Best session drummers in Manchester: who to book in 2026

Autumn 2026 is one of the busiest stretches of the year for drummers in the North West. Touring bands are wrapping up UK legs, corporate events are filling diaries, function bands are fielding Christmas-party enquiries, and studio projects are racing to deliver before the year ends. If you need to hire a session or dep drummer in Manchester — whether for a one-off gig, a full tour, or a recording session — the three players below are all LDC-endorsed artists listed on the London Drumstick Co. Manchester page. There is no booking commission: you contact each player directly and arrange everything between yourselves.

Ryan Briggs

Ryan is based in Warton and is local to the Manchester area, covering Greater Manchester and the wider North West with his own transport (full UK driving licence). His main genres are rock and metal, though he also plays pop, making him a solid fit for mixed-genre function gigs as well as heavier live work. He has performed across the world — from Japan and the USA to Germany and Spain — and is available for international travel. His live rig centres on a Pearl Masters Custom kit with a 22" bass drum, double pedal, and a full Zildjian cymbal setup including crashes, chinas, ride, hats and splashes.

View Ryan's profile · Book Ryan

Cameron Spence

Cameron is Manchester-based and one of the most touring-ready drummers on the LDC roster. He has been on the road consistently since 2015, playing with Two Door Cinema Club, Friendly Fires, Paul Di'Anno (ex Iron Maiden), and several other acts across the UK, America, Southeast Asia and Europe. His services span live gigs, full tours, studio sessions and remote sessions from his home studio, covering pop, rock, indie and heavy rock. Practically speaking, he plays to click, holds a full UK driving licence with extensive European driving experience, and can MD shows, fire backing tracks and use talkback mics — genuinely useful for production-heavy live setups. He is also endorsed by Code Drumheads and uses Zildjian cymbals and DW hardware.

View Cameron's profile · Book Cameron

William Richards

William is based elsewhere in the UK and travels to Manchester for bookings, so factor travel into any discussion when you make contact. He brings 20 years of professional experience to rock, metal and progressive genres, and is equally comfortable with pocket-led drumming work. He is happy on click in live situations, holds a driver's licence, and carries multiple kit and cymbal configurations to suit different gig environments. His credits include work with Ba Theory and Obsidian Kingdom.

View William's profile · Book William

Choosing the right player

• Live gigs and tours: All three players are available for live hire. If you need someone already embedded in the Manchester scene, Ryan and Cameron are local. William travels in, so build in any logistics early.
• Studio and remote work: Cameron offers both in-studio and remote sessions. Ryan and William cover studio sessions. If you are recording remotely and cannot have anyone on site, check Cameron's home-studio option.
• Services and travel: Confirm availability, travel arrangements and any backline requirements directly with the player before committing to a date.

How to book

Head to the LDC Manchester page to browse all drummers covering the area and use the profile links above to read each artist's full details. When you are ready, hit the book link next to the player you want — you deal with them directly, no agency fees involved. The Manchester page is also the place to order LDC drumsticks if you or your drummer needs a fresh pair: tracked delivery reaches Manchester in 2–3 working days.

Last updated November 2026.