The fantastic Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers celebrate their 15th birthday this year with an extensive UK tour this autumn. The word Mugenkyo stands for limitless reverberation and they will surely live up to the name on this tour.
From small beginnings as a two-piece, the group has grown into one of the most well-established touring world music groups in the UK, touring consistently over the last decade with over 100 concerts a year. The newly announced tour will take place over a two month period and take taiko to every corner of the UK.
To check out the Megenkyo group in action check out the video below.
When Mugenkyo started 15 years ago, there were no other taiko groups in existence, except a group of Japanese students in Reading. Mugenkyo ex-members have since gone on to establish groups in London, Glasgow and even Canada and New Zealand. Regular students of Mugenkyo have started groups in Cumbria, Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Teeside and even the first taiko group in Eire.
Mugenkyo founders Neil Mackie and Miyuki Williams originally studied under Masaaki Kurumaya Sensei in Fukui on the west coast of Japan from 1992 - 1994, and regularly return to Japan both to further their studies and for performances.
In 2002 they established the Mugen Taiko Dojo - UK´s Centre for Taiko Drumming, a purpose-built studio for taiko, set in the South Lanarkshire countryside, which serves as their base and HQ, where they run courses and workshops, from beginners workshops to intensive courses for already-established taiko players from around the world, attracting participants from all over the UK, Eire, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France and Spain.
The range of courses ranges through to the highest level training group in the country: the Taiko Academy, many of the trainees have gone on to tour professionally with Mugenkyo.
The dates shape up as follows:
September
18 - Whitehaven, Civic Theatre, 7.30pm - 01946 514 960
19 - St. Helens, Theatre Royal, 7.30pm - 01744 756 000
20 - Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre, 4.00pm - 01902 429 212
22 - Isle of Man, Gaiety Theatre, 7.30pm - 01624 694 555
23 - New Brighton, Floral Pavilion, 7.30pm - 0151 666 0000
24 - Lichfield, Garrick Theatre, 7.30pm - 01543 412 121
25 - Hartlepool, Town Hall Theatre, 7.30pm - 01429 890 000
26 - Gateshead, The Sage, 7.30pm - 0191 443 4550
28 - Cromer, Pavilion Theatre, 7.30pm - 01263 512 495
29 - Cromer, Pavilion Theatre, 7.30pm - 01263 512 495
30 - Bedford, Corn Exchange, 8.00pm - 01234 269 519
October
1 - Chesham, Elgiva Theatre, 8.00pm - 01494 582 900
2 - Felixstowe, Spa Pavilion, 7.30pm - 01394 282 126
3 - London, Chelsea Cadogan Hall, 7.30pm - 020 7730 4500
4 - Worthing, Pavilion Theatre, 7.30pm - 01903 206 206
5 - Canterbury, Gulbenkian Theatre, 7.30pm - 01227 769 075
6 - Dunstable, Grove Theatre,7.30pm - 01582 602 080
8 - Exmouth, Pavilion Theatre, 7.30pm - 01395 222 477
9 - Minehead, Regal Theatre, 7.30pm - 01643 706 430
10 - Newport, The Riverfront, 7.30pm - 01633 656 679
12 - Cardigan, Theatr Mwldan, 7.30pm - 01239 621 200
13 - Derby, Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm - 01332 255 800
14 - Tewkesbury, Roses Theatre, 7.30pm - 01684 295 074
15 - Hereford, The Courtyard, 7.30pm - 01432 359 252
16 - Abergavenny, Borough Theatre, 7.30pm - 01873 850 805
17 - Brecon, Theatr Brycheiniogm, 7.30pm - 01874 611 622
22 - Stafford, Gatehouse Theatre, 7.30pm - 01785 254 653
23 - Oxford, New Theatre, 7.30pm - 0844 847 1585
24 - Poole, The Lighthouse, 7.30pm - 08444 068 666
25 - Swindon, Wyvern Theatre, 7.30pm - 01793 524 481
27 - Croydon, Fairfield Halls, 8.00pm - 020 8688 9291
28 - Camberley, Camberley Theatre, 8.00pm - 01276 707 600
29 - Hertford, Castle Hall, 8.00pm - 01992 531 500
30 - Scunthorpe, Plowright Theatre, 7.30pm - 01724 277 733
31 - Hull, City Hall, 7.30pm - 01482 226 655
November
1 - Blackpool, Grand Theatre, 7.30pm - 01253 290 190
12 - Falkirk, FTH, 7.30pm - 01324 506 850
13 - Glasgow, Tramway Theatre, 7.30pm - 0845 330 3501
14 - Dunoon, Queen´s Hall, 7.30pm - 01369 702 800
15 - Motherwell, Civic & Concert Hall, 7.30pm - 01698 403 120
19 - Edinburgh, Queen´s Hall, 7.30pm - 0131 668 2019
20 - Langholm, Buccleuch Centre, 7.30pm - 01387 381 196
21 - Halifax, Square Chapel, 8.00pm - 01422 349 422
22 - Bath, Theatre Royal, 7.30pm - 01225 448 844
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