Emergenza

Think Battle of the Bands crossed with Big Day Out… but bigger – like world big and 1000’s-of-bands big – and you have the Emergenza Festival.   This is a competition with the spirit of a global festival.  Winning bands from each country get heaps of musical gear and an all-expenses trip to Germany to play at Taubertal Festival, with the chance to take out the International comp.  Out of all the bands registered to compete in Brisbane, we are a wildcard – probably the only band without a guitar and a garage (if you follow..).  Please help us win this competition by coming along to our our round on the 22nd July at Brisbane’s newest venue The Hi-Fi…

Winning is determined by crowd votes, so we need your hands in the crowd, and your hearts and dancing feet of course.   Buy your ticket now by clicking here…

On top of all the good reasons to come along, it’s a great chance to check out the HiFi without paying heaps of cash – and will be the first time we’ve plyed together in full force for over two months!

True Live Support

The Rooftops will be supporting Melbourne Hip Hop/Jazz/Classical outfit True Live at The Zoo on Sat 4th July.

Here’s a little bit about True Live:

“Formed from a selected group of musicians from Melbourne’s rich improv scene by leader / frontman / producer RHyNO, with the assistance of older, wiser musicians – the young upstart managed to score himself the hands down finest selection of players from some of the more eclectic realms of musical taste. The collective includes late period Miles / Coltrane head with a love for Madlib and Justice, Thai Matus (keyboards) and obsessive bebop violinist Tamil Rogeon. Then there’s hip-hop trad jazz DJ / double bassist Tom Tom, rare groove funk drummer Choi and heir to the Blake string linage (3 generations deep of string players) and Nitin Sawney collaborator, Tim Blake.

True Live began gigging around their hometown of Melbourne regularly playing at local haunts like The Evelyn and Revolver. They very quickly garnered a cult following in Melbourne’s live circuit as word spread of their phenomenal energy on stage. They took their show on the road time and time again, selling out gigs nationwide off the back of word of mouth alone. True Live had become the band that you absolutely needed to see.”

Hope you can make it!  We are playing first so please get there early.  Doors open at 8pm.

Review in Map Magazine

Here’s a review of Clean Dirt in this month’s MAP Magazine…

“Jovial Brisbane funk/reggae/roots outfit, The Rooftops recently launched its new EP, Clean Dirt, to a rousing crowd at The Troubadour swaying appreciatively to the bouncing bass and bluesy beats.  Vocalist and tenor saxophonist Euan Gray lends his soothing tones to the seven laidback tracks that compose Clean Dirt which follows on from The Rooftops’ debut album, Storm Season. The group describes its latest offering as, ‘ A fresh journey of barefooted soul seraching and deep-rooted groove’.  Fans of The Cat Empire will appreciate the summery sound and infectious rythms that wander jubilantly throughout each track”

Feel free to wander jubilantly to our Store and pick up a copy!

Melodically speaking

We played with Melodics in Melbourne last time we were down there.  Seriously, these guys are really, really good.   They bend genres like they grow on trees (understand that metaphor and you’re halfway there).

They’re doing a flying visit to QLD in the lead up to their much anticipated LP release, and we’re thrilled to be on the bill.  This is a chance to see what’s cookin in Melbourne these days – and hang out with the roofies too!

Tickets are only available at the door at the moment @ a superduper $8.  Please get there early.  Last time we played at The Troubadour, a heap of people were turned away – and that was without our popular southern cousins.

They were ‘The Band’ at Woodford last year – so its gonna be a good one!

Seeya soon,

Euan

PS: It’s a Sunday night, but its the Queens Birthday holiday the next night.  Happy Birthday!

Clean Dirt Launch Pics

Check out these awesome pics of our Brisbane launch, taken by the fabulous Tamaryn Goodyear…

Trivia Night Fundraiser

The Rooftops are proud to be supporting Tour de Cure, a fundraising cycle ride from Brisbane to Cairns to raise money for cancer research, treatment and education.  On May 22nd, we’ll be playing at a special Trivia Night to raise money for local cyclist Dave Campbell as he prepares to undertake the journey.  Please spread the word and book asap at www.stickytickets.com.au/1799

Feature Album on ABC

Clean Dirt has been the feature album on ABC across QLD this week.

Tune in at 7pm to Evenings with Steve Austin to catch a track.  We’re thrilled to know Steve is a fan… “I love them and I hope you do too”.

Launch packs out

Thankyou to everyone who came to our launch last weekend! And deepest apologies for all those who could not get in ;(

That’s right, it was a complete sellout crowd and we had a ball.  Below is the a review of the concert:

“Launching their new EP Clean Dirt tonight, The Rooftops get everyone up on their feet with a snappy instrumental before launching into the reggae-licious title track. Frontman/saxophonist Euan Gray has both presence and crowd command down pat, managing to successfully combine lyrical righteousness (Textbook Heroes, the anti-war Lest We Forget and Cambodian genocide-themed Rice) with rootsy swagger (Long Way Home, Making Photographs, This Is The Way), while the Roofies’ radiant horns parp and blare in pure Cat Empire fashion. There’s enough funky drummer shuffle and juicy bass along the way to satisfy anyone’s inner James Brown fan; fired up by the combo’s irrepressible grooves, the swingin’ party goes through the roof”