Toque Tambor

Willow Foundation Fun Run

toquetambor — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:22:04 +0000

Willow Foundation Fun Run

The Willow Foundation is the only national charity that provides psychological and emotional support for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds. You can’t run with a drum, but the annual 10k charity fun run benefitted from some additional swing this year. The rhythms of Toque Tambor could be heard round the entire course. Noisy instruments are usually banned from the park. We can’t think why.

You’re in!

toquetambor — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:15:03 +0000

Yes! You can actually take part in the world of Brazilian Carnival music. This autumn’s new intake of batuquera have started on their path to enlightenment. Most haven’t played an instrument before, but that’s OK, that is what we teach! Look out for their first parade at the Ware Dickensian festival on 2nd of December.

Beating it up in August

toquetambor — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:07:31 +0000

Southend Parade

Not one, but two parades for North Herts Homes who provided 2 picnic parties for residents in Hitchin and Letchworth over successive weekends, and on Sunday 20th, half of the band joined with the best of the South Eastern samba community to form a supergroup representing UK Carnival Arts for the Southend Parade. We only set off 2 car alarms!

Luton Encontro Videos

toquetambor — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:22:44 +0000

Here are some videos of our performance at Luton Encontro 2011. We brought some Brazilian weather with us too!

New Drumming Course

toquetambor — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:51:22 +0000

Click on the image to download a PDF version of the flyer (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view)

If you are interested in percussion and carnival music and want to learn more, or are a musician wishing to improve your rhythmical skills, this is for you!

Our new 15 week Brazilian carnival drumming course starts on 6th September 2011 and will introduce you to our rhythms and music and could offer you the opportunity of joining Toque Tambor for the 2012 season!

Come along and enjoy a FREE Brazilian carnival drumming taster session on 16th August 2011 and experience the energy and excitement of modern carnival rhythms in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

The free classes, and the drumming course, are open to everyone – no previous experience is necessary. All instruments are provided and earplugs will be available as our music is loud!

Please click here to make an enquiry or book a place on the course

Our Easter tryout for Saracens

toquetambor — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:50:51 +0000

We played at Saracens Rugby Club last Sunday. The club were very happy and encouraging about our performance and the atmosphere it created. They admitted they were sceptical in advance about the level of sound we could create without amps but we proved them wrong on this count! They said they would definitely consider booking the band again next season.

Hoorah!

Toque Tambor world Tour of Ardee 2011

toquetambor — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:48:01 +0000

As the 40 strong Toque Tambor samba bateria bounced up the high streets of Dunleer and Ardee, our usual blue and gold scheme enjoyed a liberal green garnish. For these towns are in Ireland, and this was the St Patrick’s day parade.

As if this mobile rhythm explosion wasn’t enough, we were augmented by dancers Romero and Shymala to encourage audience dancing and eye popping.

Having all flown in from Luton, we went straight into action that evening by hosting a well attended, samba dance class, held in the huge Ardee castle (which was made of stone to resist the sound of drums – no really!). The next day, fortified by a proper Irish breakfast (and the previous evening’s Guinness) we formed up among the floats, tractors clubs and marching bands. Rain had been forecast but we scared it away. So we danced and played and paraded and what do you know, the audience dance with us.

Well, the Irish DO know how to party and dancing with the people of Ardee and Dunleer is always an experience. See you next year!