I'd like to say a few hellos..... Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. HELLOO!! I'm George, I'm fifteen, I live in Shropshire.
If you are in need of a session musician, please do not hesisitate to get in contact:
[email protected] I was so surprised when I was born I didn't say anything for 11 months. I've been playing drums for as long as I can remember and my mum can remember even before that. Video footage shows me transfixed by the drummer at a family party when I was twelve months. I had my first kit when I was three and joined my first band at the age of seven...
Throughout my life so far I have met some brilliant musicians who have been both supportive and inspirational, and I feel very lucky. Music is my life, and I'm totally set on becoming a professional session drummer - I won't settle for anything else. This game is my ultimate focus and it's my destiny to play music - I have this talent and I will use it.
Being home-educated enables me to indulge my passion in music and I also play piano, guitar and bass. It's my passion for music that drives me on, I always want to create!
TIRAMISU'S NEW TRACK IS UP! Tiramisu, the band I'm in with Alex Clasen Gabilondo, has a new song, Insomnia, up on our myspace site - PLEASE check us out - we're on my top friends below...
I play in the covers band Blame Kenny, who are on my friends list - check us out.
I also play in the new band The Pombear Originals, with amazing singer/songwriter Mike Fowkes and legendary bassist Frank Mooney.
In February 2008 I won the UK Natioanal Young Drummer Of The Year competition:
"... This is the 3rd time George has been in the final 10 and at the age of 14 he has certainly learned much from his previous experiences. George has been playing since the age of 3 and has clearly covered many areas and styles of playing. These were neatly demonstrated within his solo where he switched deftly from one style to another and incorporated a smattering of fast loud chops, especially at the end, but at all times he kept time and dynamics at the forefront. For the sequenced track George established the tempo by tapping his heel before counting Rami in, easily and confidently. After a tom-based intro, George cruised into a nice clean groove with the bass drum following the bass guitar very accurately. The phrasing was neatly and musically carried out with some hi hat ideas, taking care to match the note lengths involved. George set up a shuffle groove and settled into it after a few bars. The phrasing section was a little tricky, but with excellent visual communication with Adrian on bass, George navigated the section like a pro and was a fraction out at the end, nearly firing himself out of the drum seat on the last note!..."
"... Shortly after, the judges and the 10 finalists were reintroduced to the stage and after some final words of congratulations, Gerry and Mike announced the winner as George Barnett. Aside from George’s obvious skill on the drums, musicality and dynamic playing, George clearly has a deep love for music and drumming. He had a huge smile on his face throughout and clearly loved every minute on that stage. Couple those factors with his brilliant communication and awareness skills in regards to the other musicians with him, George comes across and a very well rounded and skilled musician and worthy winner of the Young Drummer of the Year title. Well done George. As a regular attendee at the International Drum Foundation’s Rhythm Course, George was over the moon to find out that as part of his prize was a scholarship place on this year’s course, allowing the amount saved so far to be spent on drum gear!..."
(by James Hester)
I opened Drummer Live, the biggest - and loudest! - drum show in Europe, on June 14th this year. Drummer Live joined The London Guitar Show, The Sound Recording Technology Show and The Unplugged Show, in being part of this years' London International Music Show -
12.13.14.15 JUNE 2008;
"Watch this kid. He is flamboyant and expressive but totally into music first and drumming a close second. His too short set was simply a 10 minute long track that was made of snippets of all sorts of songs, feel and genres seamlessly mixed and played with total appropriateness and conviction. So many songs but the one that I remember best was a very jazzy pink panther piece. George is a star … we all just don’t know it yet."
(Drummerworld)
"Drummer Live! 2008 has become one of the biggest music festivals of Europe. This year not only did the show have the finest line-up a drummer can image, the five day music event had almost grown out of proportions as well. Drummerszone.com features articles of all the drummers performing at the festival on Saturday June 14, and Sunday 15, 2008. Kicking off was George Barnett, winner of MikeDolbear.com's 2008 Young Drummer of the Year Award.
Young George, only 16 [???] years old, showed himself a professional musician on stage. Totally focussed on his play, he proved himself to be a drummer striving to be as versatile and allround as one can be. With a well sampled show he took the audience through the history of many styles. Impressive when you consider this young drummer's age. In a mere twenty minutes he showed his skills in jazz, pop, rock, and even some stomping '80s disco. George is one of those few talents who may raise themselves to the highest levels in music with the proper efforts and the right (fitting) personal musical choices."
(Drummerzone)
As well as Drummer Live, I played on both days of The National Drum Fair held in Birmingham. That was the 27th & 28th of September 08 -
www.ukdrumfair.com
On the 1st July 08 I played at the HES FES festival -
www.hesfes.co.uk
I was lucky enough to be asked to give a clinic in Bath on the 8th August 08, for the Bath IDF Rhythm Course.
www.internationaldrumfoundation.org.uk
Between 18th - 23rd August 08 I did some theatre work which consisted of playing for a production of the musical Wicked, and playing some songs from various musicals including Annie, The Wizard Of Oz and The Sound Of Music. These productions were put on by Lightsdown Theatre Group.
I appeared in the September 08 issue of Drummer magazine, in the special edition Drummer Live write-up, with an interview and poster.
I toured with the world famous Jojo Mayer, supporting his set on the following dates:
Tuesday 2nd September 08 in Manchester
Thursday 4th September 08 in Doncaster
Friday 5th September 08 in Hartford
I played for OGGLE, the theatre company, in their panto "Rock On Cinderella!" on the 27th the 28th and the 29th of November 2008.
I also played at the Young Drummer Of The Year finals, on 8th February 09, to hand over my title to the worthy winner Richard Rayner - well done Richard!!
My film with Swingin' Productions, The Importance Of Not Being Micky: The Goatfarmer was released on July 16th 09 and is now available to buy direct from me - contact me via Myspace/Facebook if you would like a copy - here's the trailer:
I had a slot at Hesfes 2009, where I jammed with immense drumming giants Adam Fletcher of Fishing For Eyelashes and Bongo of The Super Luckies!!
On 25th July 09, The Pombear Originals made their full length debut gig with me on drums alongside Rapha Moon on bass and Mike Fowkes on guitar & vocals.
I studied with Steve Smith, Ralph Salmins and Craig Blundell on Mike Dolbear's Ultimate Drumming Experience between 27th - 31st July 09.
On the horizon now are unconfirmed clinics with Aquarian Drumheads, and other recording sessions.
More tracks from Tiramisu on the horizon!
In the meantime I'll also be depping for various other drummers and arranging recording sessions - again: If you are at all interested DON'T HESISTATE TO CONTACT ME!
Lastly, I am starting up my own percussion group in Shropshire. If you are interested please leave me a message or send me an email -
[email protected] To see my playing on youtube,
youtube.com/no1GeorgeBarnett
I am sponsored by the following companies - thanks for all your support guys:
Mapex, Sabian, Vic Firth, Aquarian, Baskey, Audio Technica, Studiospares and Protection Racket.
I'd also like to thank the following for their continuing support:
Mike Dolbear, Mike Ellis, Micky Morris, Tim Brown, Ollie Harding & my mum. Also thanks for looking on this site!!! Drop me a comment please, much love x
Cheers
George
