Groundation
Friday 9 March 2012
8pm - 1am
Manning Bar
Access $29.75 + bf from Access
General $35 + bf from manningbar.com (ph )
GROUNDATION RETURN TO AUSTRALIA FOR THEIR BUILDING AN ARK ALBUM TOUR GROUNDATION RETURN AFTER THEIR SELL-OUT AUSTRALIAN TOUR IN 2010
After a massive Australian tour in 2010, California’s renowned roots reggae band Groundation return to celebrate the release of their seventh album Building An Ark. Saying that Groundation is a reggae band is merely scratching the surface; the band’s sound is an organic fusion of classic roots reggae, heavy funk/jazz fusion, and transcendental dub. Their live shows are synonymous with high-energy positive communal vibrations, combining the message and determination of the best reggae music has to offer with perpetually fresh jazz-inspired improvisation.
“Aussie audiences can expect new music from our forthcoming album Building An Ark,” says band leader Harrison Stafford. “There will also be some old classics from the past six albums, and who knows, maybe a Bob Marley, Burning Spear or Culture track. Of course, there will be lots of improvising, long extended solos, dub sections and just musical parts where we can stretch out and try new things. We are a band that truly plays ‘in the moment’, each show is different, each performance is special. We feel the albums are like a painting someone will have in their home and continue to see new things in. There there’s the live show, which is a special 90-plus minutes where we come together with a few thousand of our friends and share a vibe.”
The last time Groundation toured here two years ago, it was the first time the band had ever performed in Australia. Their shows sold-out and garnered them a whole new solid base of Aussie fans. “I think for all of us, the last show in Melbourne, for the musical showcase at AWME [Australian World Music Expo] was fantastic,” says Harrison. “The energy was huge and I personally am so excited to return and take up from where we left off.”
From the band’s debut release in 1999, they’ve been carving their own route and earning themselves a stellar following among music lovers and their contemporaries. Since their foray into the professional music spectrum over a decade ago, Groundation has shared the stage with legendary acts such as Don Carlos and Pablo Moses, and has recorded with artists such as Apple Gabriel, Don Carlos, The Congos and Marcia Higgs. Their new album is being heralded as the best yet. “Building An Ark is our greatest musical work to date,” Harrison says. “We, as Groundation, say this with complete confidence.”
Don’t miss these special shows as Groundation return to Australia after their sell-out run of dates in 2010. Building An Ark is due for release on March 20, 2012 through M’A Publishing / Soulbeats Records.