Australian roots and activist music pioneers, Blue King Brown warmed up for their Byron Bay Bluesfest at The Triffid on Saturday (4 April) with reggae-love hit-makers, Soja.
The night’s crowd was happy to be out on the rainy, lunar-eclipse night to get a small taste of the renowned festival with a night of reggae. The stage was powerfully adorned with Torres Straight Island, Aboriginal and West Papua flags as the captivating freedom fighter and lead signer Natalie Pa’apa’pa’s sweet vocals floated throughout the venue. She danced and waved her Blue King Brown flag around on stage and switched between her guitar and vase drum while calling out the powerful BKB message.
Blue King Brown - Image © Jann AngaraBacked by the enchanting harmonies of Lea and Petra Rumwaporopen and the full band including a percussion section, Natalie had everyone swaying and chanting along to ‘All Nations’ and other ‘Born Free’ tracks. They then took it back to their breakout song, ‘Water’ from from ’06.
Click here for photos from the show.
She returned to her street-percussion roots getting on her djembe for a killer slam-off with percussionist Salvador Persico. The jam continued as each band member owned their solos. Original, founding member and bassist Carlo Santone even switched it up with some Rage Against The Machine, which had the crowd and Natalie headbanging.
Blue King Brown - Image © Jann AngaraAny lack in bass sound throughout the performance was saved by the explosive jam which had the crowd at their peak. Natalie encapsulated this vibe and took some time to proclaim and educate about the ‘Born Free’ message, encouraging her fellow, free thinkers to acknowledge and share the truth about freeing ourselves from mental constraints. She finished the empowered session with ‘Moment Of Truth’.
The room filed up when the Soja boys hit the stage with their love-themed reggae songs. Ladies packed-out front of stage to get closer to baby-faced and baby-voiced lead singer, Jacob Hemphill. Their prominent Brazilian following were out in full force for the band’s second time in Brisbane. Brazilian flags were raised as fans sang along with smiling Jacob to ‘Strength To Survive’ and ‘Born In Babylon’ tracks.
Soja - Image © Jann AngaraBassist and the band’s official Ragga MC, Bobby Lee Jefferson used the entire stage to show off his dance moves. An acoustic guitar on a stand was brought out for Trevor Young as he switched to and from his electric mid song. The brass section took on back-up vocals in between their fills. The cheering crowd sang and swayed along to every hit.
Soja then changed the mood for a Rio Mardi Gras drum off, which had everyone stomping and cheering until their encore call. Each member returned on stage one by one exhaling smoke from their green room to dance and play to their adoring fans as Jacob filmed the stage and the crowd with his phone.
Click here for more photos from the show.
