In 1997 I joined the elite band of musicians that is The Rolf Harris Band, and shortly after we were joined by the massive personality and talent that is Shining Bear, one of the world's leading exponents of the didgeridoo. After a year of talking about it we finally got a morning in Studio 99 with Jim Mathews at the desk, (always a risky business), and laid down live three tracks, Earth Shake, Latin Lava and Ocean Song. Drum'n'Didg was born, and from there the obvious step was to get out and gig; on May 8th 1999 we performed our inaugural show at the Horniman Museum Conservatory, swiftly followed by a performance in the Purcell Rooms at 1999's Rhythmsticks Festival.

Photos by Jacqui Young

Thanks to a grant from the PRS Foundation, (for which we are very grateful!), Drum'n'Didg will be performing some free concerts at a number of schools in the South East during the course of the year. The Drum'n'Didg show is essentially a fun show with a lot of humour and audience interaction and participation, as well as performances of a number of pieces Mark and Bear have written for percussion and didgeridoo.

"Using a vast array of drums, ethnic percussion and sound effects, not to mention a variety of wonderful hand crafted, authentic didgeridoos, Mark and Bear create an enchanting atmosphere with magical sounds and thrilling rhythms." (Royal Festival Hall events brochure).

LINKS

To book Drum'n'Didg or for further information please e-mail me.

To buy Mark's solo album with tracks by Drum'n'Didg on it, or Shining Bear's solo album Didgeridoo Dreaming, go to the Drummer market.

For the tour diary of my first year with Rolf written for Rhythm magazine click here

To get to Rolf's website, the Wizard of Aus, with information on the band, Rolf's music and other stuff, www.rolfharris.com

To purchase didgeridoos and to find out more about this wonderful instrument go to the best site in the world for didgeridoos www.thedidgeridooplace.co.uk

Rolf Harris Band photo by Hugh Hughes

Alan, Mark, Graeme, Bernard, Rolf, Bear, Ray