A unique launch event is to take place in St John’s next week in the run up to a two-day world music festival, being held in the west of the island.

A tribal drumming session has been announced for Thursday, August 29, the night before the ’Our Island: Our World’ festival begins in Peel, on Friday and Saturday next week.

The organisers of the festival, which promotes global awareness and highlights the multi-cultural make up of the island’s population, are asking for as many volunteers as possible to turn up at Tynwald hill from 6pm and take part in a communal drumming and music session.

The tribal drum session is being led by John Bowker, a guest musician of the festival, who creates community music projects.

He is bringing 70 different hand drums, and will hand them out to volunteers who wish to take part.

John Shakespeare, who helped organise the tribal drum session, said that the event is free to take part in, and is open to anyone, regardless of ability or experience.

’Music is a great way of bringing people together, and creating music communally can generate a wonderful atmosphere,’ said John.

’John Bowker is coming from Belfast, in Northern Ireland, for the Our island: Our World festival, and we thought it would be great if we could kick the festival off with a community gathering like this.

’The aim is to gather as many people together around Tynwald Hill on the night before the festival, and make some music together.

’John is bringing around 70 drums with him to hand to people, but if people want to turn up with their own drums, then that’s fine too.

’We would like absolutely anybody, adults or families with children of any age, to come down and join in, and it is definitely a case of "the more the merrier".’

John Bowker will also be holding free drum sessions at the free family festival day on Saturday afternoon at Peel Centenary Centre at 11am and 3.15pm, followed by a performance at Peel Cathedral at 5.30pm.

There will also be free sessions at Mannin Music Studios, Pinewood Complex, Douglas on Friday, August 30, from 2.30pm and again at Ramsey Courthouse on Monday, September 2 at 11am.

More details are available from ourfestival.im or from the event Facebook page.