J. Ben McGrath (he/him)
Ben’s drumming journey began while growing up in south-western Ontario, where his Trinidadian roots evoked an early love of rhythms and music. As a teenager playing snare drum in a cadet marching band, Ben established strong drumming foundations while letting the speed and energy of punk rock and funk jams shape his musical identity. In 2004, Ben moved up to Dawson City, Yukon and his drumming style broadened while performing ragtime and jazz at the Diamond Tooth Gerties cabaret show from 2006- 07. Academic pursuits led Ben and his growing family to Victoria BC, where his dynamic style found him gigging and recording with the two-drummer, six-piece, power rock ensemble “Rugged Uncle”.
Now living on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch'än Council in Whitehorse, Yukon, you can find Ben playing drum kit, congas or djembe, sitting in on sessions with some of Whitehorse's favourite local players, such as The Hayley Warden Experience, Parker Thomas Jazz, The Heart House Band and The Elijah Bekk Band. You can also find some of Ben’s demo recordings with longtime friend and collaborator Brooke Gallupe (Immaculate Machine) in their two-piece remote collaboration project under the name “Atlatl”. Ben’s greatest musical asset may be his ear-playing ability, which lets him compliment whomever he accompanies and feel at home on the festival stage, in a coffee house or jam room. Ben's approach to drumming instruction centers around student-led interest, focusing on what the student loves about drumming, and developing personalized instruction based upon those interests. He has led drumming workshops for the Yukon Summer Music Camp and also teaches private lessons at The Heart of Riverdale Community center in Whitehorse.
