Toque Tambor, the Hitchin-based Brazilian styled carnival group, will celebrate 10 years of performing at Rhythms of the World this year.
With their unique and crowd-pulling style they have performed at other major events including Womad, The St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin and the Thames Festival, some members have also played at the Rio Carnival itself.
“At this year’s festival we will pack the stage with drummers, singers, horns, string players and feathers for what will be a treat on the Sunday. Of course there will be some surprises as well and you will have to wait to see,“ says JP aka ‘Mr Toque Tambor’.
Through Rhythms of the World this unique world music group have formed links with many native Brazilian carnival groups including Samba collective Monobloco, even bringing members to past festivals to perform on the Main Stage with them. Monobloco attract crowds of over 500,000 to watch them on the streets of Rio de Janiero during Carnival.
Hitchin-based Toque Tambor was formed in 2002. It has run percussion courses regularly seeing members increase year-on-year to a current total of 45!
Rhythms of the World Performance Director, Steve Smither, says: “Toque Tambor are a perfect example of how local musicians make Rhythms of the World special. They are a perfect combination for the festival – a local act performing world music to audiences new and old. The opportunity for people who like what they hear to get involved through the percussion groups benefits the community and the festival as a whole.”
Not to be held back, Toque Tambor are still looking for new people to join them and will be running free taster classes in September which are open to people of all levels. They will also be performing a Brazilian-style carnival parade, in association with the Rotary Club, in early July.
You can catch Toque Tambor at this year’s Rhythms of the World on the Main Stage on Sunday, 15th July and help them celebrate this special decade in style.
