Cindy Goldberg and ‘Beat Keepers: Women With Rhythm!’
Women play drums, too. That’s the premise behind a forthcoming documentary made by female drummers in the U.S. and Canada about female drummers. The brainchild of Ontario-based drummer Cindy Goldberg, Beat Keepers: Women With Rhythm! will soon be here to showcase amateur and professional female percussionists.
Featuring women from all walks of life who came to play the drums in various ways, Beat Keepers: Women With Rhythm! features women who love to play the drums. We were hyped to sit down with drummer and brainchild of the project Cindy Goldberg to chat Beat Keepers, which is currently rounding out a crowdfunding campaign.
FD: What was the inspiration behind Beat Keepers?
CG: Though I’ve been a musician for over 40 years, I only took up drumming four years ago. I fell in love with it immediately. I quickly learned there were relatively few female drummers on the scene, and I wanted to meet them and hear their stories.
So, in 2017, I decided to create a short documentary on local female drummers. The film was very well received and many people suggested I create a longer film, featuring many more drummers from across Canada and the United States.
What is the relationship between the creative team and drumming? Are there other drummers in the core team besides yourself?
The creative team is actually located in Bogota, Colombia. They are professional film and audio editors. The main editor, Javier, is a musician himself (not a drummer). But he understands how to make a very compelling and artistic movie based around music.
Who are the drummers to watch on the circuit right now?
“Wow . . . there are so many. I want to keep abreast of all the emerging and established female drummers in my film. I’ve learned something from each of them. In addition, there are many renowned male drummers in the movie, including Ramon Yslas, Walfredo Reyes Jr, Todd Sucherman, Jared Falk, Dan Shinder, Pat Bautz, Roy Nichol and Jason Gianni. These guys are my heroes!” The sequel highlights participants from the 2024 retreat including breast cancer survivors.
We know it’s hard to pin down, but was there a standout interview from the film?
Each and every interview moved me. There wasn’t any one that stood out in particular. However, I’ve made some meaningful connections with several of the drummers, and have seen them outside of the interviews. I spent my birthday in Buffalo, New York with Colleen Mastrocovo of Hair Nation, for example. And Roy Nichol (of the infamous band April Wine) has been mentoring me on the drums.
What’s next for the Beat Keepers movie?
We’ll finish editing and polishing the movie in July and get ready to screen the film at film festivals as early as August. We hope it will also get picked up by online streaming services so that anyone and everyone has an opportunity to view it. Released in 2019 with streaming availability shortly after, the project was followed by 2025 sequel Beat Keepers: The Next Chapter.
How did you find the filmmaking process?
It’s a lot of hard work! You have to be willing to put in the time, day & night. But it’s been worth every minute I’ve devoted. Indeed, I believe it’s going to be the project of a lifetime.
What was the hardest part of the filmmaking process?
I should have pursued grant applications early on, even before I began the project. So funding has been tight. But again, this is worth the investment. I’m honored to bring more recognition to female drummers.
Evolution into a Franchise: Beat Keepers: The Next Chapter
The project expanded significantly with a 2025 sequel, representing a major development since the original interview. The short film follows female drummers at a 2024 Drummathon breast cancer awareness event in Dallas. Many participants are breast cancer survivors. The sequel has earned awards and festival recognition, extending the franchise beyond its 2019 origins into new territory focused on resilience and community support.
Legacy and Community Impact
The original documentary’s release and ongoing activities demonstrate sustained influence on the female drumming community. The film was released in 2019 and streamed on Vimeo. The project organizes annual drummers retreats and events, creating space for connection and skill-sharing among women percussionists. Official website and social channels continue to promote female percussionists, keeping the conversation alive years after the first screenings.
Cindy Goldberg’s Continued Advocacy
Updates on Goldberg’s ongoing work as drummer, filmmaker, and producer extend the personal story from the 2019 interview. Goldberg remains active in Ottawa as drummer and producer. Continued interviews and podcast appearances discuss the project and its reach. New merchandise and event promotions in 2025-2026 keep the brand visible while supporting the next generation of players.
Follow the project on Facebook and Instagram. See Cindy in action playing in her band Restless Soul. The expansion from a single short film into a multi-year franchise shows how one drummer’s curiosity about other women behind the kit grew into something larger, with real staying power. Goldberg’s original impulse to meet female drummers and hear their stories has scaled into retreats, sequels, and ongoing visibility for a group that still gets overlooked in many rooms. The through-line remains the same: women showing up, keeping time, and making space for each other on the kit.
