Australian Music Artists

Hiatus Kaiyote – Sonic Architects of Magnificence

December 14, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats 1 Comment

A few things became manifestly clear to me during Hiatus Kaiyote’s headlining set at Byron Bay’s Sonic Architects’ National Conference last weekend.

The first was that the musical evolution of this Australian future-soul group is a magnificent one to experience, best live.

Nai Palm with Hiatus Kaiyote live in Australia 2014

Nai Palm – Hiatus Kaiyote live at Byron Bay Brewery

Old songs performed from the debut album Tawk Tomahawk sounded fresh – dynamically recomposed to create innovative new versions of the originals full of wonderful sonic surprises. New tracks played live from their just-released (digitally only 🙁 ) EP By Fire, a teaser to the upcoming album Choose Your Weapon, were similarly but differently diverse, innovative and fluid blends of jazz, soul, funk, electronica and hip hop in which you could blink to find that the sonic vibe within a song had delightfully morphed into another.

The second clear thing at the show was that every one of those Hiatus Kaiyote songs old and new, in all their sonic diversity, sounds like no other music in the world. With all the music that’s been made so far in our long history of music, that unique sound in 2014 is a special thing.

Whilst hearing Hiatus Kaiyote perform those songs live in all their fresh glory and witnessing the incredible ‘multi-dimensional polyrhythmic’ chops of its instrumentalists, it was also plain to hear that I can count Simon Mavin (keys/synths), Paul Bender (bass) and Perrin Moss (drums/percussion) amongst my favorite contemporary musicians in the world to listen to.

In witnessing the spunky Nai Palm breathe life and passion into those songs with every single one of her movements and unique, soulful scatting-to-operatic-like vocal sounds, it was absolutely clear that Australia’s Nai Palm has a well-deserved place in that group called ‘the world’s greatest contemporary music divas’.

The inclusion of three back-up singers in their live performance (Loreli+Jace+Jay Jay) – two of them vocalists in supporting group Kirkis – adds something extra wholesome to Hiatus Kaiyote’s sound which although usual to find in soul/R&B groups from the States (almost every international act at Australia’s recent Soulfest festival for example), is unfortunately not so commonly found in Australian music.

Watch footage here of Hiatus Kaiyote performing live at Byron Bay’s Sonic Architects’ National Conference…

Joined on stage by Remi in this one…

x

I predict that the March 2015 release of Choose Your Weapon (in hard-copy of course) will be a special day in world music history; and so will the days after that when Hiatus Kaiyote will no doubt tour their new music to various corners of the world. Until those days come, remind yourself here of the musical goodness that Hiatus Kaiyote gave us last year with Tawk Tomahawk…

Tawk Tomahawk (2013)

**‘Sphinx Gate’ – Hiatus Kaiyote – Tawk Tomahawk (2013)**

Check out more Hiatus Kaiyote tracks + videos of live Hiatus Kaiyote & Nai Pam solo shows here.

Kirkis and the other Melbourne-based sonic architects who supported Hiatus Kaiyote (Remi, Silent Jay and Jace XL) with their own blends of hip hop, soul and electronica were a perfect compliment to the headlining architects – and all the performances combined made for a sublimely soulful night at the Byron Bay Brewery.

Remi

Kirkis

Filed Under: Australia, Hiatus Kaiyote Tagged With: australia, by fire, hiatus kaiyote, kirkis, live, Nai Palm, remi, sonic architects national conference, tawk tomahawk

Mullum Music Festival 2014 – A Town Alive With The Sound of Music

November 30, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats 2 Comments

Any place in the world where you find its streets and buildings are alive and buzzing with the sounds of music is a blessed thing, right?

Well blessed be any folks in Mullumbimby during four days once a year when this small and otherwise quiet town near coastal Byron Bay is filled with the sounds of music bought there by Mullum Music Festival. Those four days of musical blessings happened in Mullum last weekend.

Bombay Royale at Mullum Music Festival 2014

The Bombay Royale

The Sound of Music

…in Venues

Day or night at Mullum Music Festival you could’ve found your way to any number of the festival’s 12 town venues to hear as many of the live performances by 60+ Australian and international artists as you could.

The Village Vanguard

My music tastes drew me most to the Village Vanguard, a ‘motley jazz club’ newly created at this year’s festival and curated by Harry Angus James.

The Melotonins

Harry James Angus

Mojo Juju

That’s Harry from The Cat Empire yes – whose artistic contributions to this year’s Mullum Music Festival as its Patron were invaluable.

We heard Harry James Angus on stage solo with a guitar singing and playing music of a very different kind to The Cat Empire.

We also got Harry leading the awesome nightly performances by the Harry James Angus Band and displaying the utmost humility and respect for all artists he shared the stage with. In their final festival show on Sunday night those guests included Nai Palm, Martin Martini, The Melotonins and Peter Hunt (Kooii).

Finally for anyone like me with a magnetism to all sounds horns and a love of jazz, Harry James Angus was last weekend’s Patron Saint of Horns – for bringing his and so many other horn players’ sounds and chops to the stages and streets of Mullumbimby.

Melbourne saxophonist Darcy McNulty was one of them – and every note he played during his many festival appearances was sublime.

Bullhorn (Brisbane)

Bullhorn was also amongst the horns-heavy groups at the Village Vanguard, delivering a fusion of funk, soul, hip hop and reggae music that simply had to be danced to.

Check out this mp3 (only) version of a track from Bullhorn’s 2012 self-titled album and imagine the goodness of hearing it live.

‘War’ – Bullhorn – BULLHORN (2012)

Mojo Juju & T-Bone

The bluesy, soulful minimalistic music played skillfully by sibling duo Mojo Juju and T-Bone was another highlight act in the Village Vanguard.

All Venues

In whichever of the Mullum Music Festival venues I heard music, I felt better for it.

The Bombay Royale (Melbourne)

Dustyesky Russian Choir (Mullumbimby)

Marlon Williams (Aotearoa/New Zealand) Bustamento (Melbourne)

Martin Martini (Melbourne) Gabriel & Cecelia (Northern NSW)

Bongeziwe Mabandla (South Africa) C.R. Avery (Canada)

Wild Marmalade with Paul George (Mullumbimby)

Nai Palm (Melbourne)

Having recently seen Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote) perform a solo show in Melbourne amongst a noisy crowd, it was an especially good thing to properly hear and appreciate her unique vocal and guitar styles amongst an attentive Mullumbimby crowd.

Check out these videos of Nai Palm performing ‘Malika’ from Hiatus Kaiyote’s debut album Tawk Tomahawk and ‘Molasses’ from the new EP By Fire out on 2nd December.

My one exception to musical happiness was The Church. Sound problems and four out of five musicians on stage playing guitars just wasn’t my thing.

I retreated to the Village Vanguard to hear the honey-sweet vocal harmonies of Brisbane’s three Melotonins (in between their extended banter).

…in the Streets

It wasn’t just inside Mullum Music Festival venues where you heard the sounds of music.

If you walked between those venues you heard live music in the streets played by local buskers. No doubt everyone supported them (with $) in making their important contribution to the world of ensuring music is heard in public spaces as we go about our days.

Maybe you were lucky enough to time your walk so you got to dance it to the beats of the 80’s with local dance theatre troupes The Cassettes and Mixed Tape Crew.

If you opted to travel between venues on the most fun and sought-after of festival transport routes, you would’ve had the pleasure of getting your wig on and dancing in your Magic Bus or Disco Expresso seat to music of the super-funky kind.

And even if you took a break from the festival music to refuel in a Mullumbimby cafe, you probably heard the sounds of music spun by DJs.

Wherever you were in Mullumbimby central you heard the sounds of music, music and more music. During four festival days the town and people in it were alive, high and buzzing for it.

More Than Music

Of course it takes more than music to make any festival the best experience it can be. Mullum Music Festival 2014 had all those things going on too.

The music was heard, danced to and appreciated by an incredibly friendly and chilled-out (mostly local) festival crowd, happy and grateful to have the sounds of music in their own ‘hood.

If you didn’t already know those local folk or feel a part of their community, it wasn’t long before you did.

Like every year at Mullum Music Festival the 2014 program included the talents and colours of roaming theatre, comedy and circus performers plus more.

Joel Salom and Greg Sheehan (Mullumbimby)

Mario Queen of the Circus

Musical Nourishment

Four days of being in Mullumbimby with it’s streets and buildings alive and buzzing from the sounds and colours of Mullum Music Festival, left me feeling high and nourished. I know I’m not the only one.

And of course we know that musical nourishment/happiness breeds more happiness. That’s a mighty good thing for the overall wellbeing of the world isn’t it. Music is indeed The Healer and Mullumbimby folks are indeed blessed that Mullum Music Festival saturates their town with it once a year.

Filed Under: Bullhorn, Greg Sheehan, Harry James Angus, Mullum Music Festival, Nai Palm, Wild Marmalade Tagged With: australia, bullhorn, festival, harry james, harry james angus, mojo juju, mullum music festival, mullumbimby, music, Nai Palm, the bombay royale

Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence

November 9, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats Leave a Comment

Melbourne is a rich melting-pot of people and cultures from all over the world. Its vibrant music scene is a reflection of that fact, and so too is the make-up and music of Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence.

Band leader, musician, vocalist and dancer Lamine Sonko, rich in his own family history of music, dance and culture-keeping, hails from Senegal.

Lamine Sonko

The collective of Lamine Sonko’s fellow Melbourne-based musicians who make up The African Intelligence find their roots in India, Cuba, Senegal, Nigeria and Australia.

Fusing traditional and contemporary African and Latin American rhythms their music is a blend of super-infectious funk, Afrobeat, jazz, soul, reggae and salsa that’s sure to make you smile, move your body and smile some more.

I found this out at their recent Bar Open gig in Melbourne. There Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence were joined on trumpet by Nigeria’s Olugbade Okunade (aka GP Saxy) – former member of Fela and Seun Kuti’s band Egypt 80 and leader of recently formed Melbourne-based Afrobeat group Alárìíyá.

Check out some footage of the Bar Open show here, as well as the sample track below from Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence’s most recent release.

‘Voyage’ – Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence

You can also check out another video here of Lamine Sonko on stage with The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra at their AWME (Australasian Worldwide Music Expo) 2013 show.

Music in Australia is much, much richer and diverse for the contributions of music collectives like these.

If you’re looking for a sure way to feel good, or better than you do; if you need to move your body; or if you just want to celebrate the pure joyfulness of music and dance, find a live Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence gig at a venue or festival when you can.

Filed Under: Australia, Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence Tagged With: bar open, lamine sonko, melbourne, the african intelligence, voyage

Wild Marmalade Consistencies

September 2, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats Leave a Comment

Musicians in the world have certainly taken on as their own, the live and improvised didjeridu-dance sound of its Australian originators Wild Marmalade. But after experiencing Wild Marmalade’s Sunday show at Brunswick Heads, I’m convinced that none of them could really sound like, or sound as good as these highly skilled, Australian artists do when doing what they do.

Wild Marmalade’s core and founding members and drivers of its high-energy musical force, are Si Mullumby (Dream Drone) on yidaki (didjeridu) and Matt Goodwin on drum kit.

Wild Marmalade with Ben Walsh & Matt Ostila live @ Brunswick Heads

Si Mullumby (left) & Matt Goodwin (right)

These days, 14 years after Wild Marmalade began, you’re likely to find more than those 2 artists on stage.

‘Woodford Folk Festival Wild Marmalade’

I last caught a Wild Marmalade show at Woodford Folk Festival 2013/2014. There they were joined by Tijuana Cartel’s vocalist and flamenco-inspired guitarist Paul George. His guitar in the mix put Wild Marmalade’s sound much more up my musical alley than the straight didj/drum combo. But hey, that’s just me and my personal music needs.

Woodford Folk Festival 2013/2014

‘European Wild Marmalade’

Since then Wild Marmalade have been playing gigs and festivals throughout Europe with a different line-up of Australian musicians: Si Mullumby + Paul George with reggae/dancehall/hip-hop producer and musician Jake Savona (aka Mista Savona) on keys…

Jake Savona

and one of Australia’s top percussionists, the music machine who is Ben Walsh (Orkestra of the Underground – Scotch & Soda – The Bird – Crusty Suitcase Band – Circle of Rhythm)…

Ben Walsh

Since my musical needs are generally melodic ones, I’m especially sorry to have missed the European Wild Marmalade experience with Jake Savona’s melodies in its mix.

‘Brunswick Heads Wild Marmalade’

At the Brunswick Heads show on Sunday, Matt Goodwin and Si Mullumby were playing on their Australian home shores again. This time the duo was joined by Ben Walsh and another Australian multi-instrumentalist, solo artist and musical collaborater with many, Matt Ostila on jaw harp.

Ben Walsh

Matt Ostila

Wild Marmalade Always

No matter which particular artists you find on a Wild Marmalade stage, no matter the venue and no matter the crowd, two things seems to consistently be the same at every show:

1. the impressive level of musicianship and musicality of the artists, and how special that is to see and to hear live.

At the Brunswick Heads gig I especially appreciated the chemistry between Ben Walsh and Matt Goodwin.

2. the musicians seem to successfully sense the individual nature and vibe of each crowd they’re playing to, and create a fluid journey of improvised sound (sometimes chilled, other times frenzied) which makes that crowd move, and feel happier for the experience.

Get a glimpse of the ‘Brunswick Heads Wild Marmalade’ experience on these video snippets from Sunday’s show...

Check out ‘Woodford Wild Marmalade’ with Paul George on video here.

Hear the sounds of Paul George in the Wild Marmalade mix with this dirty mp3 version of a track from their 2014 live album Flux.

Flux (2014)

‘Tyagarah Mosquito’ – Flux (2014)

Finally for your own Wild Marmalade experience, for a taste of some uniquely-Australian music – find them playing live in the world where you next can.

Wherever that show is, you’re sure to find a 3rd consistent thing – Si Mullumby playing didjeridu. He’s the only member (core or guest) who’s played every show except one in their 14 year history.

Filed Under: Australia, Wild Marmalade Tagged With: australian music, ben walsh, matt goodwin, matt ostila, paul george, Si Mullumby, wild marmalade

The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra – Credit Where Credit’s Due

July 15, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats 1 Comment

At their live show at AWME last year I didn’t give The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra as much credit as they were due. At the time I was yearning for ‘purer’ sounds of Afro-beat, and I guess for the sounds of Fela Kuti himself. That desire of mine wasn’t so fair on The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra.

The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra live @ AWME (Australasian Worldwide Music Expo) 2013

Since that POAO gig, 3 things have happened to make me fully appreciate the innovative musical goodness of this 17-piece Melbourne-based group that’s created its own unique sounds of Afro-beat funk infused with hip-hop:

1. The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra’s cd Do Anything Go Anywhere made its way back with me from AWME and onto a listening device that shall not be named. And when each 1 of the 7 POAO album tracks came up in a shuffle, I found myself paying all my attention to the music and checking who the artists were who made it.

Do Anything Go Anywhere (2010)

2. I experienced ‘purer’ forms of live Afro-beat when I heard Femi Kuti & The Positive Force at WOMADelaide 2014 and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014. And at some point during both those Kuti shows I found myself yearning for the diverse sounds of contemporary fusion music; wanting something more in the mix – like the beats and scratches of The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra’s DJ Manchild for example 🙂 .

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Femi Kuti & The Positive Force live @ WOMADelaide 2014

Femi Kuti & The Positve Force live @ WOMADelaide 2014

3. I’ve been checking out a lot of new music that’s come my way this year – and have felt pretty uninspired by most of it. Do Anything Go Anywhere inspires me – both the music and its positive, conscious lyrics. The 5-strong horn section and their horn parts written by trumpet player, composer, producer and one of POAO’s 3 instigators Tristan Ludowyk (Hope Street Recordings), especially inspire this here lover of all sounds woodwind and brass.

With 17 (sometimes more) musicians, vocalists and a DJ on stage or on a record, there’s always the potential trap of sounding too busy. The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra don’t. Full yes, but busy no. There’s also the risk of the individual sounds and artistry of each group member getting lost in the mix. That doesn’t happen on Do Anything Go Anywhere. The music has plenty of solos, plenty of space and all the artists get heard at the right times.

I guess that having to divide (too-often-shitty) gig monies amongst 17 artists after paying 17 peoples’ travel costs, probably makes touring tough; and that finding stages to accommodate 17 musicians could be hard. Not to mention the challenges of trying to lock-in Public Opinion Afro Orchestra shows amongst the conflicting schedules of so many people involved in different music projects. Isn’t that a shame for the world and all lovers of innovative funk music in it who should be able to get the benefits of a live Public Opinion Afro Orchestra experience? Because the combined sum of those 17+ individual artists with their different music skills, experiences and influences is this: well-composed, well-played music with a great diversity of sounds.

Probably more credible than my personal testimony to the goodness of the music and musicianship in The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra is this: 2 of Australia’s music festivals that most consistently have a line-up of incredible artists from around the world are Byron Bay Bluesfest and WOMADelaide. The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra have played at both of those festivals.

Check out a sample track here (mp3 only) from Do Anything Go Anywhere…

Do Anything Go Anywhere (2010) – The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra

‘Mumbo Jumbo’ – Do Anything Go Anywhere

Hear more sample tracks from Do Anything Go Anywhere elsewhere in Beaver Land. ‘Future Africa’ has an especially awesome call-and-response DJ/Horn jam like I’ve only been blessed to hear once before at a Troker de Mexico show.

If you’re into The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra’s music then like always, I encourage you to find & buy a copy of this independently-released music on vinyl or cd so you can hear all the good sounds the artists intended you to hear. People in Australia can get it from local independent music stores and peeps elsewhere in the world can order it on-line for the mail woman or man to deliver.

Anyone around the planet can look out in hope for their own live Public Opinion Afro Orchestra experience. Next up is Melbourne at the Espy in August. Until you get one, check out this video of their show at AWME (Australasian Worldwide Music Expo) 2013…

YouTube VIDEO – The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra live @ AWME 2013 or on Vimeo

When I get to catch myself another Public Opinion Afro Orchestra gig I’ll probably still yearn for the live Fela Kuti experience. I can’t help it, I always will. But I will better appreciate the unique fusion goodness of the live Public Opinion Afro Orchestra experience.

Filed Under: Australia, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra Tagged With: afrobeat, do anything go anywhere, funk, mumbo jumbo, poao, the public opinion afro orchestra

NGAIIRE Live – Glastonbury Via The Basement

June 8, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats Leave a Comment

The first time I was blessed to have the live NGAIIRE experience was at AWME 2013 – a showcase of upcoming Australasian artists. Now, just 7 months later, Ngaiire is off to the UK to share her music with crowds at 2014’s sold-out Glastonbury Festival. She deserves all the success she’s had during this past year and before, confirmed for me again when I caught her last Australian show for a while last week at Sydney’s legendary music venue The Basement.

This particular NGAIIRE show bought me an hour or so of feeling that special indescribable joy that different music brings to all of us. Like each of the previous three times I’ve heard her perform live, she and her band captivated me from the first note to the last.

The Basement is a small, dark, ambient venue. To hear and see NGAIIRE and her band perform up close and personal in that intimate environment was a very special experience indeed – one that will stay with me for a long time.

NGAIIRE is gorgeous to see and gorgeous to hear. Her vocal range in all its power and subtleties, her emotive and intelligent lyrics and her very unique vocal phrasing will make you smile, and smile some more. The three other talented musicians with her on stage will surely do the same.

Most songs in The Basement set were from NGAIIRE’s 2013 album Lamentations. Sample a dirty mp3 version of a track from Lamentations here…

Lamentations (2013)

‘Rabbit Hole’ – NGAIIRE – Lamentations (2013)

Then check these videos of ‘Dirty Hercules’ and ‘ABCD’ live at The Basement – videos of a quality which could never possibly do NGAIIRE and her band the justice they deserve, but will give you a teeny-weeny glimpse of the goodness…

One song in NGAIIRE’s set was a new one – as yet unreleased. Hopefully amongst her seemingly non-stop, demanding festival and tour schedule, she’ll find some studio time soon so we’re not waiting too long for her next album release.

Check out a video of that new song performed live at The Basement…

I’ve heard a lot of live music this year and lately, but NGAIIRE’s show at The Basement was definitely up there amongst the the most special. Like I’ve recently described Erykah Badu’s live shows, ‘divine’ is the word for the live NGAIIRE experience. Festival-goers at Glastonbury are in for a treat.

More Ngaiire

You can check out more of NGAIIRE’s musical gifts on this here site…

* Other sample tracks from Lamentations here.

* Sample tracks from Songs For No One and Two Minds here.

* Video of NGAIIRE live at The Toff In Town from AWME (Australasian Worldwide Music Expo) 2013 here.

* Video of NGAIIRE live with the Barefoot Divas at Mullum Music Festival 2013 here.

* Video of NGAIIRE live at WOMADelaide 2014 here.

NGAIIRE at WOMADelaide 2014

Filed Under: Australia, Ngaiire, Ngaiire, Papua New Guinea Tagged With: lamentations, ngaiire, rabbit hole, The Basement

Cave In The Sky Live @ Byron Theatre

May 23, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats Leave a Comment

Cave In The Sky. The name conjures up beautiful imagery doesn’t it? Of a soft, warm place of sanctuary amongst the clouds.

That place of sanctuary is probably where you’ll find yourself at the end of a Cave In The Sky performance. If you’re like me, you won’t want to leave your cave to step outside to reality.

The Cye Wood Fan Club

Cave In The Sky is a new project of gifted Australian musician and composer Cye Wood.

He’s an artist so far unknown to too many people in the world – but respected and admired for his artistry and musicianship by everyone who’s ever had the pleasure to come across his music or his playing.

Putting Cye Wood’s other musical talents aside for a moment, he’s a very special artist in my world of music for one very important reason: the sounds of his violin (which he picked up and learned to play by ear at the ripe old age of 3 ) move me more intensely and profoundly than any other musical sound in the world has ever moved me.

Cye Wood

Since picking up that violin at 3 years old, Cye Wood has clocked up a long list of solo music projects and collaborations with other talented artists. You can read about those collaborative projects here and check out sample tracks from his past projects below.

Cave In The Sky Live

Cye Wood recently formed Cave In The Sky with renowned Australian percussionist Tunji Beier and vocalist (and sister) Purdie Wood.

I caught Cave In The Sky’s first ever live public performance at Byron Theatre. There I found myself deeply moved by this delicate and beautiful music of a totally unique kind in this world.

Cave In The Sky live @ Byron Theatre

Layer Upon Layer

Piece by piece, layer upon layer, loop upon loop, Cave In The Sky compositions are put together live right before your eyes and ears – with no use of playbacks.

All three artists utilise a variety of instruments to create the sound layers which make up those compositions:

Cye Wood on piano, guitarlele, loop pedal, effects pedals, vocals, bass viola – and of course violin.

Tunji Beier on an exotic range of percussive instruments including, tavil, zarb, ghatam, drum kit, bells and stones.

Purdie Wood on unique vocals of an exquisite kind as well as a number of percussive and wind instruments including shakapa, rattles, drone flute, melodica and singing bowl.

Feeling Intensely

In each Cave In The Sky composition, the sounds of Cye Wood’s improvised violin parts come later.

If you’re like me, those sounds will penetrate and awaken every cell of your being, and stir up every emotion inside of you until they want to burst out of your body. They will bring a crazily-delicious kind of pain that feels so good, and so so right. Whatever it is those sounds make you feel, you will feel them, intensely.

And feeling anything intensely is a healthy thing yes? Isn’t that what we want from all the music we listen to?

Awaking Alive & Well

By the end of the Cave In The Sky performance the audience is left in a state of calm and quiet. It’s like waking up from a beautiful dream and wanting to go back to sleep so you can be in it again. You can’t, because Cave In The Sky have finished playing. But you’ve been moved inside, deeply. And you leave with a knowing, and a feeling, that every single cell inside of you is alive and well.

Take a break from your busy life to watch these short videos from Cave In The Sky performing live at Byron Theatre – and get a small glimpse of what you can only truly experience by finding your own live Cave In The Sky show…

‘The Gift’ ‘Sola’

http://youtu.be/qSOn2K7XB8g http://youtu.be/bk3cshm8wA8

Cye Wood Projects Past

The Trail of Genghis Khan

Cye Wood’s most recent studio release was a soundtrack to Tim Cope’s documentary The Trail of Genghis Khan. That album was made in collaboration with none other than the incredibly talented and ethereal sounding Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance.

Check out this sample track from the The Trail of Genghis Khan – keeping in mind, as always, it’s just an mp3. You can buy the real CD and hear all the sounds of the music made, plus enjoy its stunning album art, direct from the artist here…

Cye Wood & Lisa Gerard - The Trail of Genghis Khan Soundtrack (2010)

The Trail of Genghis Khan (2010) – Cye Wood & Lisa Gerrard

‘Sukhe’ – The Trail of Genghis Khan – Cye Wood & Lisa Gerard

Araya

Before The Trail of Genghis Khan came Cye Wood’s solo EP Araya.

Listen to a sample track from Araya here (which can also be bought in CD format, direct from the artist here)…

Araya (2009) – Cye Wood

‘Storm Boy’ – Araya – Cye Wood

Your Own Personal Cave In The Sky

This is just the beginning for Cave In The Sky. Cye Wood will soon head off to Iceland to finish the album – and in the meantime and afterwards, Cave In The Sky will be touring in Australia and Europe.

Keep your eyes open to find your own personal Cave In The Sky experience amongst the clouds.

Filed Under: Australia, Cave In The Sky, Cye Wood Tagged With: araya, cave in the sky, cye wood, purdie wood, the trail of genghis khan, tunji beier

Byron Bay Bluesfest – Only For The Music

May 5, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats 8 Comments

On it’s 25th anniversary, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 was the best one for me yet. It was an unusually comfortable Bluesfest experience under unusually clear, blue Easter skies and sunshine – with the usual phenomenal music artists playing on its 7 stages.

Every year that I’ve gone to Byron Bay Bluesfests past, I have moaned about the things that I’m not into about the overall Bluesfest experience. Each year after where I can, I’ve bought another costly Bluesfest ticket, and gone back again. I’ve done that for one reason only: The Music.

Erykah Badu live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Erykah Badu – Bluesfest 2014

Sly & Robbie & The Taxi Gang - live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Sly & Robbie + The Taxi Gang-Bluesfest 2014

Despite my grumblings about non-musical aspects of the festival, I always go home from Bluesfest feeling musically satisfied after hearing some of the western world’s most incredible music artists of contemporary history. Just a few of those artists from Bluesfests past are Fred Wesley, Burning Spear, Damian Marley, Ernest Ranglin and Parliament Funkadelic.

Musically, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 went the same way. I went from one stage to another, finding artist after artist who blew me away with their music and/or musicianship.

: Larry Graham

: Sly & Robbie & The Taxi Gang

: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

: Ozomatli

: Erykah Badu

: Chali 2na

At Bluesfest 2014 I also found I had less of the usual non-musical things to moan about. One of the main reasons for that was because this years festival seemed to have much smaller crowds than in others – making the overall festival experience a much more hassle-free and comfortable one.

“Australia’s Premiere Blues and Roots Music Festival”

This year I heard other people moaning about the festival line-up. “Not enough blues”, “No big name acts” etc. Well thankfully for lovers of reggae, soul, r&b, funk and hip-hop music, Byron Bay Bluesfest hasn’t been just a blues music festival for many years past. And lots of the artists that performed in 2014 are big name acts in the musical worlds of many (mine) – just not big in the worlds of the people complaining: Erykah Badu – Aaron Neville – Larry Graham (former Sly and The Family Stone) – Sly & Robbie – The Wailers – India Arie.

The artists below are the ones I caught at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 who sent me away from their shows as high as high can be on their music and/or musicianship.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 Music

Queen Erykah Badu (USA)

Erykah Badu’s show at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne earlier in the same week of the festival was simply divine. Her festival show, somehow was even more divine again – and for me the top highlight of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014.

Like in Melbourne, Erykah Badu demonstrated with every sound and movement she made, that she is an incredibly talented artist (and woman) like none other in the world.

Erykah Badu at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Erykah Badu’s powerful stage presence and incredible vocals captivated me and everyone around me from the moment she stepped onto the stage until coming back from some time amongst the crowd to finish the show.

Videos here of Erykah Badu performing ‘I Want You’ + ‘…& On’ live at Bluesfest 2014…

Aaron Neville (USA)

Aaron Neville and the sounds of his heavenly voice took me to another world.

Now in his 70‘s, naturally his voice has the sounds of life lived. They make that voice ever-so-much richer than in years past when it was of the completely squeeky-clean heavenly kind.

Aaron Neville live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Aaron Neville at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Videos of Aaron Neville’s performing ‘Fever’ + ‘Everybody Plays The Fool’ live at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 here…

Sly & Robbie and The Taxi Gang (Jamaica)

The first part of Sly & Robbie & The Taxi Gang’s Bluefest shows were incredibly tight. Tasty dub and reggae to die for. The energy of the show was high, and rising.

The music stayed tasty and tight all through their set. But the energy dropped and the band seemed to look slightly bored (or embarrassed?) from the time they introduced vocalist Bitty Mclean to join them on stage – as “the new Crown Prince of Reggae Music”.

Check out this video of a song from the first half of Sly & Robbie’s Bluesfest show to hear these words of wisdom…

“If you’re hot, you’re hot. If you’re not, you’re not. Use what you got.”

+ 1 more…

Sly & Robbie and the other instrumentalists in their band are musically hot, musically brilliant. They use what they got – and it’s more than enough without needing a “crown prince” to croon amongst them.

Check out this video from the second half of Sly & Robbie’s show to see if you agree…

“The new Crown Prince of Reggae Music”? Really?

Bitty McLean

Chali 2na (USA)

“Hands up if you agree with me that all music played on the radio now is shit? Welcome to the Chali 2na radio station”.

Chali 2na live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Chali 2na at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Chali 2na’s words of welcome to the crowd at his Byron Bay Bluefest shows went like that.

So, everyone tuned in to Chali 2na and his 3-piece bands live radio station and went with them on an energetic journey of the funk, hip-hop and reggae kind. Those 2 live radio programs kept the crowd dancing and smiling throughout the hour – and screaming for more when the end came. The best and longest dances I had at Bluesfest 2014 were at these two Chali 2na shows.

Videos from both Chali 2na’s Bluesfest 2014 shows here (+ 1 below of him emceeing with Ozomatli)…

The Wailers (Jamaica)

What else can I say about The Wailers minus Bob Marley except this: stellar musicianship – and good music that made everyone happy.

Video here of The Wailers playing ‘Three Little Birds’ at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014…

The Soul Rebels (USA)

The Soul Rebels with their brass-heavy soul, r&b, funk and jazz music, hail from one of my dream musical destinations of the world – New Orleans. A 2015 mission of mine, I’m sure.

The Soul Rebels - live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

The Soul Rebels at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Video here of The Soul Rebels live at Bluesfest 2014…

Larry Graham & Graham Central Station (USA)

The stage show by Larry Graham & Graham Central Station was, well, pretty corny.

But if you ignored the group’s white glam outfits and show moves; if you just listened to Larry Graham’s phenomenal bass playing; and looked up to see him playing bass so thoughtlessly and effortlessly as though an extension of his body, you found instrumental gold. Some Sly & The Family Stone tunes were included in the set.

Videos of Larry Graham on bass at Bluesfest 2014 here – 1 with the full band + 1 of just he and a drum kit player…

India Arie (USA)

I have loved India Arie’s music for a long time. She was one of those “big name” musical acts that got me to Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014.

India Arie live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

India Arie at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

India Arie played 2 festival shows. I left before the end of the first – and what I heard there didn’t get me back to see the second. The only reason I can figure as to why the show didn’t move me, is the absence of a bass player on stage with her.

Videos from India Arie’s 1st Bluesfest show here for you to check out…

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Nigeria)

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 put on a good show of Afrobeat song and dance of old as well as new from their recently released album A Long Way To The Beginning.

You can check out a video here of Sean Kuti doing his thing at the group’s Bluesfest show + a sample track from the 2008 album Many Things…

‘Many Things’ – Seun Kuti – Many Things (2008)

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Ozomatli (USA)

Los Angeles based group Ozomatli have been around for 20 years playing their mix of hip-hop, funk, r&b, reggae, dancehall, salsa, cumbia, merengue, samba, comparse & more.

That diversity of musical styles and the vocal and instrumental versatility of its band members, have made every live Ozomatli experience I’ve had a special one. Their Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 shows were no exception.

Videos here of Ozomatli live at Byron Bay Bluesfest…

This one with Chali 2na …

The Ones That Might Have Gotten Away

The artists whose shows I heard and loved were of course just a handful of artists who performed at Byron Bay Bluefest 2014.

Also in the line-up were Joss Stone, Dr John, Morcheeba, Elvis Costello, John Mayer, Doobie Brothers, KC & The Sunshine Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Jack Johnson, Jeff Beck, Dave Matthews Band, Steve Earle & The Dukes + more.

Morcheeba live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Morcheeba at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra (Australia)

Keeping with some Afrobeat flavours, have a listen here to a sample track from one of the Australian groups in the Bluesfest 2014 line-up – The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra…

Do Anything Go Anywhere (2010)

‘Future Africa’ – Do Anything Go Anywhere (2010) – The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra

You can check out another sample track + a video of The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra live at A WME (Australasian Worldwide Music Expo) 2013 here.

The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra @ AWME 2013

Musically I think Byron Bay Bluesfest can rightfully claim to be “Australia’s premiere blues and roots festival” – music found in a large part of the western world at least. I maintain that WOMADelaide festival takes the Australian festival prize for musical quality from all corners of the wider world – and importantly, for the things apart from music that make an overall festival experience an amazing one.

Beaver’s Moaning

“It’s pretty much an event where hopefully the vast majority of people are only there for the music. That’s what it’s all about. There’s not an awful lot of other effects happening at Bluesfest. I realised a long time ago it’s a music festival, that’s all it is. It’s not about prettying the site up and all that. We put our money into musicians”

…Peter Noble – Festival Director of Byron Bay Bluesfest (from interview in Melbourne’s Beat Magazine – April 2014)

So, Byron Bay Bluesfest is what Peter Noble says it is.

The festival undoubtedly brings amazing music and amazing musicians to Australia.

Sly & Robbie

But for me and everyone I know, a good music festival experience is about so much more than the music.

Personally I’d love to see more festival money spent on those “other effects” and “prettying the site up” – for the benefit of everyone who spends their money on going to Bluesfest to hear its legendary artists.

Bluesfest owns the land where the festival happens – on a beautiful tea tree farm at Tyagarah, just outside the town of Byron Bay (one of the world’s alternative-living, natural paradises). They can make the festival site and people’s festival experience whatever they want it to be.

Image from http://www.bluesfest.com.au

On a site that is surrounded by trees, I’d love to see some trees inside the festival space.

At a festival that lets thousands and thousands of ticket holders through its gates each day, I’d love to see that tiny site in the middle of the photo become a much bigger space – where people could move around it freely and in comfort – without feeling like a cow being herded slowly between stages.

I’d love to see the creation of lots of different types of meeting spaces inside the festival site where people can relax and hang out together during those long festival days and nights. More than a big canteen-style food court where you eat and run. More grass for people to sit on instead of gravel. Bars with chairs inside them to sit and have a drink. More cafes, and restaurants to hang out in.

For an extra $350 the financially privileged of the world can buy a VIP ticket so they can enjoy some small comforts the rest of the festival punters can’t – a VIP bar and toilets with smaller lines, and some comfortable seats to rest their weary bones upon.

This year for an extra $1590 on top of the ticket price, the ever-so-privileged (and dare I say stupid?) people of the world could “treat themselves to something really special” by buying themselves entry to the VIP Sunset Club. There, in the middle of the festival site, they could “watch the hustle and bustle of Bluesfest from the private balcony”.

VIP Sunset Club - Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Bluesfest VIP Sunset Club- as advertised on www.bluesfest.com.au

Bluesfest 2014 VIP Sunset Club – as is

I’d love to see money spent by the festival on making everyone’s festival experience a more comfortable one. We have enough inequalities and class structures in the world already – let’s not create them in our music festivals too.

Byron Bay Bluesfest is what it is, now. We’ll see what it becomes. The festival site at Tyagarah is a relatively new one for Bluesfest. It will get better with age no doubt.

Hopefully one day I’ll have lots more reasons to give you apart from the music for why I want to get myself to Byron Bay Bluesfest whenever I can.

Sly & Robbie & The Taxi Gang at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2015

Before leaving Bluesfest 2014 I bought myself a season pass for Bluesfest 2015 at early bird prices – because next year I know that like always, the line-up will include incredible music artists I simply must experience live. If you want to get yourself to the festival in 2015, the sooner you buy tickets the better – prices will go up and up until Bluesfest comes around next Easter and a season pass is nearly double its cost now.

Filed Under: Aaron Neville, Australia, Byron Bay Bluesfest, Chali 2na, Erykah Badu, Fela, Femi & Seun Kuti, India Arie, Jamaica, Larry Graham, Nigeria, North America (USA), Ozomatli, Sly & Robbie, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, The Soul Rebels, The Wailers Tagged With: aaron neville, bluesfest, byron bay bluesfest, byron bay bluesfest 2014, chali 2na, erykah badu, india arie, ozomatli, seun kuti, sly & robbie, the soul rebels, the wailers

Erykah Badu + DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown on a Lunar Eclipsed Night in Melbourne

April 20, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats 4 Comments

Before breaking into ‘Orange Moon’ on a lunar eclipsed night in Melbourne last week, Erykah Badu counted her blessings for the beginnings of her record making career under a similar moon around 20 years ago.

I’d say everyone in the crowd listening to Erykah Badu and her band live at the Palais Theatre, were counting their own blessings for having Erykah Badu and her music in their world.

Later that night at the Toff In Town, everyone on the dance floor moving to the selections of DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown (aka Erykah Badu) was probably counting the same blessings.

The two Erykah Badu shows that night were of a different kind of divinity – and blessed I definitely was to experience both of them.

Erykah Badu Live at The Palais Theatre

Erykah Badu has released four studio albums since the first and platinum selling Baduizm in 1997. To her great credit as an artist, each of those albums sounds different to the one before. She has always made unique and innovative, naturally-evolving contemporary music for the time.

In 2014 Erykah Badu’s ability to make her music sound fresh, innovative and current, remains unchanged.

At the Palais Theatre she and her band took us to revisit each Erykah Badu album yes. But none of the songs she performed live sounded the same as on the albums. Each one was a new, longer and magnificent version of its original. Different arrangements, improvisation, solos, vocal harmonies, Queen Badu tapping away on an MPC as well as the presence of a DJ mixing things up amongst the drums, bass and keyboard players – all made those Erykah Badu songs ones never heard before.

The band played with a distinctive finesse found only in their part of the world, and were super tight. But it was Erykah Badu on the microphone that demanded my complete attention from start to finish. With each movement of her body, and every sound she sang, Erykah Badu breathed truth, conviction and life into all of her songs, no matter their age. I believed and was absolutely mesmerised by every one of those sounds and movements.

Erykah Badu Live @ The Palais Theatre - Melbourne, Australia - April 2014

Photo by Meiwah Williams

Erykah Badu delivered every song with the confidence, strength and talents of a very special woman and artist, and yes without doubt the Queen of Neo Soul (soul/jazz/r&b/funk/hip-hop fusion). Erykah Badu deserves all the respect and appreciation she has in the musical world – now more than ever in the past 20 years.

Here you can check out some (ever-so-dodgy) videos of Erykah Badu live at The Palais Theatre…

Hiatus Kaiyote

Erykah Badu was supported at the Palais Theatre (and her subsequent Sydney show) by Haitus Kaiyote.

Hiatus Kaiyote at Palais Theatre
Photo by Meiwah Williams

After my experience trying to hear Nai Palm through the noisy crowd at her solo show the week before, hearing Nai Palm’s vocals and guitar with the full Hiatus Kaiyote band behind her in a theatre environment, did Hiatus Kaiyote’s music the justice it deserves.

The musicianship of the Hiatus Kaiyote members, and their music with all its many polyrhythms and changes, really is a unique and special thing in Australia and the world. The new tracks they played from their forthcoming album were my favorite in their set.

You can check out sample tracks from Hiatus Kaiyote’s debut album Tawk Tomahawk here.

Tawk Tomahawk (2012)

DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown @ The Toff In Town

“When I DJ… I’m paying attention to my mixes, I’m paying attention to my choices and selections. That’s my main focus. I do it fearlessly, because I never underestimate the audiences’ ability to feel. Music is the sixth element; it brings nostalgia, it brings healing and it moves us.”…Erykah Badu (http://serato.com/icon/erykah-badu)

After leaving Erykah Badu’s Palais Theatre show, punters got to have themselves a second divine dose of Erykah Badu that night at the Toff In Town.

There in her alter ego of DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, Erykah Badu undoubtedly bought the crowd both nostalgia and healing, and moved them through every single beat of her long set. She played classic and ever-so-tasty hip-hop, soul, reggae and r&b tunes from legendary artists of the likes of Bob Marley, Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Public Enemy and Lauryn Hill.

Amongst the selections of tracks by other artists were Erykah Badu’s own songs, parts of which she sung live, as well as a Hiatus Kaiyote track that Nai palm joined her on stage for.

You can check out Erykah Badu singing ‘Window Seat’ and Outkast’s ‘So Fresh So Clean’ in the dark at the Toff In Town here…

Erykah Badu, demonstrated by DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, has absolutely awesome tastes in music. This was a dream gig for lovers of great hip-hop and soul music like myself.

Samples of Erykah Badu’s Musical Evolution

If you don’t already know and love Erykah Badu’s long discography of music, you can check out some dirty, compressed mp3 versions of her musical evolution here. All 5 Erykah Badu albums in their full sound glory are so easy to buy from your local record store or on-line.

Baduizm (1997)

‘Rimshot (Intro)’ – Baduizm – Erykah Badu

‘4 Leaf Clover’ – Baduizm – Erykah Badu

Mama’s Gun (2000)

‘…& On’ – Mama’s Gun – Erykah Badu

‘Penitentiary Philosophy’ – Mama’s Gun – Erykah Badu

Worldwide Underground (2003)

‘Bump It’ – Worldwide Underground – Erykah Badu

‘Woo’ – Worldwide Underground – Erykah Badu

New Amerykah: Part 1 (4th World War) (2008)

‘The Healer’ – New Amerykah: Part 1 (4th World War) – Erykah Badu

‘That Hump’ – New Amerykah: Part 1 (4th World War) – Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part 2 (Return of the Ankh)

New Amerykah: Part 2 (Return of the Ankh) (2010)

‘Incense’ – New Amerykah: Part 2 (Return of the Ankh) – Erykah Badu

‘Love’ – New Amerykah: Part 2 (Return of the Ankh) – Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu Live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 – tonight!!

I’m heading out now to get my third dose of Erykah Badu’s divinity before she leaves Australia this time. She and her band are headlining the main stage tonight at the Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 🙂 .

Filed Under: Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote, North America (USA) Tagged With: dj lo down loretta brown, erykah badu, erykah badu live, hiatus kaiyote, palais theatre

Nai Palm with Nai Palm

April 13, 2014 by Beaver on the Beats 1 Comment

Nai Palm started her music career standing solo on Melbourne stages with her voice and a guitar.

She was singing songs that later became the foundation of magnificent arrangements by her and other members of Hiatus Kaiyote – including this year’s Grammy nominated song Nakamarra (featuring Q-Tip) from their 2012 album Tawk Tomahawk.

On Friday night I found Nai Palm standing solo on a Melbourne stage again, guitar and voice, singing stripped-back versions of those Hiatus Kaiyote songs.

She sang songs from Tawk Tomahawk – and a new, never-played-live-before song called ‘Molasses’ from the forthcoming Hiatus Kaiyote album.

Check out this video of Nai Palm performing ‘Molasses’ live at her solo show on Friday…

A different venue and/or a different crowd, and this Nai Palm solo show might have been amazing. She’s a fantastic artist making beautiful music – and an absolute pleasure to watch and hear perform live (I know from WOMADelaide last month).

Hiatus Kaiyote live at WOMADelaide 2014

The problem for me at the John Curtin gig was that I couldn’t hear much of her through the crowd 🙁 . And that made me miss the sounds of instrumentation from the rest of Hiatus Kaiyote.

Listen here to a dirty mp3 version of the song ‘Malika’ from Tawk Tomahawk for a reminder of the unique musical goodness of Nai Palm and Hiatus Kaiyote as a whole…

Tawk Tomahawk (2012)

‘Malika’ – Hiatus Kaiyote – Tawk Tomahawk

Listen to 2 other sample tracks from Tawk Tomahawk here.

I’ll try and catch Nai Palm solo again when I can – hopefully in a sit-down, quiet venue where I can properly hear and appreciate her unique vocals and guitar playing.

People in Sydney can find a Nai Palm solo show at the Newtown Social Club on 5 June. Melbourne can get a weekly dose of Hiatus Kaiyote live at Howler every Wednesday in May. And of course the blessed in Melbourne and Sydney this coming week can hear Hiatus Kaiyote live supporting Erykah Badu. I’m amongst those blessed 🙂 .

Filed Under: Australia, Hiatus Kaiyote, Nai Palm Tagged With: hiatus kaiyote, Malika, Molasses, Nai Palm, tawk tomahawk

Australian Music Artists

‘Sphinx Gate’ – Hiatus Kaiyote – Tawk Tomahawk (2013)

The Sound of Music

…in Venues

The Village Vanguard

Bullhorn (Brisbane)

‘War’ – Bullhorn – BULLHORN (2012)

Mojo Juju & T-Bone

All Venues

The Bombay Royale (Melbourne)

Dustyesky Russian Choir (Mullumbimby)

Marlon Williams (Aotearoa/New Zealand) Bustamento (Melbourne)

Martin Martini (Melbourne) Gabriel & Cecelia (Northern NSW)

Bongeziwe Mabandla (South Africa) C.R. Avery (Canada)

Wild Marmalade with Paul George (Mullumbimby)

Nai Palm (Melbourne)

…in the Streets

More Than Music

Joel Salom and Greg Sheehan (Mullumbimby)

Musical Nourishment

‘Woodford Folk Festival Wild Marmalade’

‘European Wild Marmalade’

‘Brunswick Heads Wild Marmalade’

Wild Marmalade Always

More Ngaiire

The Cye Wood Fan Club

Cave In The Sky Live

Layer Upon Layer

Feeling Intensely

Awaking Alive & Well

Cye Wood Projects Past

Your Own Personal Cave In The Sky

“Australia’s Premiere Blues and Roots Music Festival”

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 Music

Queen Erykah Badu (USA)

Aaron Neville (USA)

Sly & Robbie and The Taxi Gang (Jamaica)

Chali 2na (USA)

The Wailers (Jamaica)

The Soul Rebels (USA)

Larry Graham & Graham Central Station (USA)

India Arie (USA)

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Nigeria)

Ozomatli (USA)

The Ones That Might Have Gotten Away

The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra (Australia)

Beaver’s Moaning

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2015

Erykah Badu Live at The Palais Theatre

Hiatus Kaiyote

DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown @ The Toff In Town

Samples of Erykah Badu’s Musical Evolution

Erykah Badu Live @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014 – tonight!!

music sublime

Subscribe to Beaver on the Beats

© 2013-2017 Beaver on the Beats

~~Music Lives~~

**‘Sphinx Gate’ – Hiatus Kaiyote – Tawk Tomahawk (2013)**

Music Lives