WOMAD

Cornerstone Roots

From New Zealand

Cornerstone Roots are a 5-piece Original Reggae/Roots/ outfit from Whaingaroa, Aotearoa. From the humble beginnings of a 3-piece outfit in 2001, the band has grown to become a seven-piece powerhouse unit in 2004. Although their music is deeply rooted in the Jamaican reggae ilk they put their own spin on the traditional sound and give it a distinctly NZ feel. Their sound has been described as being organic and is laced with references to 1970s style roots n culture. With contemporary message orientated lyrics & catchy riffs, The Corners have been building a solid fan base and a reputation for creating a timeless vibe at their live shows. Punters are either working up a sweat dancing up a storm, or bugging out to the more chilled vibes. A typical live performance will showcase a variety of styles and moods from a rhythmic syncopated groove to tough a bass driven onslaught. Recent tours have included The 2004 Winter EP release jaunt, The Longtime Summer Australasian Tour with Salmonella Dub & The Burning Spear Toots & The Maytals support in New Caledonia. Up and coming shows include another Australian Tour and shows in Japan in September. There are plans in the loop for a second album, a stack of remixes & limited edition 12” vinyls. Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Brian Ruawai, Naomi Tuao Bass, Turongo Drums, Aaron Bush on percussion, Jabin Ward on Saxophone, Te Omeka Perkins on Keys and Michael Taylor on Trumpet. Cornerstone Roots hail from Raglan New Zealand and are one of the many driving forces contributing to the plethora of quality music emerging from NZ.