Poorly timed stage dives, fire alarms, and a mass evacuation did little to dampen the spirits of the crowd at the Make Poverty History concert. Held in the refectory at the University of Canberra, it was a night of fine music and fine dancing.
With a packed line-up playing from six o’clock through to ten-thirty, the crowd were in great spirits to support such a worthy cause. The concert aimed to raise awareness for poverty stricken countries and involve more people in the fight to end global poverty.
After some great early acts such as Vox Congo and Canberra’s Hancock Basement, the fantastic music continued to stream from the stage.
A perfect example of Australia’s strong musical future are the band Bonjah. Initially from New Zealand, Bonjah have quickly established themselves on the Sydney live scene with their Rootsy/ Soul sound. They are about to release a live CD/DVD, and it was clear they are a well-oiled groove machine on stage. Despite a fire alarm causing a mass evacuation, the band still played some great music.
Next up on stage were rising Hip-Hop stars Diafrix. Performing with two DJ’s, the beats flowed hard and fast and the crowd jumped in due accord. Songs such as Crazy and Let’s Go showcased the duo’s strong stage presence and quirky lyrics.
Despite both rappers accidentally running into each other whilst performing a stage-dive, it was a brilliant set.
Next up to rock the crowd were Blue King Brown. Their one-hour set was filled with roots, Latin, afro-beat and Cuban elements, and ensured the crowd would be able to dance to their heart’s content.
Lead singer, Natalie Pa’apa’a, was the dynamo of the band and blended socially conscious lyrics and strong vocals. They performed hits from their 2006 album Stand Up, and there was not a dull moment in their set courtesy of the unbelievable musicality of the band.
Blue King Brown are truly one of the best live bands in Australia, and it was a blessing to have them in Canberra and performing for such a worthy cause.
After Blue King Brown’s set, the audience needed a sit-down to regain their breath in preparation for Evermore’s Pop-Rock onslaught.
Sadly Evermore were slightly disappointing when compared to the frenetic Blue King Brown. As they began their set playing new single Underground, it felt as if the vibe had dropped. The audience seemed less than enthused and hits such as It’s Too Late only just managed to keep the audience’s and my own attention.
It was a fantastic evening all-together and for an extremely worthy cause. To see Canberrans getting behind Make Poverty History was brilliant, and I am sure our support will not go unnoticed.
Photos by Chris Whitfield
