence is currently in the process of upgrading his studio and has plans to develop his percussive scoring.

MARCH 2010 - We are excited to announce the release of our eagerly awaited second album 'Marrakech'. Tracks from this album have been inspired by playing for a dance retreat in the Moroccan desert as well as absorbing the sounds, smells, spirit, people and music of this amazing country.

MARCH 2009 - My time in Marrakech was very productive and I have returned with some useful sounds and images to be worked up at a later date. I met many warm hearted people and feel indebted to their generosity in letting this eccentric westerner record the sounds of their work. The Haddadine or ironworkers souk was a fascinating area and I can see how Rumi came upon the realisation, by wandering through such a place with its intense banging and tapping, that all life is rhythm. I was acutely aware not to intrude too much or take more than I needed. My French lessons prior to going served me well and encouraged some interesting meetings and conversations including one with a shoe maker about the vocal techniques used when singing the Koran. I heard some great Marrakchi music in a cyber park just outside the old city. It was simply a group of guys hanging out singing and drumming, and clapping polyrhythmically. They demonstrated such passion and commitment to the joy of the moment. This was present when, later that night, I asked some guys working at one of the food stalls about it who then instantaneously 'exploded' into the same piece of music! It was hard to leave the colours, the smells, the snow covered Atlas mountains glistening in the African sun, and the storks that flew slowly overhead as I drank mint tea from the roof terrace of my hotel. It was a very creative time and both Gavin and I would like to spend more time there some day with the specific intention of writing. - Lawrence

JANUARY 2009 - I'm off to Marrakech again in early February with the aim of recording the sounds of the streets and the souks for use on a few tracks on the new album which is beginning to take shape. I'm excited to be going back to the Red City which seduces and inspires my creative spirit. - Lawrence

NOVEMBER 2008 - This has been a fairly busy year in which we played at some great venues and festivals most notably the Global Inspiration Conference in Herefordshire, Chagstock in Devon, and an International Peace Day event in Brighton. We are currently working on the new album and exploring some exciting new directions with performance.

JANUARY 2008 - What a wonderful start to the year! We were lucky enough to return to the Moroccan desert playing for a 5 Rhythms dance and voice retreat. I was facilitating the voice part. What a joy to wake up every morning chanting to the sun and singing for our lives off the high dune! The Berbers welcomed us again with such generosity and care and we were privileged to play music with them and record some of their incredible rhythms and melodies. This trip enabled us to gather musical ideas and inspiration from a culture far removed from our own. New ideas are seeding themselves and we are beginning to work on our next CD along with developing new material to perform. Our travels took us to Fes, an 8th Century medieval city, with its narrow cobbled streets full of vibrant colours and smells. We made some great contacts and may perform at venues there in the future. So we will see what the year brings! Wishing you all a happy and inspirational new year! - Gavin

JULY 2007 - This has been a busy few months for us. The CD is being well received and we have been promoting it at gigs and local radio interviews. The launch at Harberton was a special evening, and we were joined in support by Stella Davies and musicians. A big thanks to them and everyone who helped out on the night. We have just appeared at Quest again. All the musicians who perform there agree that this is a great festival to play. There is always a good, receptive audience, and we enjoy the support and networking among fellow performers. We have also been to Paris a few times to work with the 5 Rhythms team we were in Morocco with. August looks set to be another busy month, and in between all of this we are looking to create new material for a new album for 2008.

MAY 2007 - The CD has finally arrived back from the replicators and is now ready for sale. We will be performing at the Mind Body Spirit Festival in London on May 27th. Hope to see you there.

MARCH 2007 - Madrum will be launching their debut album 'Soma' on Friday 1st June at Harberton Village Hall so please come along and support us. At present we are putting the finishing touches to the CD and hope to have it ready for sale towards the end of May. More information about this will follow soon.

JANUARY 2007 - We wish you a creative and prosperous new year! What an incredibly inspiring start to the year we have had! We have just returned from the Naked Voice Friends Gathering at Croydon Hall (www.thenakedvoice.com) where Gavin was accredited as a Naked Voice introductory teacher. Lawrence was so inspired by the weekend he has decided to deepen his practice of the work by signing up for the facilitator trainings. Madrum played a 30 minute set on the Saturday evening which was well received.

DECEMBER 2006 - On Boxing Day we flew to Marrakech to begin an extraordinary trip that took us to the desert dunes close to the Algerian border. We provided music for a 5 Rhythms dance retreat that took place on the sand beneath the open sky. It was lead by an inspiring team from France who ran an intensive workshop for 19 participants who were a courageous, creative, and open hearted tribe of dancers. We were looked after in a camp by a group of Berbers and their camels. The desert is so still and peaceful, and we both felt at home there. We enjoyed the delicious, simple food, and watching the sun rise and set from the high dunes. We played at dusk in the Black Desert, and sat around a fire late into the night drumming with the Berbers whose playing was a heady mix of power, passion, and precision; a real joy! We spent another week in Marrakech which was quite an assault on the senses after the tranquility of the desert! But it's a fascinating city, alive with colour, sound and smells. The rhythm of Morocco will stay with us for a long time.

NOVEMBER 2006 - We have had a very successful summer of gigs where we played at the Totnes Festival, Quest, Fordstock, Midsummer Events in Cornwall,and the White Feather Festival. We are continuing to record our debut CD of which we are about 75% through. We are aiming for a spring launch in the Totnes area.

SEPTEMBER 2006 - Madrum have been asked to play for a 5 Rhythms dance retreat in the Moroccan desert.

APRIL 2006 - The Barrel House, Totnes. This was our first solo performance where we played two 40 minute sets to a packed and enthusiastic audience. This was a great night for us and we showcased some new material. Following the success of the gig we have been asked to play there agin on 29th June.

JANUARY 2006 - Devon Artsculture 1st Birthday Celebration. We were invited to play a 30 minute set as part of a celebration and general networking event. It was held in a stunning, restored tithe barn near Chudleigh.

OCTOBER 2005 - CD Progress. We have just finished remixing some material for a demo CD to be sent to concert and festival organisers for performances in 2006. Work continues on our full length studio album.

AUGUST 2005 - Devon Artsculture Showcase Event, Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe. This was a great opportunity to play a 40 minute set in a smart venue. The sound crew did a thorough and professional job and the sound was clean. We hope to support other Devon Artsculture events.

AUGUST 2005 - RAWA Benefit Gig, Totnes. This was a great night of cabaret in aid of Women of Afghanistan. We kicked off proceedings with a 15 minute set and played a further two pieces towards the end of the night. It was good to be seen by a local audience.