Two of the country’s finest percussive groups are about to combine forces for one almighty show… and it’s not to be missed.
Perth’s own Tetrafide Percussion will combine forces with Sydney’s TaikOz, an eastern states based large scale percussion group who take their cues from taiko drumming and feature shakuhachi bamboo flute master Riley Lee.
For Tetrafide’s Neville Talbot, this show is an affirmation of the amazing year Tetrafide is experiencing.
‘We’re just about to hit India and play in the Delhi International Arts Festival, which will be our third international tour this year,’ Talbot explained.
‘We also played a few weeks in China and we’re about to appear in America to represent Australia at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the worlds largest percussion event, and we’re the first WA ensemble to ever be invited.’
As for the upcoming show, Talbot explains that it’s been a long time coming.
‘TaikOz has been around for 16 years and Tetrafide for 15 and this is the first time we’re working together.
‘It’ll involve lots of energy and some of the fittest and most exciting percussionists in the country.’
At the heart of any Tetrafide show is one simple ingredient: laughter.
‘We’re always very energetic and very out there,’ Talbot elaborated.
‘There’s always a lot of fun involved. We don’t take ourselves seriously even we are all universally trained classical percussionists.
‘But we’re probably more aligned with circus clowns in a lot of what we do.’
The December show will be a showcase of east meets west via the past meets the present.
‘What we’ve done is grabbed these ancient percussion traditions and Australianised them, yet we’re each so distinct because we’re ultimately 3,000 kms apart, each doing our own thing.’
Tetrafide Percussion & TaikOz appear at The Regal Theatre on Sunday December 5. Tickets are available now. www.ticketek.com.au
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
