Katchafire
Katchafire are a Hamilton reggae band who have gained commercial success. Katchafire formed in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute band, and later began writing and performing their own songs. Their debut 2003 album, Revival, sold over 30,000 copies (double platinum) and included the hit Giddy Up, the biggest selling New Zealand single of 2002 (which they received a Tui for). Revival debuted on Billboard's Top World Music Albums Chart at #5 in March 2006.
In late 2005 their two albums (Revival and 2004's Slow Burning) were packaged together and released as Double Pack, with artwork reminiscent of an old Zig-Zag cigarette papers pack. Retailing at about the same price as each album did individually, the Double Pack was also a massive hit, though deleted quickly. They released their third album, Say What You're Thinking, in 2007.
The band have opened shows for Michael Franti and Spearhead, performed gigs across the country (three in one day on Waitangi Day 2004, in Hamilton, Manukau and Nelson), three tours to Australia and New Caledonia, and a stadium-filling headlining show in Fiji. They took their name from the Bob Marley and The Wailers album Catch A Fire.
Members
- Tere Ngarua - bass
- Jordan Bell - drums
- Jamey Ferguson - keyboards, saxophone, vocals
- Haani Totorewa - keyboards, guitar, vocals
- Logan Bell - guitar, vocals
- Grenville Bell - lead guitar
- Leon Davey - percussion, harmonica, vocals
Former Members
- Ara Adams-Tamatea - bass, band manager
- Thompson Hohepa - rhythm guitar, vocals
Releases
- Giddy Up single, 2002
- Who You With single, 2002
- Get Away single, 2002
- Revival album, 2003
- Slow Burning album, 2004
- Double Pack album, 2005
- Close Your Eyes single, 2005
- Homegrown Dub (remixes) album, 2006
- Rude Girl single, 2006
- Say What You're Thinking album, 2007
- Party Pack album, 2007
- On the Road Again album, 2010
Commercially Released Compilations
Bounce appears on the 2002 album Simply the Best Reggae Album
Giddyup appears on the 2003 compilation Top Of The Pops 2003 Vol. 3
Giddyup appears on the 2003 compilation Barbie Slumber Party Mix Vol 2
Get Away appears on the 2003 compilation Off The Hook 3
Collie Herb Man and Giddyup appear on the 2004 compilation The Reggae Collection
Get Away appears on the 2004 compilation Conscious Roots
Bounce appears on the 2004 compilation Playlist
Bounce appears on the 2004 compilation Hot Wheels
Frisk Me Down appears on the 2005 compilation Conscious Roots 2
Giddy Up appears on the 2006 compilation More Nature
I N I appears on the 2006 compilation Conscious Roots 3
Lose Your Power appears on the 2006 compilation Nuclear Free Nation 1987-2007
Bounce appears on the 2007 compilation All Blacks: The Music
This World appears on the 2007 compilation Conscious Roots 4
Love Letter and Say What You're Thinking appear on the 2008 compilation Raggamuffin
Doesn't Anybody appears on the 2008 compilation Conscious Roots 5
Promotional Compilations
Giddy Up appears on the 2002 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 54
Who You With appears on the 2002 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 57
Giddyup appears on the 2003 promo compilation The Tuis New Zealand Music Awards, 2003
Get Away appears on the 2003 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 60
Colour Me Life appears on the 2003 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 62
Bounce appears on the 2004 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 64
Seriously appears on the 2004 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 67
Rude Girl appears on the 2004 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 69
Close Your Eyes appears on the 2005 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 72
Hey Girl appears on the 2005 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 78
Collie Herb Man remix appears on the 2006 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 84
Frisk Me Down appears on the 2006 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 89
Say What You're Thinking appears on the 2007 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 97
Love Letter appears on the 2008 promo CD Kiwi Hit Disc 102
Working appears on the 2009 promo CD Kiwi Hit Disc 118
J Dubb (Remix) appears on the 2010 promo CD Kiwi Hit Disc 124
One the Road Again appears on the 2010 promo CD Kiwi Hit Disc 130
Groove Again appears on the 2010 promo CD Kiwi Hit Disc 133
Sweet As appears on the 2011 promo CD Kiwi Hit Disc 135
Lead Us appears on the 2011 promo CD Kiwi Hit Disc 138
Published Articles
- Make certain you catch Katvhafire, Hamilton Press, 3 March 2004, P21
- Catching up with Katchafire, Hamilton Press, 9 September 2004, P29
- Katchafire, Rip it Up 310 (Apr/May 2006), P23
External Links
- Official Website (website currently contains a downloadable virus)
