October 20, 2025 I Event
Roland, DW’s OxtoberFest Event 2025 Brings 20-Plus New Product Previews
Roland and Drum Workshop (DW) recently joined forces for OxtoberFest 2025, a three-day dealer event that brought together the drum retailers and artists from all over the world for a first-hand look at the latest innovations across the Roland and DW suite of brands. Held Oct. 7–9 in Oxnard, California, the annual OxtoberFest event featured a dynamic mix of more than 20 new product previews, interactive roundtables and live performances. Attendees got a first look at upcoming releases from Roland, DW, DWe, PDP, Slingerland and Latin Percussion (LP).
New for OxtoberFest 2025, the second day of the event was held at The Canyon in Agoura Hills a longtime fixture in Southern California’s music scene. Artists demonstrated new products onstage, allowing dealers to experience the gear through a P.Al system in a live music venue, all before 3 p.m.
As Roland/DW head of drums and DW CEO Chris Lombardi welcomed dealers to The Canyon, he added, “The art and craft of drumming culminate here with our brands today. As a dealer, you demonstrate your sincere commitment to customers just by being here, and you are the most important conduit. Engage, learn, take notes, and have fun! As you can see, we changed the venue this year to make room for all this incredible new gear and to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.”
In a video message, Roland Corporation CEO and Representative Director, Masahiro Minowa, expressed gratitude to event attendees for their participation. He emphasized the uniqueness of showcasing electronic and acoustic drum products together, noting that a shared commitment to innovation and inspiring drummers united everyone present. Minowa also conveyed optimism that the event would foster confidence in the future of everyone’s shared business efforts.
Shane Kinney, owner of Drum Center of Portsmouth in North Hampton, New Hampshire, said he found value in the one-on-one time with brand managers and dealers at OxtoberFest.
“It’s invaluable to share our experiences from the past year and connect with new colleagues,” Kinney said. “After 25 years in this industry, it can be hard to get excited about new percussion product releases. We’ve been to the top of the mountain, but this year, I’m genuinely excited about what’s coming next from these brands. Many products in our industry are evolutionary, but several items showcased today were truly revolutionary.”
Several artists joined OxtoberFest to celebrate and showcase the new products. Thomas Lang, international drumming virtuoso, educator, and former Modern Drummer “Best Clinician” award winner, served as event MC and DWe demonstrator. He was joined by Kevin Ricard (demonstrating for LP), Grammy-winning percussionist known for his work with Stevie Wonder and The Tonight Show Band; Scott Pellegrom (demonstrating for PDP), celebrated for his explosive live performances; Danny Seraphine (demonstrating for Slingerland), Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founding drummer of Chicago; Nate Morton (demonstrating for Roland), drummer for NBC’s The Voice; Gil Sharone (demonstrating for DW), virtuoso drummer of Dillinger Escape Plan, Marilyn Manson, and Stolen Babies; and Dave Elitch (demonstrating for DW), acclaimed drummer with The Mars Volta, M83, and Weezer. Later in the evening, the artists sat in jamming on the soon-to-be-released gear with the OxtoberFest house band led by Ed Roth, including a surprise performance by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
“Roland and DW lead the industry and consistently excel at hosting these events,” said Dan Faiano of Alto Music. “The artists and product previews exceeded my expectations, and I’m excited about bringing this gear to my store. Having attended this event for the past five years, I always find it informative and enjoyable. It’s inspiring to see how these brands continue to drive innovation and shape the future of drumming year after year.
One of OxtoberFest’s standout moments was the unveiling of the Roland 3 and 5 Series V-Drums, officially launching to the public today. Dealers were the first to experience this expansive new series, featuring newly developed pads, updated hardware, and next-generation sound modules that all deliver the same premium sounds and expansion options as the flagship V71.
