The doors opened on Saturday, May 17 to a packed house of vintage-drum hunters, boutique builders and big-brand fans. By the time the final raffle was drawn late Sunday afternoon, more than 150 exhibitors, six marquee clinics and scores of impromptu jam-sessions had turned the fairgrounds into a two-day playground for percussionists.
Expo-Floor Energy
Both halls were crammed with treasure-museum-grade Slingerland kits, prototype pedals and AI-assisted practice tools. Friday’s Indie Cymbal Summit let early-birds hammer blanks alongside artisans such as Dave Collingwood and Paul Francis before general admission opened.
Austrian Drumhead Company-Third Appearance, First 2-Ply Calfhead
Booth #41 in West Hall stayed shoulder-to-shoulder throughout the weekend as the Austrian Drumhead Company (ADC) demoed its new 2-ply calfskin head-afirst in the natural-skin market.
What drew the crowd
- Focused warmth, fewer overtones – the second ply added control without choking sustain.
- “Tune-once” stability – players reported far less pitch drift despite humid Midwest conditions.
- Live swap demos – ADC techs replaced heads on vintage Ludwig snares in under a minute, letting drummers A/B single- vs. 2-ply sounds on the spot.
- Give-back – one 14″ 2-ply head went home with a raffle winner, keeping ADC’s community-first streak alive.
“The 2-ply handled rim-shots like a modern plastic head, but kept that buttery calf feel.” – Visitor comment, Sunday afternoon.
Stand-Out Clinics
| Day | Time | Clinician | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 17 May | 11 a.m. | Jessica Burdeaux | Social media smarts & live chops |
| 1 p.m. | Makaya McCraven | Hybrid jazz/hip-hop production | |
| 3 p.m. | Carter McLean | Musicality & Broadway groove | |
| Sun 18 May | 11 a.m. | Timothy Roberts | Indie cymbal boom explained |
| 1 p.m. | Rich Stitzel | DrumMantra practice deep-dive | |
| 3 p.m. | Dave Elitch | Pain-free technique for pros |
About Austrian Drumhead Company
Based in Austria, ADC blends traditional calf-skin craftsmanship with modern stabilization, shipping heads worldwide from its Austrian workshop. Explore the full range-including the new 2-ply series-at austriandrumheadcompany.at
Final Word
The 34th Chicago Drum Show proved once again that drumming’s heartbeat thrives on the mix of vintage soul and cutting-edge innovation. With headline clinicians pushing creative boundaries and ADC’s 2-ply calfhead adding a fresh twist to natural-skin tradition, 2025’s edition left attendees buzzing-and their drums sounding better than ever. See you in 2026!
