THE UPSTEPPERS
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The Upsteppers

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How We Roll Dub (Upsteppers vs Tanuki Dub)
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How We Roll Dub (Upsteppers vs Tanuki Dub)
Album:
Released: Sep 24, 2011
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WELCOME


the UPSTEPPERS

Dancefloor-shaking roots-heavy reggae with backbone. The Upsteppers represent the signature sound of Brisbane conscious reggae, and have come to get you moving in positive directions.

This sound is anthemic; compelling roots rhythms and conscious message delivered in big band format. Delivered without compromise, The Upsteppers feature live skanking guitars and keys, a vintage 3 piece horns, honey-sweet backing vocals, and a workhorse rhythm section.

Their potent live show has lead The Upsteppers play alongside the world’s leading reggae acts such as Jamaica’s Chaka Demus & Pliers and Jah Mason, USA’s Groundation, NZ’s Katchafire and Black Seeds, as well as Australia’s very own Kingtide.

Hailing from Brisbane’s cultural hub of West End in late 2007, the bands journey has already brought their sound to many of Australia’s best music festivals, allowed them to perform for communities as remote as Palm Island, and play to their own capacity audiences in hometown venues.

In September 2011, Amid interstate and Queensland shows, the ‘Steppers released their debut album. 'Upsteppers In Dub' is an instrumental dub EP featuring new tunes written exclusively for collaboration with some of Australia’s most authentic dub producers. This new release demonstrates the Upsteppers diversity as well as their development as one of Australia’s foremost recording artists in the Reggae / Dub genre.

THE UPSTEPPERS

2009 saw the release of their second EP 'Cash War' over 4 packed shows at Queensland’s premiere music festival Woodford Folk Festival. Cash War is a collaboration with Brisbane dub producer PaulyB (Beautiful Girls / Tanuki Dub), featuring powerful original Upsteppers recordings coupled with accompanying dub remixes.

Both latest releases follow on from the success of their 2008 debut EP 'Ready That Stony Ground', which was launched to a burning hot hometown reception, and 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 has set 'Ready That Stony Ground' apart from other releases worldwide is that funding was generated through an innovative new funding model, created by The Upsteppers; a microfinance initiative named the Neighborhood Recording Deal.

More recently, The Upsteppers have been bolstered by the spectacular success of their 1 Massive Version shows. The last of these 3 exhilarating showcase gigs featured singers from all across East-Coast Australia and NZ, performing versions (tributes) of classic reggae tunes with The Upsteppers as backing band. This collaboration has already brought the band together with around 40 singers and at the same time deepened the Upsteppers connection to the vintage ‘riddims’ which are the foundation of the Upsteppers’ sound.



“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


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THE UPSTEPPERS

THE UPSTEPPERS

:: ALBUMS ::

THE UPSTEPPERS EPs - OUT NOW:
Available on iTunes

CASH WAR - BUY NOW
CASH WAR
Released December 2009

BUY NOW


READY THAT STONY GROUND - BUY NOW
READY THAT STONY GROUND
Released May 2008

BUY NOW


General Info

  • Genre: Dub / Reggae / Roots Music

    Location Brisbane, Au

    Profile Views: 33875

    Last Login: 6/11/2012

    Member Since 8/20/2007

    Record Label Proudly Independent

    Type of Label Unsigned

  • Bio

    ............ ........THE UPSTEPPERS...... ......Dancefloor-shaking roots-heavy reggae with backbone. The Upsteppers represent the signature sound of Australian conscious reggae, and have come to get you moving in positive directions..... ..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, USA's Groundation, NZ's Katchafire and Black Seeds, as well as Australia's very own Kingtide. ..This sound is anthemic; compelling roots rhythms and conscious message delivered in big band format. Delivered without compromise, The Upsteppers feature live skanking guitars and keys, a vintage 3 piece horns, honey-sweet backing vocals, and a workhorse rhythm section. ..Hailing from Brisbane's cultural hub of West End in late 2007, the bands journey has already brought their sound to many of Australia's best music festivals, allowed them to perform for communities as remote as Palm Island, and play to their own capacity audiences in Brisbane venues. ..Amid interstate and Queensland shows, the 'Steppers are in production mode concurrently working on two diverse CD releases for 2011. The first is an instrumental dub EP featuring new tunes written exclusively for collaboration with some of Australia's most authentic dub producers. The Second release is a new studio release featuring new material from the 'Steppers live set. These new releases will demonstrate the Upsteppers diversity as well as their development as one of Australia's foremost recording artists in the Reggae / Dub genre. ..2009 saw the release of their second EP Cash War over 4 packed shows at Queensland's premiere music festival Woodford Folk Festival. Cash War is a collaboration with Brisbane dub producer PaulyB (Beautiful Girls / Tanuki Dub), featuring powerful original Upsteppers recordings coupled with their dub remixes. ..This latest disc follows on from the success of their 2008 debut EP Ready That Stony Ground, which was launched to a burning hot hometown reception, and 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 has set 'Ready That Stony Ground' apart from other releases worldwide is that funding was generated through an innovative new funding model, created by The Upsteppers; a microfinance initiative named the Neighborhood Recording Deal. ..More recently, The Upsteppers have been bolstered by the spectacular success of their One Massive Version shows. The last of these 3 exhilarating showcase gigs featured singers from all across East-Coast Australia and NZ, performing versions (tributes) of classic reggae tunes with The Upsteppers as backing band. This collaboration has already brought the band together with around 40 singers and at the same time deepened the Upsteppers connection to the vintage 'riddims' which are the foundation of the Upsteppers' sound. ..Witness these social and musical innovators uplifting audiences as they take new territory in 2011. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ......"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.... .... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .... .. .. ........THE UPSTEPPERS EPs - OUT NOW:...... ....Available on iTunes.. ......CASH WAR.... .. .. .... .. ...... ........Cash War...... ..Released December 2009.... .. .. .. .. .... .. ......CDs and high quality MP3's...... .............. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. ......READY THAT STONY GROUND.... .. .. .... .. ...... ........Ready That Stony Ground...... ..Released May 2008.... .. .. .. .. .... .. ......CDs and high quality MP3's...... .... .......... .. .. .. .. .... .. .. ........ .................. .......... ............................

  • 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.. .. CRYSTAL HILDRED: ..Trombone.. .. TOM STEWART: ..Saxophone.. .. .. ........

  • Influences

    Midnite, 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...

  • Sounds Like

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