With less than one month to go until the big event, the international artist lineup for Fest’Napuan is now confirmed.
Headlining will be the legendary “The Black Seeds”, one of New Zealand’s most famous bands, “The Whitehouse”, an Aboriginal group from Sydney, South American folk group “Inka Marka” (based in Melbourne), Jazz Quartet de Nouméa from New Caledonia and “The Unique Family” from the Solomons.
Fest’Napuan2007 will take place from the 27th until the 30th of September. As usual, Thursday will be a local string band night, Friday and Saturday will feature electrified “pop” music, including all overseas acts, and Sunday will be the ‘Zion Fest’ featuring Christian music.
ABC’s Radio Australia is once again looking to broadcast the event live to the region and Capitol Fm107, Radio Vanuatu, and Television Blong Vanuatu will also be doing some live broadcasting nationally and in the capital.
The Fest’Napuan Association is also pleased to announce that the theme for this year’s event will be the “kastom economy”. Participating bands are being encouraged to create songs around this idea. The Fest’Napuan Association encourages artists, performers and stall holders to promote the theme through their activities at Fest’Napuan.
“The Black Seeds”
With gold and double-platinum selling albums in New Zealand and several years of successful touring, Wellington-based 8-piece “The Black Seeds” have been winning over fans with their unique blend of reggae, dub, funk and soul since forming in 1997.
Carving out their reputation on the strength of their critically acclaimed studio albums and legendary live performances, the band now have large followings in New Zealand and Australia, as well as a fast growing fan base throughout Europe and the U.S.
The Black Seeds started turning heads around New Zealand following the release of their debut album, 2001’s Keep On Pushing. The album received widespread critical acclaim, including being named one of the top 50 albums of the year by “Rip It Up Magazine”, and eventually reached gold sales status. Keep On Pushing was released in Australia through Shock records and France, Belgium and Switzerland through Productions Speciales, with the first single reaching no 29 in France’s ‘Groove’ charts and no 100 in the overall French single charts.
The group’s second studio album, 2004’s On The Sun, added a heavy dose of funk and soul to the dub reggae sound that underpinned Keep On Pushing. On The Sun debuted at #3 on the New Zealand album charts, achieving double platinum sales and solidifying The Black Seeds’ status as one of New Zealand’s premier groups. Album single So True was one of the most popular New Zealand songs of 2005, receiving massive support from commercial radio and music television, while singles Turn It Around and Fire received widespread airplay on student radio. In 2005 On The Sun was released in Australia through Shock Records and Loop Recordings.
The Black Seeds are renowned as one of New Zealand’s finest and most dynamic live acts. They regularly sell out New Zealand and Australian tours and play headline slots at some of the regions biggest music festivals. In September 2006, they completed their second, hugely successful European/U.S tour. The 27-show tour saw the band perform in Holland, Austria, Germany, Scotland, England and Ireland, including a sellout gig at London venue, Kok. In October 2006, the band returned to New Zealand via the U.S, where they performed showcase performances in New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The band expects to announce a U.S record deal/release in the very near future.
Visit the Black Seeds website: www.theblackseeds.com
“The Whitehouse”
“The Whitehouse” is a newly-formed funk/hip-hop/rock group that features a number of Australian Aboriginal artists who have each had extensive experience working in professional groups both nationally and internationally. With their combined skills in the current format, The Whitehouse promise to offer an energetic, thought provoking and original musical experience. The Whitehouse also dabbles in a bit of toasting to some of their favourite artists that inspire their own music by performing original arrangements of tracks like "Move on Up" by Curtis Mayfield and "The Seed" by The Roots. Their music can be described as an eclectic mix of genres representing the diverse cultural nature of the group. The Whitehouse will deliver an original and exciting set of homegrown Aboriginal Australian funk hip-hop at the Fest’Napuan in their international debut performance.
Visit Sonic Nomad’s website: www.myspace.com/thewhitehousebandman
“Inka Marka”
The Inka Marka sound is one of ancient rhythms and Inka mysticism. Based in Melbourne, Australia, they have become one of Australia’s best loved and popular folk music acts. The band performed at the Sarawak Rainforest Festival in Borneo Malaysian in 2001, an international festival the caliber of WOMAD and their performance was broadcast on MTV Asia, where they were voted most popular act of the festival. Their first album, Auki Auki, was nominated for a World Music Aria award in 2000 (Australia's version of the Grammy awards).
Inka Marka combines traditional Andean costumes, dance, musical performances and background information to deliver a dynamic and fascinating but also educational package. Their masterful performance includes traditional and contemporary music which combining the haunting melodies of the pan flute and quena with the rich sounds of the guitar and charango.
Visit Inka Marka’s website: www.inkamarka.com
“The Unique Family”
“The Unique Family” is comprised of a number of members of the famous Solomon Islands band “UN Crew”, who were a highlight of Fest’Napuan ten years ago in 1997, including Selwyn Do'oro (UN Crew vocalist and composor) and Ronny Riti (better known as Paeva and Sharzy’s programmer and backing vocalist). The Unique Family was the backing group for Vanessa Quai on her latest Tsunami fundraising tour of the Solomons and have recorded a track with her which is soon to be released.
