skip to main content

DrumathonLIVE to Raise Money for Mental Health Charities

DrumathonLIVE will involve seven days of non-stop drumming by some of the world’s top drummers, starting from Saturday 15 May and raising money for mental health charities.

Published: 29 April 2021 | 6:24 PM Updated: 30 April 2021 | 1:51 PM
Closeup photograph of a drumkit, taken from above.
All the drumming will be live streamed and will be finished off with a special show of celebration. Photo credit: Shutterstock

DrumathonLIVE is a charity event created by UK musicians Errol Kennedy and Bev Sage in 2020 originally to raise funds for the NHS during the first lockdown. Following the first nationwide clap for NHS workers, Errol, best known as the drummer with the multi platinum band Imagination, drummed non-stop for 24 hours to raise money and awareness for the NHS.

Not resting there, Errol and Bev inspired a further twenty internationally renowned drummers to pick up the batons on May 7th and play a non-stop drumming relay that lasted 10 days clocking up over 250 hours.

In this drumming first, the team of world-class drummers, who’ve beaten drums for the likes of Stevie Wonder, Simple Minds, Craig David, The Feeling and many others, united to celebrate the nation’s frontline heroes.

The result? More than £45,000 was raised by #DrumForNHS contributing towards the overall £130 million raised for NHS Charities Together 2020.

#drum4mentalhealth

DrumathonLIVE is back for 2021. It will have a bigger, even more ambitious line up, and this time it’s raising money for vital mental health charities.

Errol will kickoff DrumathonLIVE’s #drum4mentalhealth introducing seven days / 264 hours of non-stop drumming by some of the world’s top drummers – a global extravaganza as the batons are passed virtually to each drummer who plays their part to raise money for mental health.

The Drumathon will officially launch on Saturday, 15 May at 10:00 am with continuous, live-streamed drumming until Saturday, 22 May at 10:00 pm.

Many drummers taking part are associated with leading international pop and rock names such as Coldplay, Kasabian and The Kaiser Chiefs. As they drum from the safety of their homes and studios around the world, drummers virtually pass the batons on to each other.

All the drumming will be live streamed and will be finished off with a special show of celebration, celebrity & benefactor interviews, musical guests, online music memorabilia auction and much more!

You can find out more about DrumathonLIVE, including where to donate and how to watch their live stream, on their website.

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

The MU Members' Assembly, sat in a semi-circle around the front desk and large monitor screens. Some people are making notes and others are typing on laptops.

MU Members’ Assembly Explores Regional Identity and Representation

Last week, the MU Members’ Assembly met to review regional and national representation within the Union. The meeting brought together members from across the UK to discuss how regional identity shapes their experiences and how the MU can best support musicians in different areas.

Published: 26 March 2026

Read more about MU Members’ Assembly Explores Regional Identity and Representation
Bridget at a Green Party march in New Zealand.

Bridget Walsh on the Intersection of Music and Climate Justice

From community organising to creative resistance, MU Climate Emergency Action Group co-chair Bridget Walsh explores how climate justice and the struggle against oppression are deeply intertwined - and why that matters this Women’s History Month.

Published: 25 March 2026

Read more about Bridget Walsh on the Intersection of Music and Climate Justice