By Liu Jiawen, reporting
In line with the tradition of celebrating the New Year with outdoor spring outings, the Tenth Drum Percussion Group will invite the public to join the “2012 Tenth Drum Festival in Taipei” at Huashan 1914 Creative Park from January 23 (the first day of the Lunar New Year) to January 26 (the fourth day). Now in its eighth edition, this year’s Tenth Drum Festival has expanded beyond Huashan 1914 Creative Park to include two additional performance venues: the Kaohsiung Shiyue Qiaotang Cultural and Creative Park and the Tainan Rende Shiyue Cultural Village. The festival also welcomes performing groups from Japan, South Korea, and the United States. These include a U.S. steel drum ensemble known for blending modern, reggae, and other musical styles, as well as the Inazuma Taiko Drum Group from Japan’s earthquake-affected region, who have specially come to Taiwan to give thanks through performance.
The 2012 Tenth Drum Festival will be held from January 23 to January 26 at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, featuring drum performance groups from Japan, the USA, and other countries. (Photo provided by Tenth Drum Percussion Group)
Founded in 2000, the Tenth Drum Percussion Group draws inspiration for its performances from Taiwan’s folklore, history, and landscapes. Its unique musical style has earned invitations to perform around the world, helping to promote Taiwanese drum culture internationally. The group’s albums have even been nominated for Grammy Awards and U.S. Independent Music Awards. Xie Shi, leader of the Tenth Drum Percussion Group, stated that through the Tenth Drum Festival, they aim to facilitate international cultural exchange by inviting overseas performance groups to Taiwan, while also offering audiences new visual and auditory experiences.
The Korean Kim Tae-hoon Modern Dance Group is one of the performing troupes, impressing audiences with their outstanding dance skills. (Photo provided by Tenth Drum Percussion Group)
Tickets for performances at Huashan 1914 Creative Park allow entry to up to three shows per day. Performing groups include Japan’s Mai Taiko Asuka Group and Inazuma Taiko Drum Group, South Korea’s Kim Tae-hoon Modern Dance Group, the U.S. Steel Drum Ensemble, and the Tenth Drum Percussion Group. Those interested in joining this grand drum music celebration can visit the event website (www.ten-hsieh.com.tw/ten-2012/main.html) for ticket information.