The Seymour Centre’s York Theatre functions virtually in the round – the audience sit in a ring above the oval stage underneath a patch of red and amber globes. There are about 300 people seated in the raked auditorium; a mixture of older subscription members in summer dresses and shirts, and younger people who look like contemporary music fans. 

Chloe Kim, Simon Barker and The Earshift Orchestra in Disruption! The Voice of Drums at Sydney Festival. Photo © Yaya Stempler

Three projection screens hang above the cluttered circle of the band, programmed with visuals by artists Paul Mosig and Rachel Peachey. There are seven band members joining bandleader Jeremy Rose in his group, The Earshift Orchestra. 

Tonight they play compositions arranged by Rose, who was inspired to write music to accompany drummer Simon Barker and Chloe Kim’s solo drum recordings. A sort of glow-up of the original, solo drum takes in band format. 

A Korean musician named Kim Seok Chul became an inspiration for Baker’s ongoing exploration of his...