The festival has showcased drum and percussion talent from around the world plus inspired and motivated drum and percussion aficionados since 1993.

To celebrate, organizers Ralph Angelillo and Serge Gamache have brought back some of your favourite artists as well as several new drumming stars.

Saturday, October 20, 2012
The first day of 2012's Montréal Drum Fest kickss off with the Canadian finals of the Roland V-Drums Contest.

Brad Park
Second is Brad Park of Big Wreck, endorsed by Pearl Drums, Paiste, Vater and Evans.

Magella Cormier and Éric Boudreault
Next on stage are Magella Cormier and Éric Boudreault, performing as a drum duo.
Magella is endorsed by Vaudou drums, Éric by DW. Both are also endorsed by Meinl Cymbals, Regal Tip and Remo drumheads.

The Drumbassadors
Third on stage are René Creemers and Wim de Vries, better known as Dutch duo The Drumbassadors, who will stun you with their command of rhythm and melody. Endorsed by Sonor Drums, Paiste, Remo, Regal Tip and Beyerdynamic.

Pedrito Martinez
Next, Cuban-born percussionist Pedrito Martinez will perform with his own Pedrito Martinez Group, which also features Peruvian-born percussionist Jhair Sala in its line-up. Powered by LP, Zildjian, Gibraltar, Vic Firth and Remo.

Dave Weckl
The Montréal Drum Fest buzz this year is the return of Dave Weckl. An impeccable technician, who is part drummer part alchemist as everything he touches turns to gold — even though he's working with the same base metals, wood, and plastic as the rest of us. Dave is endorsed by Yamaha, Sabian, Vic Firth and Remo.

Keith Carlock
Finishing the first festival day is none less than Keith Carlock. This awesome drummer worked with a range of artists including James Taylor, John Mayer, Wayne Krantz, Steely Dan, and Sting. Keith is capable of locking up the rhythm section, soloing freely, and incorporating various rock, funk, gulf coast, country and blues influences. He is endorsed by Gretsch, Zildjian, DW, LP, Vic Firth, Remo and Earthworks.

Sunday, October 21, 2012
The second day of 2012's Montréal Drum Fest will kick off with Yamaha's 'Rising Star' Showcase.

Richard Irwin
Next on stage is Richard Irwin, who's always busy recording and performing: one day he's leading a jazz trio for the Effendi record label, the next he's following a conductor like a hawk and backing a full orchestra for CBC or touring with singer Nikki Yanofsky. Richard is endorsed by Sonor, Dream Cymbals, Pro-Mark and Evans.

Gergo Borlai
Hungarian born drummer Gergo Borlai may not be a familiar name in Canada, but that will certainly change after his 2012 Montréal Drum Fest performance. He's been drumming since he was barely out of diapers and he cut his first solo album at age 17. In his home country he won best drummer a couple of years running and cleaned up in the "gold stick" awards. Gergo is endorsed by Drumcraft, Paiste, Vic Firth, and Remo.

Joel Rosenblatt
Fourth on stage will be Joel Rosenblatt, an eminently respected drummer who has been working with A-list artists including Paquito d'Rivera, Randy Brecker, Michel Camilo, and Spyro Gyra. Joel is endorsed by Tama, Zildjian, Vic Firth and Attack.

Joey Heredia
Joel will be foolwed-up by Joey Heredia, who brings along his own trio. Nobody can touch Joey when he's in Cuban mode. He won’t bang out blatant left-foot clave. Instead, Joey voices it around his drumset, which is plenty-augmented with Latin percussion, never crossing the clave. Joey Heredia is endorsed by DW, Sabian, Vic Firth, Remo, LP, and Audix.

Damien Schmitt
Hailing from France, alot of what Damien Schmitt does is attributable to his artsy sense of humor, which informs his whacky placement of accents and fills. Damien, who has soaked up jungle, trance, world, and reggae among other styles, goes beyond rhythm. He sings. Damien is endorsed by Mapex, Meinl, Vic Firth, Aquarian, and Prodipe.

Stanton Moore
There's good reason Stanton Moore is popular from Montreal to Melbourne. He sends a clear message: drumming is fun. At the 2012 Montréal Drum Fest, Stanton may demonstrate the difference between Philly Joe Jones' and Jeff Hamilton's brush sweeps. Or go New Orleans funk and signal the proper right to left sticking Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste used on The Meters' Cissy Strut. For sure, Stanton will Tang the hump! and explain it. Stanton is endorsed by Gretsch, Crescent, Vic Firth, LP, DW, and Remo.

Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez
Horacio Hernandez, nicknamed "El Negro", is 2012's Montréal Drum Fest headliner. The most intriguing aspect of El Negro's drumset style is his uncommon understanding of the clave and his seemingly perverse manipulation of it. When he’s doing a salsa or songo, Hernandez toggles precariously between triplets and eighths, sometimes lilting so far one way you wonder if he’s lost it. These days El Negro is even more urban, funky, more forceful. His bass drum jumps to the fore, punchy and even more active. Horacio is endorsed by Pearl, Istanbul Mehmet, Pro-mark, and Evans.