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Now that the Asbury Park Drum Circle is no longer able to use the boardwalk for its twice-weekly performances, they may take their show on the road to Belmar.

Madison Marquette has invited the group to use the Fourth Avenue green space, between the boardwalk and Ocean Avenue, for its Tuesday and Saturday night performances — but that area is unavailable when shows are already booked there, John Eustor of the Drum Circle said. This Saturday night, the drummers will not be able to convene there, as it will be in use by another musical group.

“We are looking for another spot we can use on Saturdays that the green space is not available to us,” Eustor said in an email. “We are no longer allowed on the boardwalk, which is a bit of a disappointment for everyone as we have been doing it there for over 13 years.”

Eustor and his group are waiting to hear from officials in Belmar to see if they can use a park there when they are unable to use the Fourth Avenue green space, he said.

Drummers feel the green space area is “not really the same,” Eustor said, because it “feels more like a performance than a community drum circle.” Eustor and the drummers do not consider themselves to be  performance group — “We are providing a community service by allowing people to join in and become part of the rhythm and the circle,” he said.

Passersby often join in by Hula-Hooping, dancing or drumming. This is what led police to disband the drum circle last week after a large crowd formed, reportedly blocking passage on the boardwalk.

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[Photo courtesy of John Eustor]

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