After a long trek down to the shore I was impressed that the small venue was packed with faithful followers and festival ‘newbies’ from neighbouring European countries.
Cheeky chappies Cox and Gunnel are clearly classically trained and serve up Chopin and Bach on two marimbas with the same verve and enthusiasm given to pieces they arranged themselves. The bongo pieces, especially their namesake Bongo Fury, were lively and infectious. Their use of space, and sometimes costume, is hilarious, as they leap around one another and dress up as waiters for a piece called Barista based on coffee making. I found my self nodding along to the beat and tapping my feet although I was still possessed with fear when they asked for volunteers to help with a jazz number (these were kindly singled out by a wee boy obviously known to the performers shouting “that boy there!”).
The whole show came to a climax with Bongo Fury’s signature piece Marimba Spiritual written to commemorate the famine in Ethiopia. The piece intended for four players, but these boys are a little bit mental and can and do it justice on their own.
Despite their terrible taste in Hawaiian shirts and the cramped venue I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of two marimbas. The rhythm is going to get you and it certainly got me!
4/5
Cath Wood
