From all walks of life they come: managers, labourers, families, children, grandparents, men and women of all ages and cultural backgrounds and all abilities. On the Saturday night closest to the night of the full moon, these people, up to 500 of them, converge on the Strand Amphitheatre on the famous Townsville esplanade – The Strand – looking out to Magnetic Island and the waters of Cleveland Bay. They come to drum. They come to be a part of what has become a much-anticipated monthly cultural community event – the Full Moon Drum Circle.
One by one, they assemble on the Gregory Street Amphitheatre, many with drums cradled under their arms. Drums and percussion instruments of all kinds; Djembes, congas, bongos, kunduns, warups, dunduns, bougarabous, derrabuccas, bodhrans, snare drums, floor toms, woodblocks, cowbells, shakers and even the humble kitchen frying pan.
They form a large circle and begin to play a single pulse…. boom… boom… boom… boom. Steadily as the pulse is integrated within each person’s being, others begin to venture outside the pulse and start playing their own expressive patterns. What started out as a steady pulse develops into an intricate web of rhythms and individual self-expression.
This is music that is created here and now. Never before has this one particular piece of music been heard nor will it ever be played this way again. The music is created by each individual present at the circle at a particular time in their life and they will never play like this ever again. Each participant is integral to the ONE piece of rhythmic display – the humble homemade shaker just as important as the exotic handmade African drum
As the energy builds up within the circle, the music intensifies more and more until, like an overwhelming emotion, it explodes into a cacophonous rumble and ends with one huge bang!
The Full Moon Drum Circle welcomes people of all ages, gender, abilities, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. No prior musical experience is required.
It is a Townsville City Council sponsored event facilitated by Alex Salvador of The Rhythm Connection.