If brooding Mount Lokon had chosen the end of October to erupt, few in the surrounding North Sulawesi villages would have noticed.

For the cocktail of instrumental explosions at the Tomohon's battle of the bands - a two-day event staged in the hills not too far from Manado - would have smothered any subterranean roars and growls, bangs and clangs.

Keeping it all together and darting between the serpentine cabling and strobe lighting was the 24-year-old plump but agile coordinator, Jimmy Sumampouw.

Sumampouw is a local lad who's made it good in the Big Durian and the prodigal son came home to run this year's event. Having left high school with little training, no tertiary education and no plans to do anything other than play music, he now makes a living full-time playing music professionally, as the drummer in the eight-piece Jakarta band Miracle that plays golden oldies and Top 40s in cafes and five-star hotels.

"Getting into the Jakarta scene was a little bit difficult," he said, downplaying the hurdles he had to overcome. "There were a lot of challenges."

Although a raw lad from the provinces, he already had family in the capital city so didn't have to scratch for lodgings and regular feeds while building contacts and proving his abilities.

Having talent, of course, helped him significantly. He can play every major instrument in a contemporary band and can understand music notation - skills that draw respect.

His musical gift took him to Australia this year for an international drumming workshop in Melbourne where he was able to click sticks and whisk skins with overseas musicians.

He also had the backing of his parents. This isn't the sort of story where distressed parents burn their offspring's drum kit and demand they follow dad into brain surgery.

Sumampouw's father was an engineer with an overseas company based in Sulawesi and although he had to make his living in an office, he loved to sing and play the guitar.

His musician uncle Ventje Watupongoh who runs an informal music school in Tomohon, also gave him some valuable advice.

"When you're on stage you must act as though you are the king of music. But when you're off stage you must act with humility."

The lesson seems to have struck the right chord. Jimmy doesn't play the big man from the city among the people he left behind when he went west to seek fame and fortune five years ago.

Nor does he try to dissuade the bright young hopefuls who want to follow the pied piper. "I mustn*t deny their spirit," he said.

"I tell them that if they treat music as a hobby or fun, well, that's OK, but don't leave home. Don't go to Jakarta - it's tough. But if they are really serious, work hard and have got the talent then give it a go.

What helped a lot, he said, was the Minahasa people's (from North Sulawesi) ability to fit in anywhere, to adjust and make friends easily.

For Sumampouw, the most important is believing in oneself and have confidence, without arrogance.

Reflecting upon the event, which was dominated by Western music, Sumampouw pointed out he didn't have any objections to local composers giving their songs a Western feel.

"Music is universal - it doesn't matter where it comes from. Tomohon *a city of only 80,000* seems to have a lot of creative talent. We welcome people from everywhere."

And music plays an important role in this community, Sumampouw went on.

"We want to help develop the young generation's interests and talent in music. We don't have a drug problem in Tomohon, though there are some alcohol issues."

The aim is also to give young people other activities to do, Jimmy went on.

"This way we are getting in first, anticipating problems before they arise, keeping the kids off the street."

"Never stop practising - play every day. Music has no end. Music never stops."

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