Each month in 2021, we will be featuring a member of the worldwide Gretsch community as our spotlight “featured player” of the month!

The featured drummer for March is Aidan Poland .  .  .

Aidan Poland is a self-confessed Gretsch Drums obsessive, who in 1996 bought his first kit for four times the cost of his first car.

A Lancashire lad and Madchester fan, Aidan first got turned on to Gretsch by one of his drumming heroes, Jon Brookes of The Charlatans.  Upon seeing The Charlatans live, Aidan found that the sight of Brookes’ Rosewood Gretsch (24/13/16/18) grabbed him and wouldn’t let go.

When he had the chance to acquire a Rosewood USA Custom (22/12/13/16) himself, Aidan didn’t hang about.  He describes it as the best musical decision he’s ever made.

Having been in bands ever since–with varying degrees of success –Aidan is proud to have worked with some truly excellent musicians.

Aidan’s first choice when playing live and recording is always Gretsch.  He never tires of the feeling of satisfaction from being complimented on the sound of his kit by sound engineers and other drummers alike.

Never knowingly in less than three bands at any one time, Aidan currently drums for psychedelic four-piece Moon & The Beams, live Mixtape hip hop band The Hiphopalippz, and dirty blues noisemakers This Dirty Swamp.

Moon & the Beams spent lockdown working on the release of their debut eponymous title, out April 2, 2021.  The band is releasing a new track every Friday until the album release, with an online launch on March 31, 2021 through legendary Preston venue The Mad Ferret.

We asked Aidan . . .

How old were you when you knew you were interested in becoming a musician?
About 10 years old.

Why did you choose Gretsch?
My favourite drummer, Jon Brookes (The Charlatans) used them. They sounded big, and the toms…

What Gretsch gear do you currently use?
Gretsch USA 20/12/14 in Burgundy Sparkle.
Gretsch USA 22 Bass Drum in Rosewood Gloss (the recording dream).
Gretsch Camphor 14×5.5 Snare.
Gretsch Camphor 14×4 Snare.
Gretsch COB 14×5.5.
Vintage Gretsch 13” tom converted to a snare in Champagne Sparkle.

Which musicians were the biggest influence on you and why?
Jon Brookes – big sounding drums, played to the song, perfect fills, groove a plenty.
Max Roach – So expressive, so musical, and easily the sharpest dressed man behind a drum kit.
Tony Allen – The greatest pocket machine in the world, invented afrobeat and I’ve never heard a song he played on that I didn’t like.
Joey Castillo – amazing to watch, heavy as heck.

How did you adjust and stay musical during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’m a drum teacher, so I had a list as long as my arm of things that I needed to work on.  I took lessons with my teacher online and just doubled down on rudiments on my practice kit.  I have access to a studio that I was able to go into on my own and track some drums for a solo album. Some day I’ll finish it, cos everyone loves a drummers solo album, don’t they?

You could be featured in 2021 just like Aidan.  Click to find out how!