Taikoz – Side by Side

Side By Side is an emotional and intimate exploration of shared human experience: our hopes, anxieties, contentments, and desires.

The program features the compositional voices of Taikoz Artists Kerryn Joyce, Ryuji Hamada and Ian Cleworth, and at its heart is a true celebration of both the creativity that resides within the ensemble, as well as the astonishing versatility and expression of percussion.

Side By Side also features Tasmanian-based composer Karlin Love, winner of Taikoz's inaugural Women's Composition Competition. Her piece Fierce: The Vengeance of Joy is a defiant rebellion against the uncertainty of modern times, a celebration of joy as resistance to despair and vengeance against darkness.

Visual artist Bart Groen worked side by side the musicians, and in response designed seven 2-metre-high light sculptures that surround and illuminate Taikoz's drumming action like a dense, colourful forest of light-trees.

From the delicate melodies of the steel hand-drum to the thunderous, ritualistic rhythms of three mighty Odaiko Grand Drums, the five Taikoz players once again bring their trademark virtuosity, vibrancy and passion to The Lennox Theatre stage.

For 25 years Taikoz has performed on the stages of Australia's most distinguished concert halls, as well as Japan, France, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE, New Zealand and America. Taikoz is recognised by Japan as a venerated ambassador of Japanese culture, having awarded co-founders Ian Cleworth and Riley Lee the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation for their contribution towards promoting friendship and goodwill between Australia and Japan in 2016.