"Common Ground" is an Aboriginal Dance Group consisting of a core of three members. This core can be expanded to six should the occasion require it.
Lee West plays Didgeridoo; Peter Nelson (who is the elder of the group) and his son Ben Nelson are the dancers. The group have performed at various openings, functions, festivals, schools and have travelled internationally. They have recently returned from Malaysia where they performed at Kota Kinabalu. "Common Ground" regularly performs at the South Perth Civic Centre for the Australia Day Citizenship ceremonies and also at the River Retreat Art Gallery in the Swan Valley. The group has also performed at the Birruk Yeedee Dreaming Festival, Abmusic's 20th Anniversary, the 2007 WAM Indigenous Round Table as well as numerous welcoming ceremonies for visiting politicians.
The performance consists of dance, music and story telling. Permission from the elders of the North and South of Western Australia has been given. Audience participation is encouraged which leads to education through entertainment. People get to dance, try the didgeridoo and learn about the Aboriginal way of life and language. Some of the dances involve drama; the acting out of old stories and practices.
Involving the audience breaks down barriers and opens new doors and opens eyes to a new world.
Being proud of their culture gives "Common Ground" a zest for performing and sharing, not only bridging gaps between cultures, but giving people a sense of belonging and an insight to their own culture.
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jim McClelland, his brother Belly (harmonica) and Sandra (bass guitarist and wife of Jim) were born and bred in WA's remote wheat belt - a harshly beautiful environment complete with dust and flies, but with not a lot else to do but focus on their shared love of music. When you listen to Blue Shaddy's songs you get a strong sense of where these three come from and it is very much apparent that their heart still lies in their country roots.
A chance meeting with Jim McClelland at a local music store in Perth led to Arunachala (known simply as Arun) Satgunasingam filling in for an absent Sandy at a few low-key acoustic gigs. A friendship started, and from this point, Jim and Arun began to craft a new sound for Blue Shaddy - one that infused world beats and contemporary percussion into the Shaddy's existing blues/ roots sound.
After a couple of years with this line-up and an album later, friend and fellow percussionist Kanchana Karunaratna was invited to add essential percussive elements to the band. Kanchana and Arun share a common knowledge and passion for the rhythms of their ancestors and present day influences. Their talents bring an unmistakable and essential ingredient to the Blue Shaddy sound.
The end result of this combination of musicians is something very special.
The Kill Devil Hills are a 6-piece based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Formed in early 2003 as a cowpunk trio they have mutated into a sonic stew of rock, folk and punk, carving out their own weird take on the great Australian tradition of swamp music. With a viscereal live show, the KDH walk a crooked line between fierce psychedelic noise and haunting balladry.
A very popular live band in their home state, the Kill Devil Hills ahve toured widely throughout Australia, playing all major centres on numerous occasions to ever-expanding crowds. Early 2007 has seen the band undertake its first international tour, playing numerous cities through Canada and the US, including Toronto's North by Northeast festival.
Now having played with a wide array of Australian and international acts, the band counts supports for the Dirty Three, the Beasts of Bourbon, Paul Kelly, the Drones and the Black Keys among its highlights.
The band is currently at work on their third studio album, to be released early 2008, along with an imminent European tour.
With bare instrumentation and a collective open heart, The Lonely Brothers weave together guitar, violin and voice with a naïve charm that is nothing short of delightful. They've got folk in their hearts, and a lot of random stuff buzzing around their brains. New, original, unpredictable and possibly deranged, their music draws on folk, jazz, reggae and plastic-cup-percussion traditions.
Their songs have been written during lunchtime at school, on a floral couch whilst eating cornflakes and in a sewing room in the presence of a rhyming dictionary and a mannequin called Claudia. They are written about a range of topics - tea, music festivals, friends, family and loving/hating life.
They have supported the likes of Paul Kelly, The John Butler Trio, Paul Greene & Rob Hirst, Carus & The True Believers, Freya Hanly, Tecoma, Those Bloody McKennas, Loren & The Grow Your Owns, Dave Mann Collective, as well as playing at Fairbridge Festival, Nannup Music Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Albany's Harboursound Festival.
Locally produced (Quindanning/Boddington), The Micman Brew has been performing in the area for the last 8 years. Originally a pub cover band the Brew have more recently ventured into the Original music scene, composing an eclectic mix of funk, rock and pop.
The members of the band include husband and wife team Michael and Amanda Rose, and Amanda's dad Bruce Beamish. Michael Rose (Drums, Vocals) formerly of the Ramblers and The Ramjets, has played music since he could walk, mastering such instruments as piano, violin, guitar and drums.
Amanda Rose (Lead Vocals, Bass), formerly of Ashaye and The Ramjets, was part of the original music scene in Perth between 2001 and 2004 but has recently slowed down to take up duties as mum to 10-month-old Tia.
Bruce (Guitar, Vocals) is the original "jam tart" and has played music with every musician in the Boddington district since 1986. Bruce also plays flute, harp and piano, and his influences include Jethro Tull.
Jebediah was formed in Perth in 1994 with Kevin Mitchell on vocals and rhythm guitar, Vanessa Thornton on bass, Chris Daymond on lead guitar and Almin Fulurija on drums. Kevin's brother, Brett Mitchell replaced Almin on drums because Almin didn't turn up to practice. Kevin, Vanesssa and Chris met at high school while Brett Mitchell had been a drummer with various bands. The band took their name from Jebediah Springfield, the fictional founder of Springfield on The Simpsons.
In June 2005, Jebediah launched their 10 year anniversary tour and an EP to coincide. Their shows consisted mainly of b-sides and rarities that fans had requested on the bands official forums.
2006 and 2007 has seen Kevin Mitchell release and promote his second solo album, Suburban Songbook under his pseudonym Bob Evans.
2008 will see the Jebs return to the studio to write and rehearse new music for their next album, expected to be out late 2008.
Polly hails from Williams, Western Australia and her original music draws mostly from her country/roots influences and experiences growing up in rural W.A. Her music reflects her love of the "e;alternative road" and her album crosses musically through country, folk and rock while her lyrics draw insightful images from her life and times.
"Her songs have that rare quality of instant rapport with audiences of all types and ages. Reminiscent of a young Kasey Chambers or Patty Griffin, Polly is a genuine new voice who sounds like she's been here the whole time. A unique sound - she has a voice that becomes addictive to listen to - there's a certain tone, a wonderful ability to bend notes- and that little catch that contains so much emotion" Sue Jarvis - Capital News.
In 2007 Polly earned herself a double whammy in the West Australian Music Awards, winning two out of three nominations - "Country Song Of the Year" for Take Me With You and "Regional Song of the Year" for Two Months. Polly has performed live at the awards ceremony.
RhymeAudial is comprised of two talents; Fonetiks MC and DJ Volatile, who teamed up to form the group in early 2005. Having been active members of the Perth Aussie Hip-Hop scene for many years now, the two are ready to take their critically-acclaimed act from the stage to the stores with their forthcoming debut LP, Plastic Fortunes.
Recently picking up three nominations from the Western Australian Music Industry (WAMi) for the 2007 Urban Song of the Year, and subsequently winning the award, the outlook is all positive for the team.
The group has been hailed as not only a unique and talented act, but also as a huge leap for their local scene of Perth. Where the eastern states acts have the ability to draw on their quantity for support, those from Perth have to rely on their quality to stand out from the rest.
Shangara Jive is one of Australia's premier contemporary African fusion outfits. Based in Fremantle Western Australia, the band has being delivering an array of Zimbabwean ritual and contemporary music styles fused with elements from the Congo, South Africa, Tanzania and West African nations since 2001.
The music has been adapted to western instruments such as guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and drum kit which is mixed with the mbira (thumb piano) and a variety of West African and Cuban percussion creating a sound that is up lifting and modern while staying true to the roots of the music.
George chanting Shangara is the perfect band for fesitvals, parties, weddings, celebrations, you name it and Shangara can cater for it with a diverse range of performance options guaranteed to suit any occasion.
Shangara show case a mix of Jit, Chimurenga, Dancehall, Roots Reggae, Kwassa Kwassa, Soukous, Soka and Afro Beat blended with West African and Zimbabwean percussion.
The band is lead by Zimbabwean born singer songwriter, accomplished drummer and percussionist, George Joe (winner of four World Music Awards in the Western Australian Music Industry).
Subscribe to the
