Blue King Brown are an active Melbourne-based, Australian blues/roots band. The have released a self-titled EP (2005) and a full length album Stand Up (2006).

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Biography

"Blue King Brown is my favourite band right now. They embody everything I love in music from Ozomatli, African bands, Tower of Power to Santana. They are the voice of the street and the band of the future!" - Carlos Santana



"I am always inspired by BKB's funky, high energy, socially conscious music. 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)



"BKB are one of those unique truth-telling outfits in our business that defy time. Amazing musicians with a powerful message. What a concept, huh?" - Serj Tankian



Australia's Premier hard hitting Live Urban Roots crew Blue King Brown are currently working on their 2nd album, set to drop in 2009, they have been travelling worldwide from Melbourne to Kingston Jamaica, New York to San Francisco & Aoteoroa New Zealand, working with the likes of Sly and Robbie, Jah Mason, Rovleta Fraser and renowned engineer BONZAI (know for his work with Damian & Stephen Marley amongst many others). Working in studios from Melbourne’s SING SING to Kingston’s Anchor studios & Bob Marley’s legendary TUFF GONG studios creating what is destined to be a rock solid album from the group who's presence in the scene keeps going from Strength to Strength.

They have been taking some time off the road since their tours early in the year from the Big Day Out, to a sold out National tour with the Cat Empire, and right before heading into the studio they completed an Australian / NZ tour supporting the legendary SANTANA, the respect and bond made between the two groups was instant, the tour was a massive success and a career highlight for Blue King Brown.



BKB are set to hit the road again, rockin’ national and international festivals and venues with new material and a fresh inspired energy. With tours of Japan, Noumea, Canada, and the USA also in the bag for 2008, the worldwide revolution continues for simply one of the best groups to come out of Australia in a long time.

Early Days

The two founding and songwriting members of the band, Carlo Santone and Natalie Pa'apa'a commenced playing and song writing on guitar, jamming with residents and itinerants alike in their original base of Byron Bay. They originally performed as a percussion duo and also with Skin , which became the beginnings of Blue King Brown.

This beats driven collaboration formed many connections within the strong Australian roots scene and were invited to sit in as percussionists with The John Butler Trio at many of their shows, along with countless other guest performances with a number of local and international touring artists over the years.

After moving to Melbourne in 2004 to concentrate on the new collective of Blue King Brown, they recruited a hip, city tinged band and discovered Salvador Persico, now the bands percussionist, whose Latin flavors were the perfect addition to the Blue King Brown sound. Sam Cope is the bands keyboardist and Peter Wilkins is on the drum kit. Recent backing vocalists added to the crew, Hailey Cramer, Ngaiire and Jess Harlen.

Albums

STAND UP - 2006
BKB backed up their first EP release with a tough debut album titled ‘STAND UP’, independently released in October 2006 through their own label, ROOTS LEVEL RECORDS and in Japan through VILLAGE AGAIN/SIDEOUT. The album has received mass critical acclaim with ‘come and check your head’, the first single off the album hitting hard!

Success came quickly for the newly formed Blue King Brown, their debut single, "Water", released on their debut self-titled EP, was quickly added to high rotation on Triple J. As well as earning them an AIR Chart award in 2006

Blue King Brown's debut, independently released LP, Stand-Up , (October 2006), sees the band simultaneously becoming more rhythmically and melodically complex. It reconfigures the template Blue King Brown has created in recordings and in numerous sweaty live performances, creating a studio document of many layers and textures, providing great representation of their current sound and future direction. The album was nominated for 2kk006's J Award ^[1]and their song "Come And Check Your Head" was #100 on the Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2006 ^[2], as voted by the listening public.

Still evident are the band's grassroots politics. Placing their messages front-and-centre seems to have only won them more fans, the band sees no reason to hold back. The band is ethically engaged in every aspect of their art: from their independent releases through to recycled CD packaging and support of number of human rights organisations

Touring

This grassroots (or Roots Level, as their label name has it) approach is also part of their touring ethos. They travel to as many places as they can, breaking new ground with each tour. The band has toured up and down the east coast consistently as both a headline act and in support slots. Blue King Brown have performed at The Ottawa Bluesfest, The Falls, East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival, Womadelaide, Woodford Folk Festival, Big Day Out The Great Escape, The Dreaming Festival, the Meredith Music Festival, the Festival of the Sun, Open Arms Festival and Southbound to name a few. Early 2006 also saw them invited to play festivals in Japan and Fiji. They have also participated at the Australian leg of the Live Earth concert in Sydney, performing at the start of the event.

In their short time on the touring circuit, Blue King Brown have established themselves on the Australian indie scene and have amassed a solid national following, as well as sparking international interest, having toured in support of Santana, John Butler Trio, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Damian "Jr Gong" Marley, The Cat Empire and Cody Chestnutt.

FESTIVALS

Big Day Out(2008)
Live Earth 2007
East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival 2006, 2007(Australia)
West Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival 2006, 2007 (Australia)
Reggae Town 2007
Womadelaide 2007 (Australia)
The Falls 2006 (Australia)
Southbound (Australia)
Homebake 2007(Australia)
Woodford folk fest 2005 2006 2007(Australia)
JJJ AWOL SERIES 2007(Australia)
Summer Sonic 2007(Japan)
Green Room festival 2006 2007 (Japan)
Fiji’s World Music Festival 2006 (Fiji)
The Great Escape Festival of the Sun Open Arms Festival Ottawa Bluesfest

Members

Natalie Pa'apa'a– Vocals, Guitar
Carlo Santone – Bass
Salvador Persico – Percussion
Pete Wilkins – Drums
Sam Cope – Keyboards
Emily G - Trombone
Nadee - Backing Vocals
Jess Harlen - Backing vocals

Discography

Albums/EPs

• Blue King Brown (EP) Roots Level Records (12 September 2005)
• Stand Up (Album) Roots Level Records (14 October 2006)

Singles

• "Moment of Truth"
• "Water"
• "Come Check Your Head (download single) Roots Level Records
• "Stand Up" Roots Level Records (3 March 2007)

References

1. Triple J Award Nomination
2. Triple J Hottest 100 list