MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW: NAMM - The Largest Music Products Trade Show in the World

The Winter Session NAMM show, January 18 – 21, 2007, is the largest music products trade show in the world. Held every year in January at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, the show brings everyone in the music products industry together for a big blow-out trade show featuring new products, live performances, drum circles, impromptu performances at the many booths, industry meetings, round table discussions, and professional development courses called NAMM University classes.

NAMM has a smaller show they call their Summer Session which is a full one third the size of the Winter Show, and it focuses more only on industry meetings and professional development courses. NAMM is not open to the general public; it is open for people in the music trade only, so if you’re interested in going speak to your local music merchandisers to ask for a day pass.

NAMM originally abbreviated the name of the organization, the National Association of Music Merchants, but has evolved from a national entity focused on music products, to a huge international bacchanal of all things music, from new products, to new performers, including commercial and retail affiliates.

NAMM takes over the entire huge Anaheim Convention Center and if you haven’t already booked your hotel room you will find getting a room a problem at this point. Performances take place all day long at various locations throughout the Convention Center, nearby hotels, and at the hundreds of booths where performers appear at the companies they rep product for. Here’s a sampling of just a few performances that will take place at NAMM...

Thursday 18 January

• 5:30pm – 6pm - Anaheim Convention Center Lobby - Rhodes Tribute: Jeff Lorber, George Duke, Patrice Rushen perform jazz, R&B, funk, fusion, and pop music in a special NAMM tribute in honor of the late Harold Rhodes.
• 6pm – 12m - JT Schmidt’s Restaurant & brewery, 2610 East Katella, Anaheim - The 2007 Bass Bash: High energy, world class bass performance featuring Alex Al, Jake Kot Ensemble, David Dyson & Friends, Todd Johnson, and more.

Friday 19 January

• 9am – 10am – Anaheim Convention Center Lobby – The Wicked Tinkers.
• 11am – Peavey Electronics Booth #5740 – Jerry Donahue clinic.
• 11am – 4pm – Back of Hall E, Booth #1897 – NAMM World’s Fastest Drummer Competition - takes place everyday throughout the Convention.
• 12n – 1pm - Anaheim Convention Center Outdoor Stage, Between Halls B&C – US Army Band.
• 1pm – 4pm– Seymour Duncan Booth #4358 – artists scheduled to appear include Slash, Warren DiMartini, George Lynch, Dave Mustaine, Scott Ian.
• 2pm – Peavey Electronics – Joe Satriani will sign autographs.
• 5pm – 6pm - Anaheim Convention Center Lobby – NAMM Jam ’07 – a big Jam with musicians who have played in such world-class bands as Yes, The Ventures, Spencer Davis Group, Mungo Jerry, Alabama, The Doobie Bros, Steely Dan, Steppenwolf, Toto, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Kiss.
• 5:45pm – 7pm – Hilton Hotel, Outdoor Plaza - All-Industry Drum Circle sponsored by Remo drums and facilitated by Remo Signature Artist and the Father of the Modern Drum Circle Movement, Arthur Hull. This is a FREE event open to the public; you don’t need a NAMM pass to attend. If you live nearby you should definitely drop by. Drums and percussion provided free courtesy of Drum Circle sponsor Remo.

Saturday 20 January

• 11am – Glen Dover from Megadeath will appear at Kahler International Booth #5727.
• 12n – Kerry King from Slayer will appear at Kahler International Booth #5727.
• 1pm – Jerry Cantrell from Alice in Chains will appear at Kahler International Booth #5727.
• 1pm – 3pm - Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue will appear at the Basson Sound Booth #5000.
• 3pm – 5pm – Artist signings (including Louie Bellson, Luis Conte, Gregg Bissonette, Kenny Aronoff, Mick Fleetwood, Max Weinberg, Aaron Spears, Alex Acuna) will take place at the Avedis Zildjian Company Booth # 2940.
• 7:30pm – 10pm – Hilton Anaheim, California Ballroom D - Muriel Anderson’s All Star Guitar Night – with a Silent Auction that benefits the Music For Life Alliance – Get FREE tix at the sponsors booths: GHS Strings, Sony Pro Audio, Sony Media, Audio Technica, Auralex, TrueFire, Reverend Guitars.

If you’re into Santana check out the LP Booth as their percussionists use the booth as their home field while at NAMM. You could easily find yourself deep in conversation with greats like Giovanni Hidalgo, who is also an LP artist. Check on the nearby Remo booth for other drummers like Arthur Hull, Paulo Mattioli, Adrian Young, Carter Beauford, Rick Allen, Alessandra Belloni, John Bergamo, Jason Bonham, and Stewart Copeland.

This is just a small sampling of the NAMM haps, if you’re lucky enough to snag a pass (ask your local music store or music merchandiser if they can loan you one for a day) be sure to check the program for a list of updated appearances. There are tons of cool products you can purchase to take home, and much swag along the lines of stickers, magnet-thingys, Tshirts, and other stuff you can win at the many booths. If you’re into music and live in SoCali you should definitely not miss NAMM.

SHOW LOCATION
(Registration is in Hall E and the NAMM Idea Center open at 9:30 a.m. each day of the show)

Anaheim Convention Center
800 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92802

SHOW HOURS

Thursday, January 18 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, January 19 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, January 20 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, January 21 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

FUTURE NAMM SHOWS
Jan. 17 - 20, 2008
Jan. 15 - 18, 2009
Jan. 14 - 17, 2010
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© 2006 by Digital Dogs

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