Beat brothers come home
Brothers Moses and Leni Sulusi will return to their roots at a one-off concert in Manukau next Monday.
Both are part of the nationally acclaimed percussion group STRIKE which is bringing 60 of the students from its schools drumming project Batterie100 to perform with the Royal New Zealand Navy band and the New Zealand Army band at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre.
The Sulusi brothers attended Manurewa High School and also taught music at many schools in the area.
Leni is now a fulltime member of STRIKE, performing around the country and internationally, while Moses is a fulltime member of the navy band.
‘‘It’s great to be able to perform in South Auckland where we grew up but also to have the different groups I play in and work with perform together,’’ Moses says.
The concert is the first time the army and navy bands have combined for more than 20 years and joining with STRIKE is a first.
‘‘There will be a lot happening visually and the music is varied to satisfy all tastes,’’ navy band music director Lieutenant-Commander Owen Clarke says.
‘‘This is an opportunity not to be missed.
‘‘You have two of the best military bands in the country with the best percussion group,’’ he says.
The navy band is preparing to travel to Gallipoli for the Anzac Day commemorations and Monday’s event will be its final concert before it leaves New Zealand.
The army band will perform at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo later this year.
The concert is on at 7pm on March 25 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. Door sales are $10 adults, $5 students and children.