Wadaiko Rindo

Big drums, big sound. Wadaiko Rindo is a Melbourne taiko ensemble that plays traditional Japanese rhythms with an Australian touch, and the performances are high energy from the first strike. Toshinori Sakamoto founded the group in 1996. It now has more than 130 active students, and the advanced members form the performing troupe. They've played across Australia and overseas in Japan, China, Fiji and New Caledonia. Bookings take in cultural festivals, corporate events and school workshops, where the drumming comes with stories about the culture behind it. Taiko is loud and physical, so it lands best as an opening moment or a centrepiece rather than as background music.