Rhythms in time for offBEAT Freo
Percussionists will tap into the rhythms of nature in an outdoor concert to open the inaugural offBEAT festival at the weekend.
The Defying Gravity troupe is getting set for a show with a difference to coincide with sunset on Friday in the gardens at Fremantle Art Centre.
More than 20 percussionists would be scattered around the grounds as audience members walked around and soaked up the moody environmental sounds of American composer John Luther Adams' Inuksuit, Defying Gravity director Tim White said.
The head of percussion at WAAPA and former principal percussionist with the WA Symphony Orchestra, White said offBEAT would highlight a diversity of styles and instruments.
"Everyone has rhythm inside them," White said. "There is something innately attractive about percussion.
"Every member of the public will look at someone playing drums and say I could play that, too. People can relate to percussion more directly than, say, a violin."
The festival continues with electronic and hip-hop beats on Saturday and a free performance on Sunday by Daniel Susnjar and his Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group.
Art centre director Jim Cathcart said he hoped offBEAT would become a key part of the FAC calendar with unexpected, fresh collaborations.
