Special guests this coming Monday at the Beach Hotel

COMBAT WOMBAT (MELBOURNE) & JINJA CAT (RAGLAN/NZ)

**Combat Wombat**

Combat Wombat are a political hip-hop crew based in Melbourne, Australia. Armed only with samplers, mics and turntables, powered by solar energy and an uncompromising belief in Truth over Spin, Combat Wombat’s music delves into issues of national identity, indigenous rights, the government’s treatment of refugees and alternative energy, bringing reports from the front line of resistance.

Blasting raw political fire in these unsettling times, MC Elf Tranzporter, MC Izzy Brown, producer Monkey Marc and DJ Wasabi will take you on an unforgettable ride of truth and rights, mixed with dub-heavy bass and boom bap style hip hop beats.

Combat Wombat are renowned for their contribution to Australian live music scene over the past 15 years, and their grassroots activism on issues such as indigenous rights, refugee rights, homelessness and environmental protection.

Combat Wombat’s debut album, Labrats Solar Powered Sound System (2001), was recorded entirely on solar power, mostly on the banks of Lake Eyre in the South Australian desert while blockading Roxby Downs uranium mine.

Labrats was followed by their sophomore release on Elefant Traks, Unsound $ystem (2005). Unsound $ystem features a number of guests artists such as The Herd’s Ozi Batla and TZU’s Seed MC. It also features MCG and SMS, two Afghan refugees who had escaped from Woomera detention centre.

Combat Wombat’s long-awaited third album, Just Across The Border (2017), has been ten years in the making.

Combat Wombat have spearheaded political, environmental and indigenous causes with their music, sound systems, protests and political events. Combat Wombat’s music is charged with a sense of urgency and rawness from their frontline activism and community engagement in issues including:

• working with traditional indigenous owners to oppose uranium mining on Aboriginal land
•Support the Free West Papua movement, running sound systems for Reclaim the Streets parties, forest blockades and events across the country
• demonstrating how to set up solar and wind-powered systems
• running youth workshops in desert communities in Central Australia
• assisting with the setup of the Warumpi studio in Papunya, Central Australia.

.Support the Free West Papua movement

Combat Wombat have protested at the S11 and G20 protests at frontline of the anti-globalisation movement of the early 2000s; at the Maribyrnong detention centre in Melbourne and the Woomera detention centre in the desert; performed on the steps of Parliament in solidarity with Pussy Riot, Sound Central in Afghanistan and in front of riot police at the Hazelwood coal-fired power plant.

-Support the Free West Papua movement

**Jinja Cat**

Leopard in the lion’s den, microphone gal Jinja Cat is a lyrical artist hailing from the infamous westcoast NZ surftown and bass culture hotspot Raglan. Known for bringing a tuff blend of rubadub sheejay style & unique original flavour to the mic, aswell as energetic good vibes to the stage, Jinja has been described by audiences as “deadly”, “international”, “mesmerising”, and “very surprising”.

Heavily influenced by her love for all sounds reggae, in particular a ferociously-excited over-reaction in her brain to early digital dancehall riddims & raggamuffin lyrics, and on the sideline a sneaky sparkle in her eye (and wriggle in her tongue) for garage & grime chops, Jinja has been on a personal mission since her late teenage years exploring the artforms of rhyme, scat, deejay chat and singjaying; discovering how it all merges & mashes up within the context of herself; and keeping active as a female representative within the soundsystem/DJ & MC scene locally.

From her early days dropping verses at open mic nights in the NZ capital’s hip hop and dub scenes and performing as a spoken word artist post-winning an annual Arts Festival poetry slam; to a stint in Melbourne in the late 00’s getting active in and inspired by the city’s vibrant reggae dancehall parties; and onwards to her 10+ years of artist contribution to Raglan’s growth as a reputed music & talent haven outside of the main cities of the North Island, Jinja has continued to be a creative spark, turning minds out-of-the-box, and surely she shows no sign of stopping that anytime soon.

Indeed, the best is yet to come with fresh collaborative releases in 2018. Stay tuned.

CREDENTIALS INCLUDE:
International act supports: Johnny Osbourne, Mungo’s Hi fi & Charlie P, YT, Earl Gateshead, Dj Vadim, J-star, Blue King Brown, Dj Poirier & Mc Zulu.
Festivals & events: (NZ and Australia): Raglan Sunday Sessions 2010-2018, Ruapuke Roots Festival 2018 & 2016; Soundsplash Festival 2018 & 2016, Splore Festival 2016, Australian World Music Expo (AUS), Sydney International Arts festival (AUS), Cuba St Carnival, The Gathering, Ladies in the Dance, Jungle Fever, Pressure Drop (AUS).

www.facebook.com/jinjacat
www.soundcloud.com/jinjacat

Reggae Monday 9.4.2018 at the Beach Hotel Byron Bay
8.30pm start $10 door
After Party @ Woody’s