KURANDA ROOTS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 28 JUNE
The forthcoming Kuranda Roots Festival is all about a world class event as well as fostering the region’s 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.
“I’m 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. It’s 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 year’s 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, Morgyn’s ideal was to bring the heart of the region’s 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 year’s event was predominantly locally focused, Morgyn’s 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 year’s 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, I’n’I, 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 aren’t 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
Shared on