CAMDEN—This is one of those performances that has to be seen to be believed. After their last visit in 2007 to a standing room only audience, Japan’s Yamato Taiko Drummers are returning to Camden, Tuesday, March 8.

“Their last visit here was incredible,” said Bay Chamber Concerts Executive Director Monica Kelly. “It was just stunning.”

In 2007, Bay Chambers Concerts was able to entice them to perform in Maine while they were on a New England tour in Boston and they made a special stop up to Camden for an abbreviated show.

“We first did a matinee show in the morning for a number of students,” said Kelly. “And when the kids came home after school, they were like ‘Oh My God, you should see what we saw today.’ That night, with barely any publicity, it ended up being this insane, sold-out show where people were getting mad in line because they couldn’t get in.”

Yamato Taiko Drummers are from the Mara Prefecture in Japan. A group of dozens of players start their performance by hitting a Japanese taiko drum made from a large 400 year-­old tree. Their live performances are so full of intensity that the British media has called their sound "The music of the body."

With 20 members, Yamato exhibits great originality and innovation through the traditional Japanese musical instrument, the Wadaiko (Japanese drum). The group formed in 1993 and has played more than 3,000 performances in 53 countries to over 6 million viewers.

“It’s a very acrobatic show, lots of jumping around with gigantic drums,” said Kelly. “The Wadaiko is about seven or eight feet wide surrounded by all of these smaller percussive drums. They’ve had to change out members over the years because it’s so physically demanding.”

Currently the Yamato Taiko Drummers on a grueling U.S./Canada tour with Maine being the farthest of their New England shows, followed by Burlington, Vt., and Boston.

Additionally, the Bay Chamber’s Concerts Community Engagement Program will offer two student matinees to Maine students at no charge. An exclusive show for Camden Hills Regional High School students is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 8, and a second free matinee open to high school students around the state will be offered on Wednesday, March 9, at 10 a.m. in the Strom Auditorium. The programs have enabled thousands of students to experience the excitement of live performances over the years.

For more information on the matinee or to register your school, please contact Monica Kelly, monica@baychamberconcerts.org.