"Possibly one of the greatest dance bands to have played the Mussel Inn in the past eighteen years. These guys are rock steady in every sense of those two words." - ­ Andrew Dixon, The Mussel Inn

Newtown Rocksteady is heading to the South Island for another golden summer tour, for the 5th year running. Fraser Ross will perform in support, and has recently returned to NZ from 3 years in the UK.
This will be the first time Newtown Rocksteady performs at the Kaikoura Summersounds Festival on the Kiakoura flats, “...the festival is just the most splendid cocktail of mountain, ocean, river, sun & roots rock reggae” says organist James Coyle.

Newtown Rocksteady would have had lots of practise basking in the sunshine and rocking summer crowds by the time they hit Kaikoura, after performances in Nelson at The Boathouse, Abel Tasman National Park, The Mussel Inn, & and the Dharma Shed in Wairau valley.

Comprised of highly active members of Wellington’s vibrant music scene, Newtown Rocksteady has a great depth of experience to call upon. Its members have been involved in numerous other groups including The Nudge, Hikoikoi, Fly My Pretties, Trinity Roots, Brockaflowersaurus­rex, Roy G and the Bivinators, Bella Cajon, Roseneath Centennial Ragtime Band, Cumbia Blazera and Zirigidum to name a few.
The band has its roots firmly embedded in the traditions of Jamaican rocksteady, ska and reggae music and is further nourished by its connection with its community. They will be spreading this love on their South Island tour in January 2014.

Fraser Ross, who is also performing at Kaikoura Summersounds. Fraser will open at every show, and then perform as percussionist for Newtown Rocksteady. The folk singers return from the UK has been highly anticipated throughout NZ, and this is the chance to see him first.