Alvin and the Jahbutu Band
February 23, 2011
Frontman Alvin Rostant, also known as “Jahbutu” hails from Trinidad. He learnt to play the unique steel pan with his fathers band and then performed as lead panist, vocals and band spokesman for “Amrals Trinidad Cavaliers Steelband” touring USA, Canada, Asia, NZ, and Australia .Since immigrating to Aust he has done countless gigs including Expo 88, Warana, Childers/ Bundaberg/Woodford multicultural festivals and many others, and
continues to perform at V8 Supercar Championships including the mighty Bathurst Races and many more corporate gigs, in fact you name it and Alvins probably played there! Alvin is also the famous “Banana Joe” character, visiting all primary schools with the Qld Arts Council sponsored “Banana Joe Show”. Alvin revels in mentoring keen pan players at home and playing at festivals and corporate gigs Aust wide.
Jorge or “Trix”, as the name suggests is the band comedian, born in NY, but “found” music in Puerto Rico at the age of 10. He was lucky enough to find his “percussion skills” in NY, USA, with the worlds’ premier percussionist Domn Romao, who recorded with Frank Sinatra and others. Trix toured the world with Roberta Flack visiting USA, Europe, South America and Aust. Some Aust artists he has worked with include Tim Finn, Marsha Hines and Tommy Emmanuel. Jorge has performed with the best of the best and remains “the” percussionists in Aust. Having just returned from homeland Peurto Rico he wishes to continue the mission of entertaining the masses! and passing on his skills to the next gen.
Mantist
January 25, 2011
Never has the name of an artist been so apt, growing up in Southern Sudan, Hip Hop, MC, Mantist and his crew, No Pain No Gain, know a thing or two about pain. Having lost his father before he could even remember his dad’s face he was sent to live with his alcoholic Grandmother at the age of 6. Because of her drunken state Mantist was often left hungry and had to head out with his 8 year old brother to find food. Music was a release and at the age of 12 he started to write songs. Free-styling in local villages and refugee camps in his native tongue was an outlet for his pain and when he came to Australia he began to write songs that told his story, spoke of hope and freedom. Showing that out of pain there IS gain.
Unsigned
Band Members:
Mantist
G-Jay
Nigusse (Yenenesh )
November 25, 2010
General Information:
Yenenesh Nigusse has also worked with a variety of other groups including a West African group called Papasa and establishing an Afro-hiphop group inspired Fab Fambool. Becoming a part of this group helped her in her versatility as a dancer. Having only had a months training in Ghana and two months in Ethiopia, most of her skills were self taught. Over the 13 years of experience in traditional African dance, Yenenesh started facilitating dance workshops. Whilst in these groups it allowed her to perform at many events, functions and festivals.
Her passion is performing and teaching others about her culture through dance, educating and allowing them to understand about where she comes from.
Tichawona Mashawa
November 17, 2010
Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Tichawona is one of the most imaginative and captivating musicians emerging from Africa today. His music equally embraces the deepest traditions of Mbira and Nyunga-Nyunga (thumb piano) music as well as the intense dance groove of the African Metropolis
Afrodisa Duo
November 4, 2010
Afrodisa’s distinctive and powerful music incorporates an unusual fusion of assorted “roots” music with African styles including Ghanaian Hi-life, Reggae, and Calypso, which is extended, in duo format, with percussion, sequencer, articulate arrangements and soulful vocals, and imbued with the artists’ own indefinable flavour to create a totally unique sound with an infectious dance feel that compels its audiences to dance the nights away. They are frequent players at the Casablanca Club on Caxton St and played all around Australia
Band Members:
- Joe Tee
- Joel
For more information,
http://www.myspace.com/afrodisaband
Joseph Matovu
November 4, 2010
African Drummer combines the drumming skills of African traditional tribal culture with a strong passion for entertaining, relaxing, empowering, and teaching. They do interactive drumming, dancing, singing and story telling performances for the community, festivals, business corporates, schools, Tafes, universities, hotels, parties and weddings.
Band Members: Joseph Matovu and his team members
Website: http://www.africandrummer.com.au/index.html
Mady Bah Bless
September 21, 2010
Mady Bah Bless, born Mady Ouedraogo in 1973 in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa. After the tragic death of his father, at the age of three he moved to Ivory Coast with his mother. Growing up in a very rhythmic life with football and dancing as his main interests. After one year at high school his step-dad could not afford his school fees and Mady found himself on the streets. His mother sent him back to Burkina Faso, hoping that his brother may be able to help him.
In 1990 he arrived in Ougadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso and as the story remained the same, after one year of high school evening classes his brother too could not afford to pay his school fees. After seeing his first live reggae concert, featuring Hamed Farris, an Ivorian reggae man, the teenager decided that his path must be reggae. As his Dad was polygamous, having four wives, he had many brothers. In 1994, he returned to Ivory Coast, the capital of African reggae. Another five years in the rastafarian getto in Abidjan, still following the path of his rhythm he headed to Bamako, Mali. Here he met his wife who happened to be Australian.
In 2000 they moved to Bristol in England. Still searching to turn the philosophy into music. Then in 2002 Australia was the new land, arriving in Sydney on the 26th January. Still the dream of 1990 following his first reggae concert, was as alive as ever. In Australia Mady faced the feeling of a deep sense of being lost, out of the zone that he had always known very well. Two years in Brisbane, two years in Melbourne, four years in the Blue Mountains, still with the sense of “what am I doing here?”. Battling with trying to make sense of it all whilst trying to raise a family at the same time with his wife and three boys. Now, 2010 he returned to Brisbane where he said that things are much better today and gives thanks to Jah Rastafari. He now lives in Redcliffe the place he calls home and it is all coming back in the positive way.
Sunny Dread
September 7, 2010
Sunny Dread is an African-born Australian, who has travelled many parts of the world sharing his unique blend of reggae, hip hop and R’n’B. Sunny spends much of his time collaborating with artists, communities and young people across the regions of Queensland.
He has performed at Woodford Folk Festval, Kuranda Roots, Island Vibe, Reggaetown. His performance career is prolific & extensive with sold-out reggae performances both in Australia and the Pacific Region. His collaboration with Kuranda Roots and Island Vibe as a feature artist showcased his incredible ability through from Rootsreggae, Dancehall to DubStep through to Ministry of Sound. Sunny has worked with Brisbane’s Rudekat Sound System and, numerous bands and DJs.
His two songs “Guide & Bless” and “Raggajunk” were highly commended for the Q Song Music Awards 2010. Sunny Dread is featured on the new released album of New Caledonian reggae band “Néa Combo”, called “Round 1″. Sunny will be launching his new album titled “Mo Life – The Best of Sunny Dread” in July 2010!
Kooii
August 5, 2010
Kooii’s compelling and distinctive fusion of jazz, African and reggae music has a timeless quality and familiarity that instantly resonates with music lovers of all genres and ages. The band’s magical sounds weave through cities, hills and oceans.
It is rare for bands to make a serious impact on the Australian music scene as soon as they are born, but then Brisbane’s Kooii is anything but your average outfit … Kooii has been fine-tuning its music for more than seven years now. Songwriter, lead vocalist and trumpeter, Peter Hunt provides the seeds of the songs that the group then helps to grow. Joining Peter are guitarists Lachlan Mitchell (Laneous and the Family Yah, Kafka) and Conan Griffiths (Ruby Blue), bass guitarist Tom Hinchliffe (Laneous and the Family Yah, Kafka), percussionist Charles Wall (Oka), drummer Dom Hede (Kafka) and saxophonist Darcy McNulty (Kafka). This collective of extremely talented and experienced musicians creates a unique groove that instantly becomes a favourite, catching ‘the rhythm of the listener’s step’ and reflecting their deep and honest appreciation of their craft.
The band began 2010 with a successful tour of New Zealand, where their uniquely Australian brand of reggae was a huge hit at venues and festivals across the country, including a main-stage performance at the Parihaka International Peace Festival. They continue a big year with the spring release of their highly anticipated second album, In this Life. Their debut album Beads on a String, which was produced by Paul Bromley (Beautiful Girls, George), was met with exceptional reviews and gathered a strong following for the band both at home and overseas.
Kooii’s songs have twice made the finals of the Q Song Awards and their music has been included in two releases of the Island Vibe Festival compilation albums. The band also featured in the March 2007 edition of Rolling Stone magazine, which acknowledged their contribution to Australian contemporary music alongside other prominent Australian artists who have participated in the JB Seed program.
Website (including upcoming gigs): www.myspace.com/kooii
Imanzi Rwandan Cultural Song & Dance Group
May 17, 2010
Imanzi Rawandan cultural song and dance group are a vibrant and active team of artists expressing life through music and dance. Their purpose is to entertain while they educate about traditional Rawandan dance, music and craft.
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