An Evening with Gavin Harrison

• Posted on 27 May 2026
• By GRD
• Posted in Gavin Harrison, Sonor, Zildjian
• 0

Porcupine Tree & King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison comes to Graham Russell Drums on 30 July 2026. Get tickets, his story and the gear he plays.

An Evening with Gavin Harrison: One of Prog's Greatest Drummers Comes to Graham Russell Drums

We don't say this lightly, but this is one of the biggest events we've ever put on. On Thursday 30th July 2026, in partnership with Sonor, we're hosting An Evening with Gavin Harrison, and if you have even a passing interest in modern drumming, you'll want to be in the room.

Here's everything you need to know about the night, the man behind the kit, and the gear he plays (a lot of which is sitting in our Fareham showroom right now).

The event at a glance

• What: An Evening with Gavin Harrison, an intimate and interactive evening of stories, insight and Q&A

• When: Thursday 30th July 2026. Doors 6:30pm, start 7:30pm

• Where: Thornden Hall, Winchester Rd, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 2DW (purpose-built theatre, tiered seating, great acoustics and plenty of free parking)

• Tickets: £35, posted to you free of charge. Grab yours here

The evening is built around your questions. Because of the size of the venue, we're collecting questions by email in advance, and Gavin and Graham will pick the best ones to answer on the night. So if there's something you've always wanted to ask one of the most respected drummers in the world, keep it short, make it interesting, and send it in. (Full details and the question email address are on the ticket page.)

Now, for anyone who needs the introduction.

Who is Gavin Harrison?

Gavin Harrison is widely regarded as one of the most inventive, expressive and technically gifted drummers in modern music. He's a multi-award-winning player whose work spans progressive rock, jazz, pop and session work, and his playing has featured on countless studio and live recordings since he turned professional back in 1979.

He's also one of the most decorated drummers of his generation. Prog magazine has voted him best drummer repeatedly, including six years running from 2018 to 2024. Modern Drummer placed him in their "Top 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time," and Rolling Stone readers once rated him the third best drummer of the previous 25 years. He's a three-time Modern Drummer cover star and has shared a famous "Drum Solo Week" bill on Letterman alongside the likes of Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart and Dennis Chambers.

Over the years, Gavin has recorded and toured with a long and varied list of artists, including:

• Porcupine Tree

• King Crimson

• The Pineapple Thief

• Incognito

• Steven Wilson

• Renaissance

• Iggy Pop

• Lisa Stansfield

• Kevin Ayers

• 05Ric (a long-running collaboration)

He's also a respected educator and author. His books Rhythmic Illusions, Rhythmic Perspectives and Rhythmic Designs, along with his instructional DVDs, have shaped how a whole generation thinks about rhythm. If you fancy digging into that side of his work, our drum books and practice resources are a good place to start.

A few of those credits deserve a closer look.

Porcupine Tree

Gavin joined Porcupine Tree in 2002 and quickly became central to the band's sound. His work on albums like In Absentia, Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet is a masterclass in how to serve a song while still doing things no one else would think to do, with odd time signatures that somehow feel completely natural and a touch that is powerful and delicate in the same bar.

King Crimson

From 2014 to 2021, Gavin was part of King Crimson's extraordinary three-drummer front line: three kits, side by side, at the front of the stage. Holding down interlocking parts in one of the most demanding catalogues in rock, in full view of the audience, is about as high-pressure as drumming gets. Gavin made it look effortless.

The Pineapple Thief

What started as a session for 2016's Your Wilderness turned into a full membership. The album was a critical and fan favourite, and Gavin has been a driving force in the band ever since, which is further proof that he is as much a musical collaborator as he is a drummer for hire.

The gear Gavin Harrison plays (and where to find it)

Here's the part we love. Gavin is a long-standing endorser of several brands we stock, so you can hear him on the night and then go and play the exact same kit at our showroom. Here's his setup, broken down.

Sonor drums

Gavin is a dedicated Sonor artist and plays the SQ2 series, and famously says Sonor drums "speak his language." Best of all, his signature snare is one you can actually buy: the Sonor Signature Gavin Harrison 14" x 5.25" Snare Drum. It's a 6-ply, 6mm birch shell with hybrid bearing edges and Sonor's clever Dual Glide snare system, making it a genuine "vintage meets modern" snare. Browse the rest of our snare drums here, and if you are weighing up your first serious snare, our beginner snare drum buyers guide walks you through sizes, shells, depths and heads.

Zildjian cymbals

For cymbals, Gavin trusts Zildjian, primarily a blend of K Custom and A Custom models that give him the clarity and articulation his playing demands. His setup typically features 14" K hi-hats, A Custom crashes from 16" to 19", and a K ride, plus China cymbals for texture. You'll find the full range across our hi-hats, crashes, rides and China cymbals, or shop everything on the Zildjian brand page. New to choosing cymbals, or not sure which Zildjian line fits your sound? Our complete guide to Zildjian cymbals breaks down the A, K, S and I Series and how to choose between them.

Vic Firth signature sticks

Gavin designed his own Vic Firth signature stick, an elongated ROCK-shaft model with a blended taper and tip for the perfect balance of power and feel, finished with a distinctive royal-blue matte grip. We stock them: the Vic Firth Gavin Harrison Signature Sticks. See our full drum stick range too.

Remo heads & Tama pedals

To complete the picture, Gavin's kit runs Remo heads (Coated Vintage Emperors on the toms, a Powerstroke 3 on the kick and a Coated CS on the snare), paired with Tama Speed Cobra double pedals. Take a look at our drum heads and double bass drum pedals to build the same foundation.

Don't miss it

Evenings like this don't come around often. Whether you're a Porcupine Tree obsessive, a working drummer chasing better technique, or simply someone who appreciates world-class musicianship up close, An Evening with Gavin Harrison is one to circle in the calendar.

• Thursday 30th July 2026 | Thornden Hall, Eastleigh SO53 2DW

• Doors 6:30pm, start 7:30pm

• £35, free postage. Book your tickets here

Got a question for Gavin? Send it in early, as the page above has all the details. We can't wait to see you there.

Can't make this one? Keep an eye on the Graham Russell Drums blog for our next events, and pop into the UK's largest drum showroom in Fareham any time.