New Zealand reggae
Encyclopedia
New Zealand reggae is the New Zealand
(Aotearoa
) variation of the musical genre reggae
. It is a large and well established part of New Zealand music, and includes some of the country's most successful and highly acclaimed bands.
Reggae in New Zealand the 1970s and 1980s included Herbs
, Dread, Beat and Blood, Unity Pacific and the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The 1979 Bob Marley
concert at Western Springs Stadium
is credited with having a huge influence of the growth of reggae in the country and inspiring many prominent reggae artists. The growth of the Rastafarian religion, particularly among Māori, was also a factor in the growth of the genre, and the high rates of use of marijuana among New Zealanders is likely to have had an influence.
The reggae scene is centred around the Waikato
and the capital Wellington
, with capital music having a more dub
and jazz
influenced sound. Most New Zealand reggae bands incorporate different stylistic influences, and the result is a unique combination of sounds.
The scene is not without its detractors and is referred to derisively as "BBQ reggae". The inference being that the music functions only as a boring, unchallenging backdrop for having a BBQ in the backyard. Sometimes this criticism is levelled at New Zealand reggae in particular, in contrast to other strains of reggae music.
The most successful of recent acts is Fat Freddy's Drop
, who incorporate jazz, soul and dub influences and reflect the capital sound. They have won numerous awards and sold over 90,000 copies of their debut album. One of the most important groups of the last decade was Trinity Roots (1998–2005), who also melded sparse jazz melodies with their reggae to great effect. The Black Seeds
are another group who have significant commercial success in recent times. Their albums On The Sun and Into the Dojo both sold double platinum and the group has toured extensively throughout Europe. Their latest album, Solid Ground, reached #15 on the US Reggae Charts.
Other major groups include Katchafire
, Cornerstone Roots
, 1814
, Kora
, House of Shem
and Tahuna Breaks
. Major dub/electronic groups include Pitch Black
, Shapeshifter
and Salmonella Dub
.
The scene is live-performance based, and large reggae festivals occur annually. The most important are the Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival in Raglan, the Kaikoura
Roots Festivaland and Coromandel Gold, a New Years event featuring New Zealand reggae and dub bands in the Coromandel Peninsula, and local reggae artists are an integral part of the live music scene. A strong collection of "soundsystems" exist, groups putting on parties and events with DJs and MCs. One Love and Raggamuffin are popular annual reggae concerts celebrating Bob Marley's birthday (February 6), a date that coincides with New Zealand public holiday Waitangi Day
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(Aotearoa
Aotearoa
Aotearoa is the most widely known and accepted Māori name for New Zealand. It is used by both Māori and non-Māori, and is becoming increasingly widespread in the bilingual names of national organisations, such as the National Library of New Zealand / Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.-Translation:The...
) variation of the musical genre reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
. It is a large and well established part of New Zealand music, and includes some of the country's most successful and highly acclaimed bands.
Reggae in New Zealand the 1970s and 1980s included Herbs
Herbs (band)
Herbs are a New Zealand reggae vocal group formed in 1979 once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP Whats' Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".-History:Herbs...
, Dread, Beat and Blood, Unity Pacific and the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The 1979 Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
concert at Western Springs Stadium
Western Springs Stadium
Western Springs Stadium is an entertainment venue in Auckland, New Zealand, that consists of a natural amphitheatre. During the winter it is used for club rugby union matches and over summer it is used for speedway. It is also occasionally used for large music concerts and festivals.Western Springs...
is credited with having a huge influence of the growth of reggae in the country and inspiring many prominent reggae artists. The growth of the Rastafarian religion, particularly among Māori, was also a factor in the growth of the genre, and the high rates of use of marijuana among New Zealanders is likely to have had an influence.
The reggae scene is centred around the Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
and the capital Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, with capital music having a more dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
influenced sound. Most New Zealand reggae bands incorporate different stylistic influences, and the result is a unique combination of sounds.
The scene is not without its detractors and is referred to derisively as "BBQ reggae". The inference being that the music functions only as a boring, unchallenging backdrop for having a BBQ in the backyard. Sometimes this criticism is levelled at New Zealand reggae in particular, in contrast to other strains of reggae music.
The most successful of recent acts is Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy’s Drop is a seven-piece band from Wellington, New Zealand, whose musical style has been characterised as any combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno. Originally a jam band formed in the late 1990s by musicians from other bands in Wellington, Fat Freddy’s Drop...
, who incorporate jazz, soul and dub influences and reflect the capital sound. They have won numerous awards and sold over 90,000 copies of their debut album. One of the most important groups of the last decade was Trinity Roots (1998–2005), who also melded sparse jazz melodies with their reggae to great effect. The Black Seeds
The Black Seeds
The Black Seeds are a musical group from Wellington, New Zealand. Their music is a fusion of dub, funk, afrobeat and soul.The Black Seeds have two double-platinum selling albums at home, and successful European album releases through the German-based Sonar Kollektiv label...
are another group who have significant commercial success in recent times. Their albums On The Sun and Into the Dojo both sold double platinum and the group has toured extensively throughout Europe. Their latest album, Solid Ground, reached #15 on the US Reggae Charts.
Other major groups include Katchafire
Katchafire
Katchafire is a New Zealand roots reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand.Katchafire formed in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute band and later began writing and performing their own songs...
, Cornerstone Roots
Cornerstone Roots
Cornerstone Roots are a successful contemporary New Zealand reggae band from Raglan/Whaingaroa in the Waikato.Formed in 2001 after a session at the infamous local Raglan Musicians Club, the original three-piece outfit singer/songwriter/guitarist Brian and drummer Turongo Dixon and bassist Naomi...
, 1814
1814 (band)
-History:The band began in 2004 as a three-piece act formed by Patu Colbert and his sons Shaun and Jimmy. Five other members joined the band over the next five years as the original members felt they needed more musicians to produce the sound they wanted...
, Kora
Kora (band)
Kora is a New Zealand five-piece music group, which consists of four brothers from the Kora family. The band, which originally began in Whakatane, New Zealand fuses elements of reggae, rock, dub, roots, funk, and more recently space funk and dub step elements.-Early years: 1991–2002:Kora brothers...
, House of Shem
House of Shem
House of Shem is a New Zealand Reggae band from Wanganui, New Zealand.House of Shem have had songs featured on the Conscious Roots compilations. In May 2008, their debut album, “Keep Rising” was released throughout New Zealand. It was released again in April 2009 throughout Australia and...
and Tahuna Breaks
Tahuna Breaks
Tahuna Breaks is a funk/reggae/roots band from New Zealand, formed in Auckland in January 2005, by school friends Tim Gemmell and James Winkle. The band got its name from its first practice space on Tahuna Street in Auckland....
. Major dub/electronic groups include Pitch Black
Pitch Black (band)
Pitch Black is a New Zealand electronica band that was formed in 1997.-Discography:* 1999: Futureproof* 2000: Electronomicon* 2001: Electric Earth and Other Elements - Remixes* 2003: Flex* 2004: Ape to Angel...
, Shapeshifter
Shapeshifter (band)
Shapeshifter are a live Drum & Bass act from New Zealand. They have been heralded as a musical phenomenon for their ground breaking live shows and unique blend of heavy soul with drum and bass...
and Salmonella Dub
Salmonella Dub
Salmonella Dub are a Dub/Drum n Bass/Reggae/Roots band from Kaikoura, New Zealand. They were formed in 1991 by Andrew Penman, David Deakins and Mark Tyler...
.
The scene is live-performance based, and large reggae festivals occur annually. The most important are the Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival in Raglan, the Kaikoura
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1 180 km north of Christchurch.Kaikoura became the first local authority to reach the Green Globe tourism certification standard....
Roots Festivaland and Coromandel Gold, a New Years event featuring New Zealand reggae and dub bands in the Coromandel Peninsula, and local reggae artists are an integral part of the live music scene. A strong collection of "soundsystems" exist, groups putting on parties and events with DJs and MCs. One Love and Raggamuffin are popular annual reggae concerts celebrating Bob Marley's birthday (February 6), a date that coincides with New Zealand public holiday Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
.
External links
- Niceup - website focussed on the Wellington reggae scene
- Motherland collective, home to the Soundsplash festival and Cornerstone Roots
- Katchafire official site
- Fat Freddy's Drop official site
- House Of Shems official site
- Tomorrow People official site
- Ras Judah's official site
- Trinity Roots official site
- Coromandel Gold official site
- South Gate Reggae Aotearoa NZ
- Extensive Herbs fan site
- Tahuna Breaks official site