Akinori Fujimoto (Japan) is a taiko drummer, composer and performer. He completed his Masters in music at Goldsmiths University in 2008, specialising in drum kit and studio composition, and since then has taught drumming professionally and toured internationally with multiple bands and projects.

His journey as a taiko specialist began in 2006, and in 2018 he committed to taiko performance and composition full-time. Akinori is currently studying under Yoichi Watanabe, a highly respected taiko master and the director of the Kanto Taiko Federation (Tokyo & surrounding region) who also leads the renowned taiko-drumming group ‘Amanojaku’.

Mikey Kirkpatrick (UK) is a flautist, singer, improviser and composer whose research and practice explores the healing potential of music in individuals and communities. Over the past 30 years Mikey has developed a unique range of extended techniques through the combination of breath, flute and voice, and has studied a wide range of folk traditions from around the world. He has toured internationally, collaborated with filmmakers, poets and sound artists and composed and performed for film and theatre.

Mikey performed hundreds of flute-loop improvisations live on the radio during the Covid-19 pandemic and is currently researching and teaching for Goldsmiths University (where he is the founding director of the youth community project Alchemy) and Morbid Anatomy in New York City.