Sometimes ear hair is a good thing.



When that ear hair is inner ear hair, or, more technically, inner ear hair cells, electrical impulses tell your brain you’re hearing something good.



You might be hearing good things like children’s laughter, early spring birdsong, or possibly the tranquil sounds of 550 drum kits being played simultaneously.



But while you may be hearing the more surly sounds of bickering from kids with cabin fever, and while most of the early spring birdsong is happening south of the equator, you will have a chance to hear the drummers drumming sooner than you think, and have the opportunity to singe some of those ear hair cells.



Woodstick, set to happen Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, will be the fifth consecutive attempt to set a new world record for drummers; the event was set up as a fundraiser by a Rotarian action group, Rotarians for Hearing Regeneration. Rotarians hope, in addition to winning a coveted world record in an obscure category, that $100,000 can be raised for research at the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington, in Seattle, where scientists are actively working to help humans regrow damaged inner ear cells that would result in renewed hearing.



Last year 533 participants attended, which created the expected volume. This year won’t be an exception to the volume rule.

“Yeah, it gets pretty loud,” notes event Chairperson Don Doman with a chuckle.

But rather than becoming a breeding ground for future hearing loss, the event helps to raise awareness about the health issue, in addition to funds.

It also serves as a way for drumming enthusiasts to meet local celebrity drummers as well as potentially winning valuable prizes based on pledge money; details are available on the Woodstick Web site at www.woodstick2007.com.

On that site, an online store also offers memorabilia to purchase that includes items such as autographed drum heads by artists as diverse as The Smashing Pumpkins, AC/DC, Matt Sorum of Velvet Revolver (and Guns N’ Roses) and Court TV favorite Phil Spector. Of course there’s more, but you’ll just have to go to the site to check it out for yourself.

Doman describes this year’s venue, the Puyallup Fairgrounds’ Showplex, as “such a great facility.” Inspiring surprises are planned, with Tacoma Symphony’s Maestro Harvey Felder conducting the main event, which is set to begin at 8 a.m. with load-in, general admission beginning at noon.

And what about that volume thing?

“We issue earplugs to everyone that comes in the door,” explains Doman.

“We want to make sure everybody’s safe.”



[Showplex Exhibition & Conference Center, Saturday, Oct. 27, noon to 5 p.m., $10, $25 to play, Puyallup Fairgrounds, Ninth and Meridian, www.woodstick2007.com]