On a blue moon five years ago, a Canberra GP decided on a whim to start up an informal drumming session near Lake Burley Griffin to watch the moon rise and to share a love of rhythm.

Now retired from a career in forensic health, Graeme Thomson can be heard playing his Djembe (African drum) every full moon down by Bowen Park and, despite the lunar influence, he says it is not a pagan ritual.

“I think people over-interpret this kind of thing,” Graeme says.

“I had someone question me several times and was reluctant to turn up in case she gets dragged into some kind of pagan ritual. She wanted lots of reassurance that she wasn’t going to be preached at. The rising of the moon over the lake fills me with awe and wonder – I don’t need to add any other layers.”

Graeme spent two years in Nigeria when he was 10, while his father taught agriculture, and it was there that the drumming seed was planted. However, it took decades before he picked up a drum.

“I was impressed by the power of drumming as a form of entertainment, celebration of independence and dancing,” Graeme says.

“I took up drumming when I was at the National Folk Festival 20 years ago because my son needed a drum to join one of the drumming workshops. So I bought it for him and said, ‘when you’re done with this, I want it back’. He played it for a few years, moved on to other things, I got the drum back.”

Graeme is self taught and for the past 20 years’ he has been running free workshops around town to anyone who’s keen. I stumbled upon his free, outdoor workshops at Kippax quite by accident a year ago. Graeme invited me to pull up a chair and join in. It’s that easy.

“I learn by teaching,” Graeme says. “I started a group called ‘Off beat’ and I encourage anyone to come along and participate.

“I also teach drumming at U3A. It’s just another form of music – I’m obsessed with rhythm. It inspires me to create rhythms and write music and to participate in other musical groups. You can express yourself freely and people don’t judge what you do. 

“You can’t play music with people unless you’re willing to listen and be in touch with them the whole time. You don’t have to worry about notes or being in tune, just being in time.”

Graeme’s full moon drumming sessions usually focus on African rhythms but he is open to other influences. Whoever turns up can bring their own flavour to the session. If you don’t want to drum, grab a percussion instrument or just dance.

Graeme can be found every full moon at Bowen Park. Email: [email protected]

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