Jonny beats retreat to Walled City Tattoo

Johnny Lynn from Coleraine, pictured during with the drummer group during rehearsals for the Walled City Tattoo, at Donemana Enterprise Park. 2914MC014

A total of 30 drummers - including Jonny Lynn from Coleraine - from marching bands, rock bands and samba bands will create a very exciting and unique sound for the show’s ambitious opening scene.

Swapping their traditional instruments for oil barrels, corrugated iron sheets, steel tubing, hammers and grinders the drummers are led by Israeli Musical Director Yaron Engler who has composed the unusual musical piece for the start of the show.

The showcase will be held in Ebrington Square, Derry-Londonderry on Wednesday to Saturday, August 27-30 at 8.45pm.

The Tattoo is this year themed around the transport history of the North West and the opening scene will tell the story of the old ship building yards on the River Foyle.

Two weeks of intense rehearsals have been taking place in Donemana Enterprise Park and the drummers and percussionists have been working together to create the spine-tingling sounds that will accompany the ship building scene. The drummers will represent the shipyard workers in the production and will also be using parts of the ship as instruments to create the sound.

Jonny said: “I met and got to know world renowned drummer Yaron Engler last year when rehearsing and performing Hofesh Shecter’s piece “Political Mother”.

“It was a fantastic experience and so as soon as I heard he was coming back and was looking for local drummers to take part in this piece I did not hesitate to get in touch about the audition process.

“The opening scene of the show is going to be something fresh that most people will not have experienced before. Yaron’s drumming style and energy radiates through the piece and it has been a privilege to be exposed to it alongside his teaching methods in the rehearsal space once again.”

. 2014 performers include international tattoo favourites the Paris Fire Brigade Band; Swiss comedy acrobats Star Bugs; the world renowned Imps Motorcycle Display Team; Malta’s Marsa Scouts Pipes and Drums; 200 dancers from the Highland, Irish and contemporary dance worlds from across Northern Ireland; North West supergroup Sontas; and two of the city’s oldest bands, Britannia Concert Band and Hamilton Flute Band.

Tickets cost £18.50: visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk or call 028 7126 4455.