26 February 2010
Darky Roots
Salmonella Dub DJ Sound System
Friday 26 February
Tickets are $21.50 and are available through qtix or phone 136 246 (includes booking fee).
Performances
Darky Roots (7.30pm)
Darky Roots have bubbled to the top of the Brisbane roots scene with their tight Aotearoa-influenced reggae sound and immaculate harmonies. The six-piece roots reggae movement formed in mid 2008 is made up of expatriate New Zealanders Mataio Uri, Josh Hillman, Paul Hillman, Clem Karauti, Bevan Savage and Ali Files. Their sound is built on a foundation of heavy roots blended with sweet three-piece harmonies, catchy melodies and conscious lyrics.
The last year has seen Darky Roots earn a devoted following thanks to regular performances alongside Brisbane's foremost roots acts including The Upsteppers, Dubmarine and Ruby Blue. They have also provided support for international bands such as Tahuna Breaks (New Zealand) and Neacombo Diffuzion (Noumea).
Darky Roots’ debut EP Wrong Place was released in October 2009, coinciding with their appearance at the Island Vibe festival on Stradbroke Island.
Their year culminated in a coveted support slot with The Original Wailers from Jamaica, and a performance at the Pacific Reggae Sounds concert with O-shen (PNG/Hawai’i) for the opening weekend of APT6.
Salmonella Dub DJ Sound System (8.30pm)
New Zealand’s Salmonella Dub fuses elements of reggae, drum and bass and roots music into a rich dub tapestry that has evolved over the course of ten albums, five EPs, dozens of remixes and countless sold out shows in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Core members Andrew Penman, David Deakins and Mark Tyler formed the group in 1992. They may have earned their name from so-called ‘bad taste’ dub versions of pop songs that featured in their early sets, but their subsequent discography has been anything but tacky. They have achieved chart success, including two number one albums, and attracted a cult following both in New Zealand and internationally.
From their self-titled 1994 debut to late 2009’s energetic Freak Controller, Salmonella Dub have stayed at the cutting edge of the dub tradition. Their tracks have been reworked by dub luminaries the Mad Professor and Adrian Sherwood and in 2008, they united with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for a string of acclaimed audio-visual shows in New Zealand.
For APT Up Late, the Salmonella Dub Sound System show will feature DJ Rudeboy (Penman) mixing the band’s extensive catalogue with a selection of contemporary dubstep, dancehall and drum and bass sounds. More than just a DJ set, the experience is complemented by MC Mana and the Mighty Asterix on vocals, live horns and percussion. This live dance experience is mixed to a backdrop of big screen visuals and a moving light show.
Legends in their homeland and much loved here in Oz, Salmonella Dub retain their studio ethos on (new album) Freak Controller … the production quality is nothing short of astounding throughout. The atmosphere of Salmonella Dub’s hometown Kaikoura — a magical South Island spot where the mountains meet the ocean — permeates the record like the perennial sea breeze and reverberating seagull cries. (Rave Magazine, December 2009)
