Batala Portsmouth is a samba-reggae band playing music originating in South America. It is a unique, exuberant sound played by very friendly people. Batala is a group of bands world-wide which is great because you can travel and fit in wherever there is another band. The drums and costumes are sourced from Brazil; the profits from that go to keep youngsters off the streets and help with various training programmes.
There are various types of drum - no bells and whistles - the fundo 1 (deeper and plays the first bass beat), the fundo 2 (lighter and plays the 2nd), the dobra (lighter and smaller than the 2 and plays the melody and those players have dance routines whilst drumming - very energetic), repiniques which are small drums played with whippy sticks and can be very loud (!!) and caixas which are the snare drums and played with drumsticks. The bigger drums are played with beaters. Most years we have a change of costume - the colours are red, white and black and the designs change also. New tunes emerge every year, written by Giba Goncalves and they have to added to the repertoire.
http://www.batalaportsmouth.com/ more details can be found on our website or facebook http://www.facebook.com/batala.portsmouth and lots of other places. Our website also has links to the other bands in the group. There will hopefully soon be a Batala London, for those who are interested. You don't have to know how to play a drum, to join.
Batala Portsmouth currently meet at the Charter Academy (formerly St Luke's School) in Portsmouth on Thursday evenings - drums on and ready to go at 7pm, though occasionally we practice at the Bandstand in Castle Field, Southsea. We play as many gigs as we can fit in and are always looking for new members. If you want to visit us a pair of earplugs is advisable - we are loud - and if you join us you will need earplugs, knee/shin pads and tape or gloves for your fingers, all cheap and readily available. It is a good way to meet people, hone your performing skills, learn how to play samba, work as a team and there is usually at least one beginners class in the year, and often a dobra school as well, depending on who is available to run them.
We played at Guildford recently - a busk - and received a tremendous welcome there
and again at Fareham - in the rain - where loads of people came to see what was going on and stayed to listen to the exhilarating music. There were so many positive comments, and a lot of interest and it was lovely, thank you Fareham :)
Yesterday Batala Portsmouth played at a wedding reception in the countryside near Steep. We played the most glorious couple up the driveway to the pub. The sun was shining - boy was it hot! - the bride and groom alternately walked and danced their way up the drive and around us when we got to the pub; some guests joined in and that was great to see. Thank you for having us - it was a tremendous experience and I am sure the rest of the day was fantastic. Wishing you a wonderful future, James and Fiona!
We then had to scarper back to Waterlooville in time for our slot at the Waterlooville Music Festival. We only had the one slot this year and several worried people came up and asked if they had missed us (nice to be missed, but they would have heard us LOL). The sun was still out and we played non stop for an hour. Lou was the caller for this one - James called for the wedding - and we played a wide variety of tunes. It was excellent experience for those who hadn't played full tilt for long periods before - as the wedding was good experience for those who were not used to processing - and some of us were pretty tired at the end of it all. A really marvellous day, I think.
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