Tour lineup:

Neil Mackie
Miyuki Williams
Georgie Harris
Lucy Searle (trainee)
Shonagh Walker (tour player)

In “The Way of the Drum” show,
we take taiko to the people,
performing in smaller venues and
arts centres, village halls and
community centres, introducing
traditional pieces and styles with
explanations about the history
and instruments.

Background info:

The Way of the Drum main page

On this tour we were joined by
Shonagh from our Taiko Academy
at the Dojo.

Highlights of the show included
“Hachijo” performed by Miyuki in
her Yukata (cotton kimono),
taught to her by Chieko Kojima
of Kodo.

A perennial audience favourite is
joining in with the “Kiyari” song
from Miyake Island.

New elements in this year’s show
included a demonstration of a
Shinto prayer, taught to Miyuki by
Mio Shoji, a Shinto priestess, and
also an Okinawan folk song, in
which members of the audience
joined us onstage with the
“Kachashi” dance.

At the concerts in Glasgow and
Paisley, we had a special guest
spot performed by “Taiko Night”,
our weekly teaching group at the
dojo.