A FATHER-son snare-playing duo have been hitting the skins together as part of the world\u2019s largest festival celebrating Celtic and traditional folk music.<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s Tim and Spencer Bodey were two of the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band\u2019s 42 players performing in France for the 10-day Festival Interceltique de Lorient earlier this month.<\/p>\n
The trip was both Bodeys\u2019 first-time taking part in the event and Tim said it was a momentous occasion to perform beside his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very humbling to be given the opportunity to play alongside my son,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously it\u2019s an experience for him but for the both of us to do it together is very special.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day we performed. The highlight for us was probably the grand march which is a two-and-a-half kilometre through the city with a swarm of people watching. We felt like rockstars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both at the troupe\u2019s highest rank of grade three, Tim managed the drum corps\u2019 14 percussionists, which included eight snares, five tenors, and one bass drum, with his son serving as a senior player.<\/p>\n
The pair were joined by fellow Ballarat drummer Stephen Matthews.<\/p>\n
In preparing for the event, the Bodeys learned about 25 pieces with the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band, a group they joined about 12 months ago.<\/p>\n
Between practicing the songs together at home and driving to rehearsals in Melbourne roughly three nights a week, they also took part in events like the Portarlington Folk Festival to lead into the overseas trip.<\/p>\n
With his 35 years of playing compared to his son\u2019s roughly a decade of experience, Tim said the festival experience will likely have an inspirational impact on Spencer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the opportunity for him to look at so many variations of drumming and to see other musicians and the different cultures and how they interact through music,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s blown his mind to see it\u2019s not a few people on the sidelines watching but a whole festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy 10-year-old daughter has just started her career in pipe band drumming as well starting with the Ballarat Grammar Pipe Band only recently.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band\u2019s drum contingent saw the event off with a top-place win in the festival\u2019s drumming competition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A FATHER-son snare-playing duo have been hitting the skins together as part of the world\u2019s largest festival celebrating Celtic and traditional folk music. Ballarat\u2019s Tim and Spencer Bodey were two of the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band\u2019s 42 players performing in France for the 10-day Festival Interceltique de Lorient earlier this month. The trip […]<\/p>\n