Blue King Brown are a Melbourne-based, Australian urban roots band. They have released a self-titled EP (2005) and albums Stand Up (2006) and Worldwize Part 1 - North & South (2010). They have opened for acts such as Carlos Santana, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Damian Marley, The John Butler Trio, The Cat Empire, Silverchair, Dispatch, and Powderfinger. The two founding and songwriting members of the band, Carlo Santone and Natalie Pa’apa’a, started playing and songwriting on guitar, jamming with residents and itinerants alike in their original base of Byron Bay. They originally performed as a percussion duo and also with a band called Skin, which became the beginnings of Blue King Brown. This beats-driven collaboration formed many connections within the Australian roots scene and they were invited to sit in as percussionists with The John Butler Trio at many of their shows, along with many other guest performances with a number of local and international touring artists over the years. After moving to Melbourne in 2004 to concentrate on the new collective of Blue King Brown, they recruited Salvador Persico as the band’s percussionist, adding a Latin influence. Sam Cope is the band’s keyboard player, and Peter Wilkins plays the drum kit. Hailey Cramer, Ngaiire, and Jess Harlen were added as the original backing vocalists. |