Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers at Edinburgh Fringe Review
Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers Live
at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
If there was one word to describe the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, it’s INTENSE.
The slow starts… the increasing volume… the quickening pace. I found myself totally glued to watching the performers, completely unaware of anyone around me. If you like escapism, this is your show.
Such talented performers – I knew this – but I wasn’t expecting the humour in this performance from Joao Madeira, Barry Jack and Martin Doyle during the piece “Uchiwahaha”. It was wonderful to have a little light relief in this powerful show.
Another section of note is the eerie and modern “chronos”. With all performers wearing black with full white face masks and using wonderful glowing bachi (Japanese drumsticks). This in particular is a good example of Mugenkyo’s modernisation of an ancient art and works wonderfully.
I cannot get across to you how much you need to see this group LIVE. The CD and DVD are lovely, but they really have nothing on the live show. People I’ve come across often think “but it’s only drumming, that’s boring!” I don’t really like drumming, but these guys are phenomenal. This is their first show at The Fringe in 14 years and people really need to go along to it and experience it for themselves.
Rating: 5/5 
The Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers are at The Fringe 2013 until the 26th of August at 12.30pm every day at Assembly George Square and are touring in September and October around the UK. Follow them on Twitter @Mugenkyotaiko, on Facebook or sign up to their newsletter, find a tour date near you, or arrange to go to the dojo at www.taiko.co.uk
For more details on this and other events at this year's Edinburgh Fringe visit www.edfringe.com
