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KURANDA ROOTS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 28 JUNE
The forthcoming Kuranda Roots Festival is all about a world class event as well as fostering the regions own local musical talent. As the second annual festival draws closer, organiser Morgyn Quinn from RudeKat Records is confirming a rich line-up of international headliners and well-reputed local talent. From the shores of New Zealand the impressive Olmecha Supreme and The Nomad perform on the same stage as national favourites Fyah Walk, Banawurun and Mr Laneous and up-and-coming local performers Zennith and Koahlition to name a few.
Although Morgyn Quinn could have picked anywhere in Australia to host a roots festival, Kuranda was his first choice. A former North Queenslander, he was brought up loving the roots and Indigenous reggae music devised in the rainforests of the North, so pulling together the cream of the crop of regional talent for a nationally reputed festival was a natural progression.
Im from Kuranda and the local Aboriginal reggae band Mantaka inspired me to get into music, he says. I especially like reggae, roots and soul music, where the music promotes peace and unity. Its important to me to put on an event that brings together black, white and people of all cultures Kuranda is a perfect place to do this.
Hosting such a festival in the heart of the rainforest meant it would appeal to a wide cross-section of the region, from the local Indigenous community, to any music-enthusiasts, professionals and musicians alike. The wide spectrum appeal of the festival and this years line-up ensures there is something for everyone.
After leaving North Queensland, Morgyn set up his own record company RudeKat Records and kept his fingers permanently on the pulse of FNQ music. Organiser of the Island Time festival which has seen some of the most well-reputed names in the local music industry perform on the main stage, Morgyns ideal was to bring the heart of the regions music to its people. Launching Kuranda Roots Festival last year, the fledgling festival was highly acclaimed and saw a strong domestic line-up on stage. With Banawurun and Dynamic Thrills on the bill, and the popular Hot Rubber Glove, which features a bevy of talented Kuranda musicians, the festival ingrained was immediately ingrained on the national festival circuit. While the first years event was predominantly locally focused, Morgyns plans for the 2008 festival was to give it a wider musical appeal and bring in an underground international flavour to the North. He is also putting Kuranda and Tropical Queensland on the map, and giving something back musically to a community which offered him the early inspiration to forge a career in the music industry.
This years event features Olmecha Supreme, Zennith, Fyah Walk, Banawurun, Mystic Beats, Mr Laneous & the Family-Yah and Patch Up on the main stage, The Rude, Koahlition, Peep Show, InI, Emmaline and Sian on the roots stage, and The Nomad, Billy Dread, Apex & Quinzalez, Ombudsman and No Request on the dub stage. While some of the artists on the line-up have a strong following nationally, other acts are predominantly underground and will no doubt garner themselves a bevy of fans when taking to the stage in Kuranda. Morgyn says the festival is not just about bringing big names to the region, but also promoting the unknown and local talent in the Australian music industry. I think the best music does come from the roots genre, he says. You can get fantastic acts that arent very well known, but are headline material.
THE BANDS
Olmecha Supreme is dubbed as afro futuristic roots music and has a strong following world-wide for its politically motivated songs. Featuring Imon Starr, son of blues musician Taj Mahal, the band heralds from New Zealand and will be making their North Queensland debut at the festival. Fellow NZ counterparts, The Nomad, have taken the route less traveled to find the good grooves. With their sixth album due for release at the end of 2008, the band has traversed the musical spectrum and has won themselves international acclaim. Fyah Walk harks from Byron Bay and is the labour of love of singer/songwriter/guitarist Simon Jerrems. Performing some of the most impressive original reggae in the country, Fyah Walk was a band brought to fruition on a solid diet of some of the best reggae legends of our time.
Banawurun return to the Kuranda Roots Festival for a second year bringing with them a strong mix of roots, rock and soul. With its base in Indigenous Australia Banawurun has a strong sense of Oz, but with a rich international flavour. Mystic Beats, a down tempo dance electronic outfit, fuse Eastern influences with contemporary styles. The musicians involved in the band have diverse and eclectic backgrounds ensuring a truly original sound. Mr Laneous & the Family-Yah features Lachy Mitchell, a talented instrumentalist who can pick up any instrument from a guitar, flute, keyboard or his own vocals and make an unforgettable musical impact.
Far North Queenslanders Koahlition, Zennith, Emmaline and Peep Show join the phenomenal line-up. Zennith are no strangers to performing either around NQ or nationally. Heralding from Kuranda, the group have infused rainforest reggae with funky hip-hop and created a whole new genre. Peep Show is a relatively new musical force in the North, with inspiration based in funk, reggae, jazz, rhythm and blues, soul and trance. The music is based in dance with tastes of other genres. Koahlition is a family affair and promotes classic reggae and reggae inspired original material. Emmaline has just released her debut three-track EP and has a strong background in rhythmic music.
More bands will be announced in the coming weeks. Check out www.kurandaroots.com for more information on bands and performance times.
Kuranda Roots Festival is a licensed all ages event. Tickets are available through TicketLink www.ticketlink.com.au or at the following select locations: Shiva Moon and Kuranda Video Shop.
More information available at www.kurandaroots.com
The Reef Hotel Casino is bringing a little Vegas action to North Queensland! The Duelin Pianos forge an incomparable battle of music, using only their wit and consummate musical skill. You can be forgiven for thinking youve stepped inside a showroom in Vegas, the two pianists capture the excitement and thrill of the bright citys lights while giving an intimate experience reminiscent of the good ole time jazz and blues bars found in New Orleans. An evening with the Duelin Pianos is like a trip down musical memory lane.
Dubbed as a two man, four handed piano thumping live act, the Duelin Pianos is a portrayal of some of the most impressive songs of our time brought to life through the piano. With a repertoire of more than 350 songs, some rehearsed and others played off the cuff, the journey encompasses all genres and eras. Not only that, but the battle is happy to bring in requests an apt demonstration of the skill of the musicians at the forefront of the duel. These two men, dressed in swanky suits reserved for a Vegas showroom, swing like a well-oiled gate, and play songs as diverse as Sinatra and the Rat Pack to Prince, Moby, Ella Fitzgerald, Hank Williams and U2. No genre remains untouched.
Bucko and Hughie the faces behind the duelin' are impressive musicians and have worked with some of the biggest names in the business. These relaxed fun-filled entertainers joust through music, playing your favourite 'sing a long' songs with style. With ample experience touring the country and playing to some of the harshest audiences and critics around the world, the battling duo has won acclaim for their extensive song choice and musical mastership. They literally do battle through musical taking audiences on a journey through an eclectic range of songs as they belt them out using the ivories as their weapons of choice.
The duo toured as Hughie and The Schwing Thing in the late 1990s, traversing the breadth of America and playing in some of New Orleans' more iconic venues. It was this experience, and the jamming sessions after with just two pianos as the instruments of choice, that inspired the two to launch Duelin Pianos. The theory was to have fun with music and it is something theyve managed to perfect! Both musicians have extensive histories and fame in their own right, but joining together as a duo gives them a chance to expand their musical horizons and experiences.
Bucko is a founding member of the Yee Haa Boys and was drummer for pub rock outfit The Radiators. During his time with the Radiators, the band achieved three platinum and two gold records. Hes also played on the same bill as the likes of Santana, Earth Wind and Fire, Smokey Robinson, George Thorogood and Foreigner to name a few. With the Yee Haa Boys, Bucko is regularly on tour and recently wrote two songs that charted in the Top 20 of the Australian Country Music charts.
Hughie is an accomplished songwriter with tracks appearing on the latest up and coming INXS album and co-compositions with the likes of Keith Urban, Bob Welch from Fleetwood Mac and The Angels Doc Neeson. Hes co-written with four Grammy award winning artists and has also recorded an album of his own material in Nashville which is due for release in May. Hughie lives part of his time in Nashville and consequently gets the chance to play with some of the best in the business. His album alone was recorded with the likes of Steve Bowman (Counting Crows), Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil), Eric Fritsch (Sheryl Crows band) and well reputed producer Mark Moffatt. In the past year hes also written and produced the soundtrack for a BBC documentary. Not only did it air to great acclaim on the Discovery Channel, but was also voted Top Three in the BBC International Viewers Choice Awards.
Duelin Pianos is a musical excursion of hits on the piano reminiscent of and smoky jazz and blues bar. It is a Las Vegas experience in Far North Queensland performed by two of the countrys most premier musicians, recognised internationally as a stellar show.
Duelin Pianos perform at Vertigo Bar in The Reef Hotel Casino from 1-4 May at 9pm nightly.
DONT BE fooled, an experience with Hi-5 is not all for the little ones - it is something for the entire family.
Gone are the days where childrens entertainment had to be like the proverbial of pulling teeth for the parents, thanks to an enigmatic cast and intelligent songs, Hi-5 have managed to transition kids entertainment over into the contemporary adult spectrum.
One of the five presenters beloved by children around the globe, Nathan Foley isnt surprised by the influx of teenagers and adults he sees at shows.
I have always called this show, not just a kids show, but a family show, he enthuses.
It is something for everybody, even the grandparents can come along and enjoy it is like a mini rock concert really so the kids can get down in the little mini mosh pit and have fun down the front as well.
He is right when he says Hi-5 has lifted and set the benchmark for childrens entertainment.
The result is an interactive program that appeals to a cross section and utilises Top 40 style music but with viable lyrical content applicable to children.
It has got to always change, youve got to move with the times or you will be left behind, Nathan says of the constant evolving cycle of songs and dance routines the Hi-5 team embrace.
I think the must is just more acceptable, weve got a huge teenage following as well who love the show.
The thing with Hi-5 is it is such a broad show for everybody even older people I have met have loved the show, and they dont have children or grandchildren of their own.
Theyve watched it because it is clean, it is fun.
And it certainly must be fun because Nathan himself has been part of Hi-5 for a decade.
The 28-year-old, who has been performing since he was young, initially went to an audition for the show without a great deal of knowledge of kids entertainment.
It was an eye-opening experience for him, and one he wouldnt swap for the world.
This is my 10th year, so it is my life, he says.
It is what I have done for most of my life in the entertainment industry.
The guess the main thing, I can look back when I get older and I wont be doing this anymore and I can go, I was a role model and I actually helped raise children from around the world influence them in some way and be positive in their life.
I have been a big brother to them for the last 10 years and that is a really important role, not many people in this country can actually say that.
Likewise, he acknowledges he has learned things along the way, namely from the kids he meets through Hi-5.
And one of the most important things in his opinion is never to underestimate kids and to not pigeonhole them as just being children either.
Nathan says with the amount of outward influences, such as the internet, kids know so much nowadays and childrens entertainment has had to mould to those changes.
I never underestimate kids, he says.
Getting in there has been amazing, it is really fun to work with children, they are so smart.
If they dont like what you are doing on stage, they will tell you but luckily, we dont get that a lot.
They are very honest and I think that is a hard audience, but it is very challenging as well.
I think a lot of entertainers and a lot of people in the country go oh, you are working with childrens entertainment, it must be easy, half an hour a day.
It is actually not, a lot of work goes into working and performing for them.
In fact, it is a phenomenal amount of work on the behalf of the five presenters in Hi-5 that goes in every day to make sure each and every show is a hit.
Nathan admits about 14-15 hours a day, six-days-a-week is dedicated to rehearsal and thats not counting the days on the live circuit when the group is on tour.
Live days are absolutely full on, he raves enthusiastically.
It is like you are doing two aerobic classes a day and being able to sing as well.
With performing, it is long hours, a lot of work goes into it and a lot of respect goes into it as well.
Hi-5 itself is a highly interactive show it is all about audience participation getting kids and even the adults involved in the excitement.
One of the queries he gets constantly is how, when kids grow up, they too can have an entertainment career like him - and in this circumstance his advice is pretty clear.
First and foremost if you wanted to be a performer or entertainer, do not think of fame first, he says seriously.
A lot of kids out there and teenagers who want to get into the arts go, I cant wait to be famous.
That is not the right way to look at it - it is not the right attitude.
You have got to go into it and say I love what I do, I am in this job because I want to sing, I want to dance, I want to act, I want to do it because of that - and everything will follow.
Anyone can be famous for even the worse things in this world, but if you love what you do, thats the main thing to aspire to.
If you dont love what you do and you just want to be famous, there is no point doing it at all.
And it is immediately evident that Nathan thoroughly loves his life.
Performing for Hi-5 isnt so much a job for him as a lifestyle and he says he could never compare the memories he takes away from each show to anything else he could ever have done.
Hi-5 are touring nationally and bringing their Party Street tour to regional areas for a series of select dates during the April school holidays.
It is a case of Motown, Soul and Disco classics when Lisa Hunt performs on stage. With one of the biggest female voices on the Australian touring circuit, the songstresss impressive style has audiences on their feet from start to finish.
Starting the early days of her career in the great African American gospel church tradition in New York, Lisa discovered the power of her soulful singing style and has gone on to share the stage with some of the worlds greats. From PAVAROTTI and RAY CHARLES check out her performance on Pavarotti & Friends to ERIC CLAPTON, JAMES BROWN, DIONNE WARWICK, BRIAN MAY, RANDY CRAWFORD, JOE COCKER, MILES DAVIS and ANDREA BOCELLI, all are impressed with Lisas versatility and immense vocal ability. Shes also performed and toured with the likes of Ronan Keating, Macy Gray, Mousse T, Delores ORiordan (Cranberries) and Tina Arena
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In the Australian music industry, there are a few bands that have ingrained themselves into the countrys psyche quite like The Black Sorrows. Think Australian music, think Aussie lifestyle and some of the first songs that spring to mind are those spawned by this enigmatic band. Although with tracks like Hold On To Me, Chained to The Wheel, Harley And Rose, Never Let Me Go and Last One Standing For Ya, its no surprise audiences fell in love with the steady music and ever-changing line-up of the band. From the vocal harmonies provided by the Bull Sisters to the impressive instrumentation suggested by other consummate guest members in the band, The Black Sorrows was an ever melding, continuing merging melting pot of musicians. In fact, the one main constant through it all was its vocalist and main songwriter Joe Camilleri and it is essentially he who can take credit for the bands continued longevity and success.
As far as musicians go, Joe Camilleri is at the peak of his field. An acclaimed instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist, the talented and down-to-earth muso has had his finger in many musical pies across his career, that its not surprising he manages to make everything look simple and laid-back. From his early hay days fronting Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, which had the phenomenal hit Shape Im In, that consequently saw them recently inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, to his other musical partnerships outside of The Black Sorrows including The Revelators and Bakelite Radio, Joe has never stopped playing music. Hes also had a prolific solo career and is, unsurprisingly, one of the most well respected musicians in the Australian music industry today. Its not just his ability to write well crafted hit songs that appeals to audiences and fellow musicians alike, but his musical nuance and knack for integrating new concepts and ideas and making them last. Over the years hes introduced a bevy of new musicians into The Black Sorrows fold and each has found a home with the band. Yet even with every line-up change, he kept a consistency that was fluid, the music and the atmosphere and energy were still inherently The Black Sorrows even if some of the members were missing. He was the central and integral part of the music he was, and is, The Black Sorrows
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In an industry where being a singer songwriter has become the current trend, Port Douglas based performer Eagle, aka Omid Master, stands out in the crowd. Hes not following the well trod path of those before him, instead, his musical journey is unique and abstract, and the result is strongly original songs with a pertinent message. Eagles diffidence of direction doesnt mean his music has less commercial appeal, far from it in fact his songs are catchy, humorous and emotional theyre a heady blend of impressive instrumentation, crafted lyrics and relative themes. With years of experience behind him as a performer in many different genres of music, Eagle honed his craft before shying away from the manufactured realm of the industry to find his place independently a position he has secured with a passion and surety.
Since the release of his independent debut album Better Late Than Never in 2007, this impressive musician has supported the likes of the multi-ARIA nominee Lior, the Alberts Record signed Dallas Crane, played on national television on the Channel 9 Today Show, appeared on festival bills around the country and performed at the legendary venue The Espy in St Kilda, Melbourne. Not a bad accomplishment for a North Queensland singer songwriter whose only form of promotion has been his music. The first single off the album, Everything is Okay has been picked up by leading commercial radio stations 4CA FM Cairns, B-Rock and 2BS Bathurst, Port FM, ABC Far North, ABC Radio Australia and SEA FM Rock in Townsville. Consequently, Eagle secured himself a regular live performance spot on breakfast radio something which would be daunting for most performers, but just another challenge this talented musician took in his stride. And an accomplishment that won him a swag of fans in the process
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In this era of manufactured music and the flaccid compositions of soft c**k rock, real rock bands stand out in the crowd like a beacon. These are few and far between so when one surfaces through the bulls**t to rip into the Australian scene, music lovers sit up and listen. And this is exactly what Melbourne-based band The Chemists are doing concocting a mixture of musical chemistry which looks set to take them straight to the top.
With the imminent release of their debut EP, the four lads behind the musical genius that is The Chemists are geared for success. Theyre as passionate about their music as they are good at it all consummate musicians who understand the meaning of good ole Aussie rock and how to make it, with an original and contemporary twist. Unlike many bands new on the scene whose self-dubbed original music sounds rather reminiscent of hits before them, The Chemists have a style all of their own, which transitions between a traditional rock persona, combined with punk and grunge influences. Its not surprising to find out these talented four have earned their stripes in the music industry. Theyve been doggedly playing the bar circuits, cutting their teeth as live performers where they earned a surprisingly large fan base for a fledgling band. An EP release was a natural progression as requests for a recording became too numerous to ignore and word started to spread outside the bands Melbourne gig scene awarding the rockers something of a national reputation. One thing is certain, the chemistry in The Chemists is the perfect brew and they rock
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The Screaming Jets are synonymous with Australian rock! Few bands embody that true spirit of the Aussie rock industry, the hardworking exterior, the honest rockin core, the dedication to their musical craft against all adversity and the sheer determination not to buckle or give in. Bands come and go, many folding to the commercial manufactured directive of the industry losing fans and respect along the way but not the Jets theyve fought, theyve conquered, and through it all, theyve stayed true to their music. This is why as a band that smashed their way onto the music scene in the early 1990s theyve still got a core of fans who would do anything for them, and the respect of some of the biggest names in the rock industry today.
Rockin a string of tour dates through regional Queensland, The Screaming Jets are continuing to take their music back to their fans. And this tour in itself is a special one it marks the start of something new, itll be the last run before the guys finalise their new album and get it out on the streets. The highly anticipated, as yet untitled, release is destined to reignite another surge of Jets-frenzy and is, without doubt, one of their best albums yet. Tight, clean and with the strong basis of driving guitars that The Screaming Jets own brand of rock has become known for, it shows another side of the band. Theyre not just a phenomenal act on stage, but their skill as songwriters is impressive and relatively unmatched in the rock industry today. Their first full-length studio album since Scam in 2000, this record is set to put The Screaming Jets back in the spotlight and will no doubt garner them a whole new generation of fans who have been missing out on the true rock experience
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There are few performers who can captivate an audience with just vocals and a guitar alone but Brisbane-based Dave Dow is certainly one of these anomalies. His personality shines through on stage, stopping passer-bys in their tracks as he demonstrates his musical aptitude and vocal skill on an eclectic range of styles ranging from Motown classics to current Top 20. As a performer, there is little Dave hasnt mastered.
Playing in bands since he was 16, he has always worked part-time in the music industry, often supporting his love of the craft with mundane work elsewhere. But this wasnt going to be the case for long its not like you can keep a performer of this calibre out of the spotlight, so eight years ago he put everything else on hold and starting pursuing music full-time. And he hasnt really looked back since. Hes traversed the globe performing from gigs in every outpost of Australia, to New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and China. This year hes gearing up for a six-week stint performing in New York and is hoping to break into the music scene in the States and Canada
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It was a case of Australian rock reuniting on the weekend as they celebrated one of the most respected of them all, former ACDC frontman, Bon Scott.
Last year the royalty of the Oz rock industry joined forces to raise money to create a statue of the singer to pay tribute fast forward 12 months and on Sunday 24 February the bronze life size statue of the rocker was unveiled to a rockin crowd at the Claremont Showgrounds in Western Australia.
Aussie audiences loved Bon Scott, he embodied the spirit of Oz rock and thus he was a fitting choice to be honoured in such a way
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