The Sydney-based group will perform as a trio at the Four Winds Festival this year, planning a collaboration with the Bega Valley’s Stonewave Taiko as well as a main show. 

Although he did not want to give too much away, the musical director of Taikoz Trio Tom Royce-Hampton said their upcoming performances were all about the big drums – odaiko, the biggest instruments the group has.

“We don’t often get all three out for performances,” he said.  

The very sound of the drums is physical, sending out vibrations that can reverberate through your body and hitting them has an addictive quality, the musical director said. 

While the first instrument he played was piano, he started studying taiko in 2005 after being “sold on the big drums”.

“There’s something just a bit more engaging about striking an instrument and getting a reaction back from it,” Mr Royce-Hampton said.

“When you strike and can feel the vibrations start to hum in the instrument, it’s a very visceral place to be.

“It’s also really engaging to watch.” 

He said the world of taiko was enormous and there was always more to learn. 

“You scratch the surface and think you’re getting good, but then you find out there is a whole other world you didn’t know about,” he said. 

The trio was excited to come to Bermagui and Mr Royce-Hampton applauded the work Four Winds does in engaging with the community.

“I think arts in any community is such an integral part of life,” he said. 

“One of the great things about festivals like Four Winds is the musicians of the caliber they seem to attract to regional centres.

“Four Winds is becoming one of the core festivals in Australia.” 

The Taikoz Trio will perform in Bermagui on March 25 from 7am at the Bermagui Surf Club, 1pm at the skate park, 4pm at Dickinson Oval car park and on March 26 from 1.55pm at the Four Winds site in Barragga Bay.