Drum Tao

Anyone who has heard it will appreciate the primal power of the Japanese taiko drum. Modern taiko performances now combine traditional rhythms with breathtaking showmanship, and in August 2008 we are lucky enough to have the taiko group Drum Tao appearing over several dates in several cities across WA.

Tao’s performances upturn the traditional image that the word ‘wadaiko’ typically invokes in the minds of most people in Japan and abroad. Rather than attempting to simply build upon the traditional Japanese arts, Tao is determined to produce modern entertainment that has the power to truly transcend national boundaries. Ever since the group’s formation over ten years ago, Tao has consistently worked towards creating a new, previously unheard of world of wadaiko performance.

After years of hard work, Tao has now demonstrably reached the above goal and engaged the world in a continuing dialogue with wadaiko as the medium. The group has attracted massive praise from audiences, the media and promoters all around following its shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and elsewhere as well as the release of its debut album in Japan and abroad. This year, it is time for Tao to take on yet new regions and let the beat of wadaiko echo proudly in many great countries around the world.

Choosing to name itself Tao – written with a single Chinese character meaning ‘way’ or ‘road’ – the group has so far courageously treaded uncharted paths, paving its way where there had previously been none. As a reward of all its efforts, the road to the world as well as to the future of wadaiko now lies wide open before Tao.

The tour schedule includes the following dates:

5 August 2008 (Tue): Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton
7 August 2008 (Thu): Bunbury Entertainment Centre
8-9 August 2008 (Fri-Sat): Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
14-16 August 2008 (Thu-Sat): Perth Concert Hall (tickets)
19-20 August 2008 (Tue-Wed): Goldfields Arts Centre, Kalgoorlie

We’re very lucky to have a world-class group visiting so many regional centres, so make sure you get on down to check them out. Tickets are from $59 (less for concession) – you’ll need to get in touch with the various venues outside Perth. Here’s a promo video from earlier this month.

Snow Woman

Naoko Matsushita, more affectionately know as the “Kimono Flautist” has been entertaining people in Perth with her performances since 1997 when she relocated to Perth from Tokyo.

Most recently she has created an original work to bring to life the story Snow Woman from Lafcadio Hearn’s collection of traditional Japanese ghost stories and will present this work at UWA on Thursday the 22nd of November. Audience members are encouraged to get into the spirit by wearing kimonos or other Japanese styles of clothing.

Naoko Matsushita “Snow Woman”

Where: Callaway Auditorium, University of Western Australia
Map: View Map
Date: Thursday, November 22nd. 7:30pm.
Cost: Free
Transport information: Buses run regularly to UWA from Perth and stop on Stirling Highway at the north end of the main UWA campus. See the Universities transport page for further information.
Enquiries: info@jpnwa.com or (08) 9480 1800

More info here.

Boris Interview

You may remember Japanese band Boris visited Perth in May as part of the Tura Totally Huge New Music Festival. I was lucky enough to interview frontman Takeshi. You can read the full text here.

Totally Huge New Music Festival

A couple of months ago we broke the news that Japanese cult doom band Boris would be playing at the Capitol on Thursday May 3 as part of the Totally Huge New Music Festival. The Festival itself starts April 20, so we thought we should let you know some more about it.

The 8th Totally Huge New Music Festival features artists from around the world presenting an extraordinary array of concerts, installations, screenings, workshops and master classes over seventeen aurally audacious days.

Not sure how much that tells you, but if you check out the programme you can see the incredible variety of performances. High on our priority list is the Australian percussion group Taikoz who will be giving a Japanese taiko performance, with shakuhachi accompaniment, at the Perth Concert Hall on Tuesday April 24:

Explore the outer limits of perception when ritual, dance and theatre combine to form a musical experience unlike any other.

Totally Huge New Music Festival

Where: Various locations
Date: Friday April 20 – Sunday May 6 (check the calendar)
Cost: Various
Enquiries: info@tura.com.au or 93806996.

Blues 'n' Roots Fringe Festival

The West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots Fringe Festival is a free spin-off of the huge West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots Festival happening in Fremantle this weekend and featuring Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, John Mayer, Missy Higgins, Wolfmother, Bo Diddley, The Waifs, John Butler Trio and The Cat Empire. While the Fringe Festival won’t see the big names, there’s still a tonne of great free entertainment:

Musicians playing at the Fremantle Train Station will greet visitors arriving by train. Talented local artists playing on the free Fremantle CAT buses will make your trip to Fremantle more enjoyable. Shop in Fremantle and then relax with a coffee at Gino’s whilst local Blues and Roots performers showcase their very best.

Fishing Boat Harbour is a must for the family. Enjoy the talents of local artists playing from the back of an old fishing trawler as the family dines on fish and chips or on a good steak at one of the many restaurants lining the Harbour.

Artists include Pete Stone, The West Coast Blues Club, The Dave Mann Collective, Zarm and many more.

West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots Fringe Festival

Where: Several venues in Fremantle
Map: View Map
Date: Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1 April 2007
Cost: Free
Transport information: Perth to Fremantle train services will be running approximately every 15 minutes up to 6.30pm, then every 30 minutes thereafter until 2.30am. In addition to the regular services, Sunset Events has arranged the following services:
Saturday 11.15pm, 11.45pm and 12.15am and Sunday 10.15pm, 10.45pm and 11.15pm. Further information from Transperth
Enquiries: info@fremantlechamber.com.au or (08) 9335 2711

Boris and Sunn 0)))

It’s time for the biennial Totally Huge New Music Festival here in WA. This year, it’ll be held from Friday April 20 to Sunday May 6 at various venues, and features a wide range of sonic experiences: from choral performances, indigenous music and percussion virtuosos to the funereal sounds of ambient doom. Which is where LovingPerth comes in.

A focus of our articles is on Japan-related news, and as part of the THNM Festival Perth is lucky enough to play host to Japan’s critically acclaimed cult doom/noise/rock band Boris. To our knowledge, this is the first time they have ventured to Australian shores, and what’s more, they will be accompanied by peers and collaborators Sunn 0)))), another well-respected ambient doom band.

We know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but this appearance is a real coup for the THNMF and fans of Boris in Perth. The official word is now that Boris and Sunn 0)))) will be playing at the Capitol (old Globe) on May 3rd. For more info about the whole festival, check the festival website.

Blackjack Music Festival 2007

The Blackjack Music Festival is a new all-ages event for Perth. Starting on Thursday, April 05, 2007 at the Claremont Showgrounds. It’s a single stage event and the lineup includes: The Pixies, Eskimo Joe, Gnarls Barkley, The Living End, The Vines, Birds of Tokyo and Children Collide.

Tickets are $89 + bf online from Heatseeker (until Friday 23rd Feb) or $100 on the door. General ticket sales at the usual outlets (Live Clothing Stores, Star Perth, Beat Karrinyup, Planet Mt Lawley, Mills Fremantle.)