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5th UK Taiko Festival - Friday 3rd July 2009
Northcott Theatre
Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QB
Box Office: 01392 493 493
Tickets are now on sale.
Taiko Meantime
with
Wadaiko Tokara
and
Kagemusha Taiko
and
iSSHO
Doors open 7:00pm for 7:30pm
Taiko Meantime
strike at the heart of what makes Taiko drumming great: a fascinating
show combining traditional Taiko rhythms and techniques from all over Japan
with original eclectic compositions, and a thirst to connect with an
audience.
Hailing
from Greenwich, London, Taiko Meantime formed in 2001 and soon developed a show
has lead them to sold-out performances at the prestigious Southbank Centre in
London, and appearances on BBC and Channel4.
In 2004, they
had the honour to perform alongside the world-class Hana Yui (of Kodo) at
sold-out performances at the Lilian Baylis Theatre in London. In 2005 until the
present time, Taiko Meantime have toured extensively with the Henri Oguike Dance
company, a collaboration melding Taiko with contemporary dance, which received
critical acclaim.
Stunning performances at the 1st and 3rd UK Taiko Festivals have led to
public demand for their return to the 5th, in 2009.
Wadaiko Tokara
was founded on March 7th, 2004 in Nagano Prefecture,
Japan by Solo Wadaiko Artist Art Lee, who brought together various taiko and
percussion group members to begin the challenge of intensified training of
the mind and body in the strict discipline of the taiko. Since then
TOKARA has become a strong force in the world of taiko, both in Japan and
internationally and in 2005, Art Lee won the award of Odaiko Grand Champion at the Tokyo
International Wadaiko Contest.Tokara kicked off its international debut with a
six-week coast-to-coast tour of the U.S. and Canada, followed by a two-month
tour in 2005...both to critical acclaim and sold out audiences. TOKARA has since
performed as the main attraction in many events, including: Hamanako Hanahaku
All-Japan Expo and the Taipei City 120th Anniversary World Music Festival.
Touring internationally two to four times a year, TOKARA has become known for
its electrifying speed and power, as well as the groups own arrangements of
movement that incorporate the smooth, circular motions of the Chinese martial
arts and dance.
iSSHO were formed in the spring of 2007 when
experimental punk, jazz trio Sycamore decided to incorporate their drummer Shane
Connolly’s taiko drumming experience into their live set. The group was joined
by long term friend and fellow taiko player Alison Roe for what they thought
would be a one-off performance. The results were so rewarding that guitarist Jer Reid, Shane and Ali continued to play and develop their taiko based, guitar
driven sound.
Jer and Shane had been active contributors to Glasgow's independent music scene
for many years. The pair was keen to retain their experience of improvisation
and to explore the use of varied time signatures within iSSHO's songs. In 2008
they were joined by two other experienced taiko drummers; Georgina Harris and
Lucy Searle whose addition has massively expanded the possibilities and creative
references of the group. As well as taiko
and guitar, the music incorporates an array of instruments, voice and found
object sounds.
iSSHO aspire
to challenge themselves as artists by creating innovative and open-minded
collaborative music, which they hope will result in an experience for audiences
and which explores new perspectives whilst remaining respectful to the tradition of
taiko drumming.
Kagemusha Taiko perform
in theatres and concert halls across the U.K. Significant performances have
included the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and a series of concerts in 2004
with Grand Master Oguchi and Osuwa Taiko - the only time he performed in this
country. The group is now celebrating its tenth year. There have
been more than 50 members in that time and the current line-up is particularly
exciting because it includes young but highly experienced graduates of the
Kagemusha Junior Taiko programme who have delighted audiences in Japan and Italy
as well as the U.K.
[Friday Concert]
[Saturday Concerts] [Taiko
in the city]
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