Rhythmic Riot founders Adam Amer and Luke Howell met whilst working together at an English Foreign language summer school in the UK. During the leisure activities period they raided the school's music room for all it was worth and arranged their first Rhythmic Riot. Having gone down a storm with all involved, they decided to equip themselves with a leathal arsenal of dangerously noisy proportions and went on a summer school tour of the UK. Since then Luke and Adam have worked in a whole host of venues from summer schools and primary schools to Festivals, community fund raisers and special needs events. Check out the testimonies (link) page for details. As a result of this success they have now doubled their capacity and are poised to take on the UK in the summer of 2008.
Adam Amer first played the drums at the age of 10 in true Rock Release style. With the original intention of learning the bass guitar, Adam went to a local rehearsal club. He was offered to 'have a quick try' on the drum kit by one of the drummers there and was taught a simple beat. He then selfishly hogged the drums for the duration of the evening, irritating all within hearing range! An unbreakable bond was formed.
Since then, Adam played in numerous bands and projects, with his first public performance at age 11 for school rock band Orchard. Orchard went on to play several paid performances over the following years. After this, Adam played for college and University bands and continued after education with Manchester band, Redway. During this time, Adam began providing one-to-one tuition and today has 6 years tutoring experience.
It wasn't until he was 13, in Holland that Adam experienced his first Rhythmic Riot - more commonly known as a drum circle. "I may have been young but I never remembered having so much fun. I felt at home. I must have hit those drums for hours, it was like being in a trance. If I didn't have to eat, I could have stayed there forever".
Today, Adam is a drum circle facilitator and an experienced and qualified EFL teacher. He is currently spending time travelling in Colombia, Venezuela and Peru and returns in June 2008 for the next chapter of Rhythmic Riot.
Luke Howell grew up in Shropshire and, as there isn't much do there, he started drumming pretty much right away. Annoyed, his family and teachers sent him to lessons and by the age of 16 Luke was passing on his drumming talents through private tuition to a few kids aged 5-16 who wanted to be as cool as him.
As Luke got older, not even the lures of Ludlow could hold him and he was off to India, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Thailand in search of bigger and better drums. He learned many new styles, coming back to the UK with a cumbersome collection of Djembes, Doumbeks and bongos that his bewildered family had no idea where to store.
Luke has been in several bands - jazz, folk, psychedelic, blues, concert, indie, rock.... and likes nothing more than jamming with friends old and new.
A great communicator, he teaches English as a Foreign Language as well as drums. A relaxed, well traveled, patient and enthusiastic teacher, Luke returns from from the Middle East in June 2008 to pass on the skills he has learnt and the incredible experiences he has had on various continents to anyone who wishes to learn in a fun and inspiring way.
