2taiko are Yumi Célia, Alison Roe and two taiko – large, beautiful Japanese drums.
Yumi started taiko growing up in Tokyo, playing at the seasonal festivals around Nezu Shrine and Alison began drumming in Scotland, touring full-time with Mugenkyo, Europe’s leading taiko group. They joined forces while living in Montréal, Canada, and enjoyed the challenge and versatility of playing as a duo. They’re now based in Scotland, France and Japan and continue to play and teach together, having performed in Canada, the US, Japan, the UK, Belgium and France.
2taiko like to collaborate with other musicians and dancers as much as possible (so far with cello, accordion and musical saw). They also enjoy playing in a range of settings, from tiny cafés to large concert halls, from metro stations to Alpine riverbanks. Most of all, they relish new opportunities and new situations in which to teach and perform together.
It takes 2 to taiko…
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2taiko, c’est Yumi Célia, Alison Roe et deux taiko – les grands et beaux tambours japonais.
Yumi a commencé le taiko en grandissant à Tokyo, en jouant dans les fêtes saisonnières aux alentours du sanctuaire de Nezu. Alison a commencé à jouer du tambour en Écosse, en tournant à plein temps avec Mugenkyo, le premier groupe de taiko en Europe. Lorsqu’elles se rencontrent à Montréal, au Canada, elles unissent leurs forces et apprécient le défi et la polyvalence du jeu en duo. Elles sont maintenant basées en Écosse, en France et au Japon. Elles continuent de jouer et d’enseigner ensemble, et se sont déjà produites aux États-Unis, au Japon, au Royaume-Uni, en Belgique et en France.
Il faut être 2 pour jouer du taiko…
Photo by Léa Grahovac
Our music / Notre musique
2taiko write their own original pieces and improvise, mostly performing as a duo but also playing with other musicians. This is something we’d like to do more of so if you’re interesting in working with us, please get in touch.
You can read a little more about our pieces and inspirations here: Our Music
Past performance highlights / Spectacles passés
8-2020 Vallorcine, France, Nuit des Ours (workshops and performances by a beautiful river in the Alps / ateliers et performances au bord de l’Eau Noire)
7-2020 – Vaux Hall, Parc de Bruxelles, Brussels, Un Peu Été
3-2018 – Taliesin Theatre, Swansea, Wales, Spirit of the Dragon (guest performance at Aber Taiko concert / invitées au concert d’Aber Taiko)
02-2017 – Exeter, England, European Taiko Conference (informal improvisation)
10-2014 – Café Lavandería & guest performance with Nezu Gongen Ryujin Daiko at the Nezu Shrine, Tokyo, Japan / invitées chez Nezu Gongen Ryujin Daiko, Tokyo, Japon
01-2012 – Casa Del Popolo, Montreal, Canada (with/avec Shane Connolly, percussionist and founder of Issho Taiko Drummers in Scotland, cellist Toby Kuhn, taiko player Ignatius Kim and experimental musician Gambletron)
09-2011 – Shelburne Orchards, Vermont, Ringo Matsuri (‘Apple festival’ / ‘fête des pommes’) hosted by/chez Burlington Taiko
04-2011 – Various Montreal fundraising concerts after the Eastern Japan earthquake*tsunami*meltdown disaster, the most special being an artistic vigil at the Société des Arts Technologiques [SAT], Montreal, Tamuke: Offrandes pour le Japon / Offerings for Japan
2011 – Regular gigs at our local Montreal haunts including La Lumière du Mile End and La Bulle au Carré / plus des spectacles réguliers à La Lumière du Mile End et La Bulle au Carré
Our taiko / Nos taiko
Alison’s taiko is a nagado made by Kato Taiko in California. The body (quite appropriately) is made from a wine barrel. Yumi has made her own okedo and nagado, with help from a skilled grandfather and other taiko players. She has also been given a beautiful Asano taiko by her old taiko group, Nezu Gongen Ryujin Daiko, in Tokyo.
They are also thinking of making their own taiko from whisky barrels. Watch this space…