Drum Birthing Workshops

Group and 121 Workshops and Retreats across the UK and further afield.

Melonie runs many group drum birthing workshops across the year. As they become available they will be listed. Do get in touch if you want to take part in a group workshop but haven't seen one advertised in your area.

View Drum-Birthing Schedule

Group Days: Come together with others who hear the call and birth your own drum. Spend a whole day in deep connection to hide and hoop - cutting, weaving, binding and finally birthing your very own drum and beater. Join a drum birthing day where you create a drum with a 4 or 3 strand handle with a central crystal (if desired) OR look out for Melonie's themed drum birthing days - such as the Cosmic drum birthing, the Mugwort drum birthing and more. For more personalisation see 121 sessions or contact Melonie for a special commission where Melonie will craft your drum including any artwork, activations, intentions and more. For more information or to book a 121 please get in touch.
web@thedrumwoman.com

Retreats:

Melonie holds a yearly 'Higher Heart of Glastonbury Drum Birthing Pilgrimage' - which is now full for 2025. There are 3 spaces left on the 2025 Earth Codes: The Callanish Connection retreat to the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.

Higher Heart of Avalon Drum Birthing Pilgrimage - Glastonbury

6-8th June 2025
(Seasonal) - Full
Book GLASTONBURY £560

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Learn how to create a Shamanic Drum

Melonie also runs retreats at sacred sites inviting participants to connect to the land using the drum and their innate gifts.

Next retreat to be announced soon!

View Drum-Birthing Schedule

Community

DRUM CON - A convention for All
and
The Association of Women Drummers, Makers and Players

Drum Conventions

Melonie curates both Drum Con - A Convention for All and The Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players.

These conventions are spaces for those who drum, make drums, want to drum or are drum inspired! There is a programme of drum based talks, workshops and performances, an amazing selection of stalls including many drum based wares, two kitchens and a raffle at both events. They are brilliant places to meet likeminded souls and to spend the day immersed in all kinds of drum based fun!

Taking place at Marks Tey Parish Hall, Old London Road, nr Colchester - just off the A12 and 5 mins walk from Marks Tey Train station which has direct links to London. The venue has ample parking. Many attendees find accomodation in the area so that they do not have to rush back and people travel from far and wide to be there.

2025 dates for the Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players are 8th and 9th November.

Buy Now £65 - 8th/9th November 2025

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50% SOLD

The Third Annual Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players takes place on 8th and 9th November 2025 and tickets are £65.
Association Members recieve £10 off tickets.

We are now all set for an amazing weekend full of Drum based workshops, talks and performances, a sit down meal (optional extra) and late night Saturday entertainment!

Alessandra Belloni international renowned teacher of the 'Tarantella' an Italian trance dance using the frame drum, will be coming over from America to teach 2x 2hr lessons in this amazing dance. We are extremely lucky to have been able to book her - the last time she was in the UK was 2019 as she spends most of her time in the USA and Italy!

You can also expect a huge community drum circle, Memma the Cavewoman 'Sarah Day' giving a talk on using the whole animal when making drums, Singing with Sisters with Melanie Wright, 'Hoofbeats on the Land' a talk by Suzi Goose, Drop in art workshops to create your own rattle and/or Antler pendant, Dancing with the drum beat - Morris dancing class with Emily Myers, Closing the Bones with the drum - a workshop with Sophie Messager, A Crystal Bowl and Drum Sound bath with Beverley Weemes, A drum meditation journey with Melonie, Choice of an optional Vegan and Venison sit down meal, the GOLDEN BEATER AWARDS, Dancing into the night and chanting AND MORE!

It promises to be spectacular and a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the Tarrantela in the UK!

Convention Tickets £65 - 8th/9th November 2025

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DRUM CON 2026 TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!

After another successful event in April 2025 we have booked the 18th April 2026 for DRUM CON 3!

Doors will open to the public at 10am. Workshops will finish at 5:30pm and then after a short break, entertainment resumes until 10:30pm!

Tickets are £30 for the day and there will be a donation pot for the late night entertainment from 7pm onwards. (no expectation, it just helps towards costs)

ON SALE NOW!

If you are interested in running a workshop, giving a talk or a performance do get in touch as the programme has yet to be set. There are also spaces for stall holders.

Drum Con Tickets £30 - 18th April 2026

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What is the Association of Women Drummers, Makers and Players?

An exciting community of likeminded women, coming together online and in person throughout the year - with exclusive member benefits.

A 36 page magazine for all members with information from the world of drumming, interviews, events, musings, meditations and more sent to your door 4 times a year.

Online drum gatherings for connection, drumming, singing.

Inboxed meditations and interviews.

Money off the Convention entrance fees and money off of all thedrumwoman offerings and special 'members only' events, vouchers and gifts!

There is currently a special offer of 50% off of the yearly membership fee. Take advantage of it while it lasts!

Join now for £99 £49

Association Membership £49!

Markets and Festivals

Melonie often has stalls at different markets and festivals across the year. Here she sells her drums and rattles and often runs drum circles.

DRUM CON 2026 - Marks Tey Parish Hall (CO6 1EJ)

18th April 2026
Melonie will have a stall here with her drums and will be running a huge community drum circle as well as all the other workshops taking place. Just £30 for the day.
Tickets for DRUM CON 2026

A Festival for Pagans and Witches - Heart of England Conference Centre Conventry

2nd - 5th May 2025
Melonie will be here with her famous pink gazebo with a range of newly made, never seen before drums. Come and try them out and see if one calls to you. She will be running 2 drum circles in the amazing woodland - these £3 and on the website for the event. A Community Drum circle on Sunday and a Women's Drum Circle on Monday. Sister of the Drum will be performing Saturday, Sunday and Monday on the Main stage too. Come and let the songs wash over you, be taken away with our drumming and maybe even find yourself dancing too!
Festival for Pagans and Witches

Mind, Body Spirit Festival Olympia - London

23rd - 26th May 2025
Melonie will have a huge stall full of extra special, never before seen drums. She will also be performing on the main stage 1:30-2pm on Friday 23rd with a ceremony to raise the vibration of love. Bring your drums and rattles and come and join her.
Mind, Body Spirit Festival Olympia

Essex Lammas Festival: Earth Spirit Events - Galleywood Heritage Centre The Common Off Margaretting Rd Galleywood Chelmsford CM2 8TR

2nd August 2025
Melonie will have a stall with her drums and will be running a free drum circle on the day. 10:30-4pm
Essex Lammas Festival

The 3rd Annual Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players - Marks Tey Parish Hall (CO6 1EJ)

8th and 9th November 2025
Melonie will have a stall here as well as running a huge drum circle. Tickets now on sale:
Tickets for 3rd Annual Convention

Yule Pagan and Alternative Market: Earth Spirit Events - Marks Tey Parish Hall Old London Road Colchester CO6 1EJ

30th November 2025
Melonie will have a stall with her drums and will be running a free drum circle on the day. 10:30-4pm
Yule Pagan and Alternative Market

Suffolk Witchcraft Market XL Edition - Blackbourne Community Centre Elmswell IP30 9UH

7th December 2025
Melonie will have a stall with her drums and will be running a free drum circle on the day. 10:30-4pm

Retreat

EARTH CODES:
The CALLANISH CONNECTION

An unmissable journey to the Isle of Lewis, on the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Taking place 12th-17th July 2025 during the final throes of the moons 18.6 year 'out of bounds' cycle; this journey will be one for the record.

This is a journey for those interested in exploring and deepening their connection between the earth, sky and the drum. It is for those who feel drawn to work with the earth's energies and have an interest in drumming, standing stones, ancient structures and energy lines...as well as exploring amazing places!

This place, a ley line central focal point, has given Melonie 'Earth Codes' and said to her in February 2024 'We will let you in' as they showed her a vision of a group of people sat in the stones drumming. The journey has been a long time in the making.

We begin on the 12th July, the day the moon becomes full. We will travel to the stones at midnight to watch it rise over the Sleeping beauty rocks, dip down again and rise once more shining directly through the centre of the impressive Callanish stone circle.

Over our time together, we will craft our very own Callanish Drum, including items we collect on our travels - sharing our hoops with the stones, putting it out in the moonlight and more.

We will visit a range of the Callanish outlying circles and other standing stones across the Island and explore their links to the larger Callanish 1, drumming and crafting ceremony as we are called to.

We visit the isle of Bernera with its sentinel stones keeping watch and its paradise beach with ‘time bell’ and take a visit to some local makers using Harris Tweed in their crafts.

We visit the Isle of Harris to drum on the beach into the night as the sun sets and the moon rises and we visit the ‘Dragon’ at the very north of Lewis that looks out to the Faroe Isles. We will also pay a respectful visit to the largest single standing stone on the island, connecting in and listening to its stories.

We will take part in a group photoshoot at the stones with souvenir image included and whilst there additional shots can be organised should you so wish.

Ferry crossing, accomodation, breakfast and all drum making materials and all group excursion travel is included whilst on the island.

An additional ‘optional’ mainland trip to the Clava Cairns, near Inverness, on the evening of the 17th July is offered at no extra cost with drop off at Inverness available that evening.

You can drive there yourself (recommended to give you space to explore when we are not busy together) or pick up is available at Inverness airport or Ullapool Ferry dock on 11th July. (note: an extra night’s accomodation will be required and can be organised with an extra nights cost)

Accomodation - We have hired 2 apartments in central Stornoway, each accomodating 3-4 people PLUS a gorgeous secluded group ‘base’ overlooking a loch.

Additional archaeological information available here:
Calanais Survey and Excavation 1979-88
A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland
A Late Voyage to St Kilda
Description of the Western Islands of Scotland called Hybrides
Description of the Western Isles of Scotland - Wiki
Callanish Stones - Wiki

COST

Twin room - per person: £1500

Twin room - single occupancy: £3000

Double room - per person: £1500

Double room - single occupancy: £3000

EARLY BIRD - BOOK BY DEC 31st 2024

and receive a discount of £100!

Only 8 spaces available

Book CALLANISH CONNECTION - 12th/17th July 2025