The act
A reflective musical space could open in your wedding day with Roderick McLeod's blend of West African and ambient influences. He plays the kora, a West African harp with twenty one strings, as well as drums and percussion. Study with master musicians in Senegal and Mali informs his sound, which brings traditional music into conversation with contemporary ideas. Duo and trio possibilities draw on his work with other musicians, while drum circles offer another way to consider involving your guests. You might most want the kora's melodies as people gather before the ceremony, with time to notice the music.
See Roderick McLeod play
Watch Roderick McLeod perform and get a feel for their sound, style and fit for your wedding.
What it costs
Pricing
Quote on enquiry
For your exact date, venue and running time, we send an itemised quote.
Pricing is confirmed before anything is booked. GST and travel are shown clearly on the quote.
Good to know
What to expect
Roderick plays two to three sets of about 45 minutes on the kora, the 21 string harp from West Africa. The material moves between traditional melodies carried down through generations of players and his own contemporary writing, and hearing both in the same set is what shows you how much range the instrument has. There's a second thing he offers that changes the night entirely: he'll run a drum circle, with up to 60 djembes brought in, so your guests stop watching and start playing.
On the day
He travels with a small PA and lights, enough to cover a crowd of around 80 to 100 people comfortably. Allow him roughly 45 minutes on site before he's due to start. Kora tuning and a soundcheck aren't things to rush, so build that window into your timings rather than expecting him to walk in and play.
Performance options
Solo kora is the usual booking. Roderick also plays with a range of other musicians and can bring one in for a duo or a trio: a violinist, a flute player or a singer, depending on the mood you're after. Drum circle facilitation is the other option, either on its own or alongside a performance. He's open to unusual ideas, so it's worth describing what you've got in mind at the enquiry stage.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured.
