A rare double bill with two of Sydney’s most hyped roots outfits at the classiest new venue in Sydney! Blue Beat in Double Bay plays host to a fiery summer roots revue with local Afro and reggae legends The Strides teaming up with world-inspired beat smiths True Vibenation. Throw in the soulful Slowpoke Rodriquez sextet for good measure and you have an unprecedented meeting of beats, rhymes and lives at the height of a textbook Sydney summer!

The Strides are fast becoming a power-house on the Australian Urban-Reggae Roots scene, with two acclaimed albums and a steady following around the country. Their album ‘Reclamation’ saw them carve out new audiences with touring around the country, as well wide acclaim and exposure on the European Roots music scene with a signing to label Record Kicks. They also return from performances at Island Vibes Festival, Kings Cross Festival and several massive tours along Oz’s East Coast. This night will bring their characteristic afro-reggae-hiphop sound of powerfully melodic horns, driving bass lines and the authentic vocal stylings of Barbados’ Reggae Master Ras Roni and Fijian MC Lil G-zeus.

True Vibenation has been going from strength to strength since the release of their debut album ʻThe Sunshower Phenomenonʼ through Big Village records in late 2011. The album brings a fresh approach to hip hop, blending elements of Afro-beat, jazz, dubstep, soul and latin music to create a sound that could have come out of anywhere in the world, yet is distinctly Australian. True Vibenation have been honing their skills over the years playing hundreds of shows, festivals such as Peats Ridge, Future Music, Woodford and Changing Lanes and support slots with Chali 2na, Dead Prez, Das Racist, Foreign Beggars, DJ Kentaro, Horrorshow and many more.

Tipping their hats to the likes of Menahan Street Band and Bill Frisell, Sydney six piece Slowpoke Rodriguez concentrate on feels and textures that avoid the affectation and alienation that can weigh down modern jazz. Fresh from supporting Angelique Kidjo, Diane Reeves and Liz Wright at their 30,000 capacity Sydney Festival crowd, Slowpoke Rodriguez are a classy group of well known Sydney players and should not be passed up!