The most unique aspect of Different Drums is the use of the potent symbols of the drums of the two main communities here in Northern Ireland - the lambeg drum and the bodhran which are perceived as representing the Nationalist and Unionist cultures
In the early 1990s, Roy the band's founder got a chance to spend a week with the Kodo drummers from Japan and that gave us the idea to try something new. It was about exploring the sound of the drums and trying to create some sense of a new repertoire of out the two traditions.
In addition to the lambeg and bodhran, we use the African Djembe drum to provide the rhythmic engine of the band and you will also hear the High tension snare and various other percussion from around the world.
The melodic aspects of the band are voices and a range of traditional Irish instruments with particular emphasis on the Uilleann pipes and the whistle, the link between rhythm and melody is made through Roy's guitar.
