Supporting the fight for freedom in West Papua.

Breaking the silence on 50 years of Genocide of the West Papuan people.

“This is not the struggle of West Papuans alone, but for all those who believe in respect for other human beings and reverence for this beautiful planet on which we all depend for life.” John Rumbiak, West Papuan human rights leader.

Hailed by Santana as “The voice of the street and the band of the future!” Blue King Brown, 2011 ARIA nominated artist, is Australia’s premier 8 piece live urban roots crew. Lead by the multi talented, relentless energy of Natalie Pa’apa’a; Powerful vocal & lyrical delivery’s meet a dancehall, roots, rock & afro groove mash-up built on an irrepressible percussive foundation.

Their power packed live show is second to none & now world renowned, they’ve played across the planet, through EUROPE, UK, CANADA, USA, & JAPAN rocking crowds from Tokyo to Texas and everywhere in between, Having shared stage and opened for the likes of SANTANA, DAMIAN MARLEY, JULIEN MARLEY, SPEARHEAD, JOHN BUTLER, THE CAT EMPIRE, LAURYN HILL to name a few.

Once again pushing genre boundaries and breaking new sonic grounds their new album saw them working alongside the Legendary Sly & Robbie, special Guests such as Queen Ifrica & Jah Mason, engineers such as James ‘Bonzai’ Caruso (Gwen Stefani, Nas, Damien Marley, Madonna) Colin ‘Bulby’ York from Kingston, Jamaica (Rihanna, Jimmy Cliff, Britney Spears, Madonna, Michael Franti, UB40) & Chris Macro (Scribe, Katchafire).

Do not miss any opportunity to see this band!

“A Blue King Brown concert hall is a shrine and a church of freedom. Fela Kuti would be proud of this band…” – Billy’s Bunker

“Natalie is a bright light in the world with a vision that extends beyond the stage and together with the rest of the band raise the roof off every show they play. I love em!!!” – Michael Franti (Spearhead)

“They are the voice of the street and the band of the future!” – Carlos Santana

“BKB are one of those unique truth-telling outfits in our business that defy time. Amazing musicians with a powerful message.” Serj Tankian (System of a down)

“…One of the nation’s most refreshing voices. Natalie Pa’apa’a is sounding like a natural successor for Lauryn Hill’s onetime girl-power crown.” – Rolling Stone.

Tabura

Fresh from rocking Port Moresby in front of a crowd 20,000 strong comes new voice of West Papua ‘Tabura’, a group of West Papuans, Papua new Guineans and Australians united in the cause through the power of music to strengthen the civil resistance for West Papua. Hear their cries, speak for their rights, learn from their past and give them a future.

TABURA are a powerful and innovative group of young West Papuan musicians based in Melbourne, who are breaking new ground with unique blend of music crossing traditional and contemporary genres fused in original songs and classic tunes by their forefathers.

Regarded as the next generation of the famous Black Brothers from West Papua, the troupe is elegantly fronted by angelic voices of the Rumwaropen sisters, wicked moves of cassowary dancers and backed by a contented rhythm section of drums, percussion, bass and propelling keys, to guarantee their audience to appreciate roots Island vibes.

TABURA means music-making, literally ‘drum’ and ‘conch’, is very evocative in Melanesian and Oceanic cultures as it often represents a calling together, a rally to arms or a gathering.

The group invigorate music of Papuan legend songman and musicologist Arnold Ap and famous Black Brothers to underline deep commitment of West Papuan legacy and raise awareness of the struggle facing the indigenous people in their country.

• Australia & New Zealand
• Sunday, February 26th , The Soundlounge, Currumbin, QLD - 3:00pm
  
  
  
  
• More Info: Bleach* and The Sound Lounge Presents Rise of the Morning Star Concert, featuring Blue King Brown with special guests Tabura



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TODAY BLUESFEST SHARES A LITTLE CHRISTMAS JOY BY REVEALING ITS 3RD ROUND OF ARTISTS APPEARING AT BLUESFEST 2012.

Peter Noble, Festival Director says: “We are so excited about this announcement; we simply could not hold it back. It’s our Christmas present to you.

It’s all about the next generation of emerging artists as well as a few artists who are headliners in their own right. The blend of music across the board is quite staggering.

Everything from Ska-Punk, Reggae, Hip Hop, Dub, Folk, Roots, American Soul to Alt-Country! Wow – there is something in here for everyone !!

After securing some of the legendary Heavyweights, it’s always an immense pleasure to announce some of our favourite Australian musicians and I’m stoked to be adding them to the incredible line-up.

Oh …. and lastly …. Do you realise that – on Jan 1st – there’s only 84 days until our first artists fly in for Bluesfest !!!

Let the countdown begin. We cant wait! “

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

• Australia & New Zealand
• Sunday, April 8th , Blues Fest, Byron Bay, NSW - 11:00am
  
  
  
  
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To celebrate opening day of AWME, and the launch of their new single, BKB has a few double passes to giveaway to give to tonights show, get in quick!

ENTRY FORM

BKB have just put the final touches to their latest collaboration with US dubstep producer Wick-it The Instigator. Renowned for his M.I.A, Faith No More, Black Keys & Outkast mash ups, ‘N.F.A’ sees Blue King Brown once again push boundaries with a new dubstep remake of the ever relevant ‘Never Fade Away.’

Digital release on iTunes & www.bluekingbrown.com 18 November, this friday!

Check it out here, streaming exclusively on the S.P.A website: themusic.com.au

2011 has been a big year for Blue King Brown.

A rocking national headline tour to support the release of WORLDWIZE Part 1, three international tours including high impact showcases at SxSW & CMW..

Award wins at the NIMAs for their collaboration with reclusive artist Gurrumul Yunupingu that yielded two gongs for Song of the Year & NT Film Clip of the Year for ‘Gathu Mawula revisted’ and nominations with AIR for Best Blues & Roots Album.
 
And now Blue King Brown has been nominated for ARIA 2011 Best Blues & Roots album to be announced later this month!

BKB are back in the studio again.. new album deep in creation.. more on that later..

Line up includes ‘ BLUE KING BROWN, the 30-piece big band MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA with MC NICKY BOMBA and a special guest all the way from Jamaica… STRANGER COLE, the iconic STONE LOVE (Jamaica) and hailing from Reunion Island, LINDIGO!

Also performing are GRRILLA STEP, YUNG WARRIORS + CHANT DOWN (PBS) and SISTA ITATIONS feat. SARITAH.

BLUE KING BROWN is one of Australia’s leading live urban roots outfits. Fronted by the multi-talented power vocalist, Natalie Pa’apa’a, Blue King Brown delivers a dancehall, roots, rock and Afro-groove mash-up built on an irrepressible percussive foundation.

The MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA with MC NICKY BOMBA is a 30-piece big band that plays music from the golden Ska period of 1963 through to modern day classics. Joining them on stage will be the one-and-only rocksteady originator, Jamaica’s favourite ska vendor, Stranger Cole.

Hailing from Reunion Island, LINDIGO combines the Maloya’s instrumental tradition with Madagascan polyphonies. Breaking all the rules, the outfit plays trance-like rhythms layered with intricate lyrical arrangements, rounded off with physical performance pieces.

Completely unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard before, GRRILLA STEP is a unique collective that combines the innovative turntablism of DJ Dexter with the dynamic drumming and MPC beats of PNG producer Airi Ingram, traditional log drumming and dance, and the forceful dance style of Dandenong Krump crew Royal Fam.

The YUNG WARRIORS duo are Australia’s leading Indigenous and cultural music ambassadors. Having supported the likes of Akon, 50 Cent, The Game and Outlawz; Yung Warriors have earned their hip hop stripes and are continuing to break new ground with their masterful lyrical flow and solid beats.

After setting the HiFi dance-floor alight at AWME 2010, STONE LOVE is back with some signature dancehall sounds. An icon in his own right, Rory (Stone Love’s founder) is responsible for masterminding Jamaica’s oldest and heaviest sound system.

On deck for DJ duties will be Melbourne’s own CHANT DOWN SOUND mixing the freshest Jamaican reggae and dancehall with vintage classics and custom dubplates. And one of Australia’s premiere reggae selectors SISTA ITATIONS, spinning some of the finest reggae tunes to be heard south of Jamaica, featuring the mesmerising SARITAH on toasting duties.

For more information head to www.awme.com.au
For tickets head to www.thehifi.com.au

• Australia & New Zealand
• Thursday, November 17th , AWME 2011, Melbourne , VIC - 7:30pm
  
  
• Address: 125 Swanston Street, AU
• Venue phone: 61295998125



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Retaining its reputation as the finest reggae, soul and dub event in Australia, Island Vibe Festival returns for its 6th year! With a strong eco and cultural focus, and unparalleled by any Australian festival in its location and reputation, Island Vibe is held at the magnificent beachside location of Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island – or Minjerribah as it is known to the Quandamooka people indigenous to the region. The second largest sand island in the world, Minjerribah is renowned world-wide for its beaches, beauty and chilled atmosphere.

Island Vibe Festival itself spans 3 glorious spring days at the end of the whale migration season, playing host to over 50 bands, DJs, dance and circus acts from around Australia, the Pacific and beyond.

http://www.islandvibe.com.au/

• Australia & New Zealand
• Saturday, October 29th , Island Vibe Festival, Stradbroke Island - 7:00pm
  
  
  
  
• More Info: Chali 2na, Blue King Brown Opiuo, Dubmarine, Grace Barbe (Seychelles), Bobby Alu, Impossible Odds, Bertha Control Reunion!, Selecta Ras George, DJ Katch (Resin Dogs), DJ Dakini and many many more to announced!!



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La De Da New Years Festival
30/31 December 2011
Location: Dry River Road, Martinborough
Tickets onsale now from www.1-Night.co.nz/LaDeDa

For a taste of last year’s La De Da action head to www.YouTube.com/LaDeDaNYE

LINEUP:
Six60 (NZ), Fat Freddy’s Drop (NZ), Donavon Frankenreiter (US), Dub Fx (Aus), Kora (NZ), State of Mind Live (NZ), SKisM (UK), Sola Rosa (NZ), Katchafire (NZ), The Upbeats w/ MC LowQui, Blue King Brown (Aus), Dodge & Fuski (UK), Iva Lamkum (NZ), Concord Dawn (NZ), Eddie K (UK).

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/live/latw/

Blue King Brown’s self-titled Canadian debut has been released with Indica Records . The new album includes the hit song “Water” which is also one of their many self-produced music videos that has garnered over 500,000 views on YouTube.  To celebrate the release Blue King Brown are offering the track for free download on their Facebook Page.

Blue King Brown’s new album produced by James “Bonzai” Caruso (Stephen and Damian Jr Gong Marley), was recorded in Australia, Jamaica and the US and was mixed in Australia and Las Vegas. The album captures the eclectic international sound of the locations, full of life, musical intimacies and full-throttle adventure.  It also features very talented guests such as Sly and Robbie (Mo Truth), Queen Ifrica (Womens Revolution) and Jah Mason(The March).

“Natalie is a bright light in the world with a vision that extends beyond the stage and together with the rest of the band raise the roof off every show they play. I love em!!!” ~ Michael Franti(Spearhead)

“Blue King Brown are my favourite band right now…They are the voice of the street and the band of the future!” ~ Carlos Santana

“…One of the nation’s most refreshing voices. Natalie Pa’apa’a is sounding like a natural successor for Lauryn Hill’s onetime girl-power crown.” ~ ****(4 stars) Rolling Stone.

Blue King Brown will be touring across Canada in June and July 2011.

BLUE KING BROWN USA/CANADA TOUR DATES

No shows booked at the moment.