Halifax, Sept. 29-Oct. 4 – There are few moments more groan-inducing as when, at a concert, the extinguishing of all spotlights – but one – heralds the beginning of a dreaded drum solo. (Seriously, Buddy Rich v. Animal is one thing, but does everyone have to do it?)

Still, in the right context, there are few things more viscerally exciting than live drumming, which may be the secret behind the success of Drum!, a percussion-centred show that its web site calls “a spectacular musical production featuring 20 musicians, dancers, drummers, and singers from four principal cultures – Aboriginal, Black, Celtic and Acadian – brought together in a heart-pumping fusion of music, dance, poetry, video, rhythm, and song.”

Starting life as a Halifax tourist attraction ten years ago, the show has travelled all over North America. It returns to it home city for a six-day, eight-show run at Dalhousie University’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.