Katchafire Explained

Katchafire
Background:group_or_band
Origin:New Zealand
Genre:Roots reggae
Years Active:1997–present
Label:Lion House, VP/Greensleeves
Current Members:Logan Bell
Jordan Bell
Tere Ngarua
Leon Davey
Wiremu Barriball
Roy Kaiki
Past Members:Ara Adams-Tamatea
Jamey Ferguson
Thompson Hohepa
Haani Totorewa
Grenville Bell

Katchafire are an all Māori New Zealand roots reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand.

History

Katchafire formed in Hamilton in 1997, originally as a Bob Marley tribute band.[1] The band's name derives from Catch A Fire, The Wailers' debut album. They have released six albums: Revival (2003), which featured the highest-selling New Zealand single of 2002 "Giddy Up", Slow Burning (2005) Say What You're Thinking (2007), On the Road Again (2010),[2] and the compilation Best So Far (2013) Legacy (2018).

The band has extensively toured Australia, the UK, Europe, the United States, New Caledonia, the Pacific Islands, Guam, Indonesia, Brazil including their home country of New Zealand and have played on the same bills as The Wailers, The Marley's, Steel Pulse, Third World, UB40, Shaggy, Lauryn Hill, Fiji, and Horace Andy to name a few.

Band members

The bands original line-up consisted of Founder Grenville Bell (Manager, Lead Guitar) with his two sons Logan (Vocals) Jordan (Drums), the line-up expanded to include eight members, including Jerry Taukamo (Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar), Thompson Hohepa (Lead Vocals), Hani Totorewa (Keyboards, Vocals), Bass duties went to a number of different musicians, Jhonny Fish (John Kennedy), Shocka (Shane Maraki), Tere Ngarua and Travis Te Hau.

As a result of commitments with other bands, family and religion, lead singer Jerry departed from the band Katchafire with Logan stepping into the position becoming the band's new and current lead singer.

With the addition of James "Jamey" Ferguson (Vocals, Keyboard, Saxophone) and departure of Tere Ngarua opened opportunity for Ara Adams Tamatea (Bass, Band Management) and Leonard "Leon" Davey (Percussion, Vocals) not long after which allowed Grenville Bell to step out of the Management duties and continue his role as the bands Lead Guitarist and the brand "Katchafire" was realised .

The band went through yet another change in line-up as Ara stepped down from his role as manager/bass player continuing only as the bands New Zealand booking agent, with original bass player Tere Ngarua returning and Logan taking over the band management.

The current line-up:

Former Band Members:

Discography

Albums

YearAlbum Label Peak chart
positions
NZ
[3]
2003RevivalMai Music5
2005Slow BurningMai/Shock12
2007Say What You're ThinkingEMI5
2010 On the Road Again EMI/Lion House Records3
2013Best So Far (compilation)VP/Greensleeves3
2018LegacyUniversal NZ/Zojak Worldwide8
[4]

Featured appearances

Katchafire have appeared on a number of compilations since 2002 in New Zealand. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by Katchafire.

Release Album Label Track
2002Simply the Best Reggae AlbumWarner Music"Bounce"
2003 The Reggae Collection "Collie Herb Man" and "Giddy Up"
Off the Hook 3 "Get Away" (Remix)
2004 Conscious Roots "Get Away"
2005 Conscious Roots 2 Capitol Music "Frisk Me Down"
2006 More Nature "Giddy Up"
2007 Conscious Roots 4 "This World"

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
NZ
2002"Giddy Up"4Revival
"Who You With"10
2003"Get Away"8
2004"Rude Girl"Slow Burning
2005"Hey Girl"
2006"Frisk Me Down"
2007"Say What You're Thinking"Say What You're Thinking
2008"Love Letter"
2009"Working"
2010"Slow Down" feat. Rebel SouljahzBring Back The Days
"Just You & Me" feat. Na WaiNon-album single
"On the Road Again"On the Road Again
"Groove Again"
2016"Burn It Down"
2017"Addicted"Legacy
"Way Beyond"
2018"Love Today"
"100"
2019"Fyah in the Trenches"
2020"Circle Back"rowspan="6"
2021"Karawhiua"
"Whaingaroa"
2022"Always with You"
2024"Magic (What She Do)"
"Commit"

External links

Notes and References

  1. Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) "Katchafire keeping NZ reggae scene ablaze", Jamaica Observer, 24 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2014
  2. http://ripitup.co.nz/contentitem/news-new-katchafire-album-coming-october-2010/899 NEWS: New Katchafire Album Coming October 2010 - Rip It Up Magazine
  3. Web site: KATCHAFIRE IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS. charts.nz. 22 October 2012.
  4. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 11 June 2018. 8 June 2018.