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Katchafire

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Katchafire
Katchafire at the Zwarte Cross festival in the Netherlands, July 2022
Katchafire at the Zwarte Cross festival in the Netherlands, July 2022
Background information
OriginNew Zealand
GenresRoots reggae
Years active1997–present
LabelsLion House, VP/Greensleeves
MembersLogan Bell
Jordan Bell
Tere Ngarua
Leon Davey
Wiremu Barriball
Roy Kaiki
Past membersAra Adams-Tamatea
Jamey Ferguson
Thompson Hohepa
Haani Totorewa
Grenville Bell
Websitewww.katchafireofficial.com

Katchafire are an all Māori New Zealand roots reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand.[1]

History

Katchafire formed in Hamilton in 1997, originally as a Bob Marley tribute band.[1][2] The band's name derives from Catch A Fire, The Wailers' debut album.[3] 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),[4] and the compilation Best So Far (2013) Legacy (2018).[2]

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 realized.

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:

  • Logan Bell (Guitar, Vocals) 1997 - present
  • Jordan Bell (Drums, Vocals) 1997 - present
  • Leonard "Leon" Davey (Percussion, Vocals). 2000 - present
  • Tere Ngarua (Bass) 1997 / 2007 - present
  • Roy Kaiki (Keyboards, Vocals) 2016 - present
  • Wiremu Barriball (Lead Guitar, Vocals) 2016 - present

Former Band Members:

  • Grenville Bell, (Lead Guitar) 1997 - 2014
  • Haani Totorewa (Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals) 1997 - 2013
  • James "Jamey" Ferguson (Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals) 2000 - 2013
  • Ara Adams Tamatea (Bass) 2000 - 2006
  • Jerry Taukamo (Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar)
  • John "Jhonny fish" Kennedy (Bass)
  • Shane "Shocka" Maraki (Bass)
  • Travis Te Hau (Bass)

Discography

Albums

Year Album Label Peak chart
positions
NZ
[5]
2003 Revival Shock/BMG 5
2005 Slow Burning Mai/Shock 12
2007 Say What You're Thinking EMI 5
2010 On the Road Again EMI/Lion House Records 3
2013 Best So Far (compilation) VP/Greensleeves 3
2018 Legacy Universal NZ/Zojak Worldwide 8
[6]

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

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
NZ
[5]
2002 "Giddy Up" 4 Revival
"Get Away" 8
"Who You With" 10
2003 "Colour Me Life" —
"Bounce" —
"Seriously" —
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 Souljahz — Bring Back The Days
"Just You & Me" feat. Na Wai — Non-album single
"On The Road Again" — On The Road Again
"Groove Again" —
2016 "Burn It Down" —
2020 "Circle Back" —[A]
2021 "Karawhiua" —[B]
"Whaingaroa" —[C]
2022 "Always with You" —[D]

Notes

  1. ^ "Circle Back" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[7]
  2. ^ "Karawhiua" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[8]
  3. ^ "Whaingaroa" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 21 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[9]
  4. ^ "Always with You" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 23 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Macgregor, Jody. Katchafire biography at AllMusic. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) "Katchafire keeping NZ reggae scene ablaze", Jamaica Observer, 24 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2014
  3. ^ Katchafire at AllMusic
  4. ^ NEWS: New Katchafire Album Coming October 2010 - Rip It Up Magazine Archived 1 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 15-09-2010
  5. ^ a b "KATCHAFIRE IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  6. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  7. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  8. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  9. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  10. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
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