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The Upsteppers
Reggae / Dub / Roots Music

Earth-shaking conscious roots reggae



Brisbane
Australia

Profile Views:  14455




Last Login:  12/9/2009
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   Contacting The Upsteppers

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   The Upsteppers: General Info
Member Since8/20/2007
Band Members

JAMES DOUGLAS:
Vocals / Guitar

PAUL WATSON:
Bass

JOEL ALEXANDER:
Drums / Cymbals / B.V.

ANTHONY MCILWAIN:
Guitars / B.V.

M. SANJAY JUDE:
Keys / B.V.

STEVIE BUCHANAN:
Trumpet

JOSHUA HATCHER:
Saxophone

CRYSTAL HILDRED:
Trombone

myspace band members
InfluencesMidnite, Groundation, Black Uhuru, Abyssinians, Alborosie, Congos, Steel Pulse, Dennis Brown, Horace Andy, Trinity Roots, Cornerstone Roots, Mighty Diamonds, Bambu Station, Alton Ellis, Benjamin Zephaniah, Burning Spear, Cocoa Tea, The Gladiators, Marcia Griffiths, Aswad, Bitty McLean, the Red Eyes, Kingtide...
Record LabelProudly Independent
Type of LabelUnsigned


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   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Dec 28 2009 6:30P
Woodford Folk Festival Woodford, Queensland
Dec 29 2009 11:00P
Woodford Folk Festival Woodford
Dec 30 2009 11:00P
Woodford Folk Festival Woodford, Queensland
Dec 31 2009 6:30P
Woodford Folk Festival Woodford

The Upsteppers's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

1 Massive Version  (view more)

EP Launch Date Announced - Big Party... check it.  (view more)

Story in Time-Off  (view more)

Neighbourhood Recording Deal: Call out to fund our recording.  (view more)

Neighbourhood Recording Deal; unveiled  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About The Upsteppers
Dancefloor-shaking roots-heavy reggae, potent social commentary, and nuff band members to form their own separatist state. The Upsteppers represent the new signature sound of Brisbane conscious music, and have come to get you moving in positive directions.

The sound is anthemic, compelling roots rhythms and conscious message delivered in big band format; skanking guitars and keys, vintage 3 piece horns, honey-sweet backing vocals, and a workhorse rhythm section.

Their potent live sound has lead The Upsteppers play alongside the world’s leading reggae acts such as Jamaica’s Chaka Demus & Pliers and Jah Mason, New Zealand’s Katchafire and Black Seeds, and Australia’s very own Kingtide and Rastawookie.

After a fortune-filled 18 months of staging their own packed and sold out shows, playing on grand festival stages, & touring regionally and interstate, The Upsteppers have again bunkered down in local studios to record their second release due out late 2009 (listen to samples of work-in-progress track Bush Fire - sneak preview posted on this page).

This new release will follow on from the success of their debut EP, 'Ready That Stony Ground' which was launched in 2008 to a burning hot hometown reception, and was hand-picked for regular spins on Triple J’s Roots’n’All program. The bands foundation release presents six fresh and diverse songs that illustrate the fundamental worth of Brisbane’s newest roots massive.

What sets 'Ready That Stony Ground' apart from other releases worldwide is that funding was generated through an innovative new funding model, created by The Upsteppers.
The Neighborhood Recording Deal (NRD) is grassroots funding in action, whereby listeners get involved in the recording process by lending small loans to the band which are used to pay recording costs. Many of these ‘micro-loans’ were as small as $15 and The Upsteppers rewarded their supporters by paying them back their loan with 20% interest.
The intake of these ‘micro-loans’ has allowed The Upsteppers to pay for the entire recording process. It is an example of grassroots arts funding designed and carried out by innovative independent Brisbane musicians.

In word and deed, The Upsteppers bring the social, political and the personal together to the one stage and challenge universally accepted truths. They promote community driven grassroots action, and call for us to look for our own new ways of being.

You will know The Upsteppers by the quality of their following.

“The Upsteppers bring the message of peace, unity and environmental awareness to you in a rubba dub big band style - Brisbane's best loved conscious roots band."
- Morgyn Quinn, Rudekat Records/Island Vibe Festival

"The boys are one of the most exciting and fresh around, with a real roots reggae feel rarely found in White Boyz, they are one of my Favourite OZ Reggae bands ever!"
- Mickie Sellton, Reggae town Festival Cairns.

Cash War - The Upsteppers live @ the Joynt from The Upsteppers on Vimeo.

THE UPSTEPPERS - World At My Feet from The Upsteppers on Vimeo.


   The Upsteppers's Friend Space (Top 14)
The Upsteppers has 372 friends.
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 Bambu Station 





The Upsteppers's Friends Comments
Displaying 20 of 20 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Jazzy Droid

Jazzy Droid



Nov 26 2009 11:58 PM

Hey gang. Nice to meet you. Keep on vibing. Peace
SKYE

SKYE



Nov 13 2009 9:22 AM

Bushfire is so goooood!
I can't get over how much your music affects me.
I am going to play the CD at my work- plug it some more :)
Everybody who has listened to your beats love them- even a techno fan! haha that says something right!

Defiantly looking at going to Woodford... and i see you are playing at 6pm new years eve... what could be better!

When you release this next album i want a cd! pre-order.

Well off to enjoy a baileys, take care 
Skye x
SKYE

SKYE



Nov 12 2009 7:08 AM

Hey hey James,

Just got the CD's :) Thanks heaps.
The beats are awesome!
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

I swear i've told half a dozen people about you guys! 
Keep it up!

Skye x

Fraud Millionaires

Fraud Millionaires
Online Now!


Nov 5 2009 5:59 AM

Hey Guys....

Tight Sounds.....lovn it...

*Peace*
Bandulu Dub

Bandulu Dub



Oct 27 2009 12:20 PM

Fresh Poulp Records Presents:



FPR 038 _ Bandulu Dub – Spiritual Evolution FREE DOWNLOAD
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Electrofilia Creative Collective Presents:



ELF.004 _ ISAAC MAYA & BANDULU DUB_-_  SEA OF  LOVE EP / FREE DOWNLOAD

Creative Commons License
Anarchist Duck

Anarchist Duck
Online Now!


Oct 5 2009 1:17 AM





Toasters Boutique

Toasters Boutique



Sep 24 2009 4:26 AM

HEY JAMES AND ALL U UP STEPPERS
LOVING THE NEW TRACK CRACK THOSE BACK VOCALS

CHECK OUT OUR MIXTAPE
MUCH LOVE JIMME JAY AND TOASTERS BOUTIQUE




LIVE FOR LIFE

Live for Life Indo



Aug 22 2009 2:42 AM

Hey I told you I'd let you know about the gig! 3 wks!

 

FYAH WALK

FYAH WALK



Jul 13 2009 4:27 AM

AlleyKat Records

AlleyKat Records



Jun 15 2009 9:22 PM

Hope to see the crew at Step Inn with The Nomad...
Photobucket
kaitlin

kaitlin graham



May 30 2009 7:22 AM

oh man i've so confused myself.
haha, don't mind me...
wow vietnam? rad. hope you're having a killer time.
ok ok july 11th. 
i will see you then.
can't wait.
hahaha.
x.
kaitlin

kaitlin graham



May 24 2009 10:26 AM

what?
you played in the valley last week?
you said you weren't playing again til july.
devo.
Fergz

Fergz



May 5 2009 10:52 AM

sUpsteppers? just drOppin thru to show some luv. feelin the Bushfire vibes. Bless
Fraser

Fraser James



Apr 26 2009 10:38 PM

Hey guys, Im a big fan of your music and vibes, and I am getting a gig together to support local brisbane bands predominantly reggae bands! There isnt a date yet im still in the act of getting a venue up and going so i would love for you guys to play! That would be sweet, so just let me know.

Thanks, fraser.
Ellen Stapleton

Ellen Stapleton



Apr 10 2009 7:19 AM

Thanks for the friendship!
Hope you're having a good weekend.
xo
Ellen




FYAH WALK

FYAH WALK



Apr 4 2009 4:21 AM

I wished upon a star for a new Upsteppers cd last night ...
Nikki

Nikki Hill



Mar 16 2009 4:44 PM

Hey... So Glad you got to see them I used to Sing with them many Moons ago before I had my Little girl! Those we're the Dayz!
&^_^& xXx Loving your Tunes xXx
Jahred1911

Jahred1911



Mar 14 2009 4:33 PM

Big Up For The Friendship! All Is Much Appreciated here In The PHILIPPINES. Peace-in and Nuff Respect!!
Oneness,
jahred1911

kaitlin

kaitlin graham



Mar 12 2009 2:44 PM

i'm finally 18 and can't wait to see you again.
play brissie again asap.
pleeeeeeeeeeeeease.
=].
The Upsteppers

The Upsteppers



Mar 11 2009 2:52 AM

Photobucket
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