New album Red Army Available Now through Itunes & Record Stores
'The Red Eyes - "Melbourne's very own Reggae Superstars" (PBS FM) – have firmly established their position as one of Australia's leading original acts in the Dub / Reggae genre. The band have received critical acclaim for their 2010 album release 'Red Army', including a nomination for 'Best Blues & Roots Album' at the 2010 Australian Independent Record Label Awards, 'Album of the Week' on PBS FM and Radio Australia, and invitations to perform at major festivals including Victoria's 'Pyramid Rock' Festival NYE '10-'11 and the national Australian 'Raggamuffin 2011' Tour.
Founded in 2002, The Red Eyes explosive live shows feature a core group of 7 multi-instrumentalist musicians who together produce a melting pot of beats, soul, heartfelt lyrics and shake the house dub rhythms that have set a benchmark for Australian Dub / Reggae. The Red Eyes present a unique antipodean spin on the broad Reggae genre, with lyrical content that eschews the usual religious themes instead offering a more local narrative that people in Australasia can relate to. The band is led on stage by enigmatic front man El Witeri who draws on his New Zealand upbringing and Maori heritage for inspiration. Witeri introduces and closes each show in Maori to represent himself and welcome people into the whanau, and it is this sense of close community that fans and audiences respond to.
Recent release 'Red Army' captures the massive live sound that The Red Eyes have become known for through their energetic live shows. They have yet again delivered a layered, intricately produced album, incorporating live studio takes and calling on a line up of guests and Red Eyes past, present & future numbering well over 30 of Melbourne's finest talents. If a big atmosphere performance is something that audiences expect from The Red Eyes then this album will not fail to please.
"Red Army is expertly produced dub goodness.full character, tight, catchy and brimming with soul." (Chris Chinchilla, Inpress, May 2010)
"A cracker of an album" (Kylie Northover, The Age)
The Red Eyes debut full length release Rudeworld (2007), along with their two EP's Highplace (2004) and Prolific/My Kingdom (2005) has enjoyed solid airplay in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific Islands and Canada, collectively selling over 12,000 copies worldwide, with Red Army (May 2010) proving to blow the first 3 releases out of the water, and described as "taking the genre to ingenious and inventive new levels".
The Red Eyes profile has steadily risen and they are renowned for their larger-than-life festival appearances and successful nationwide tours. They have toured internationally to New Caledonia, and have supported or been billed alongside the likes of The Original Wailers, Horace Andy, Luciano, The Mad Professor, Easy Star All Stars, Dub Syndicate, Salmonella Dub, The Black Seeds, Katchafire, Cornerstone Roots, Concord Dawn, Sola Rosa, Pitch Black and The Resin Dogs to name a few.
'The Red Eyes' fan base flock to hear the Melbourne outfit's party dub sound.' (Rolling Stone Australia, April 2007)
'…such is the power of top-shelf dub. True to the spirit and messages of the music's long history, The Red Eyes are breathing new life into dub in Australia and are doing it with soul and authenticity.' (In The Mix)
'Say what you like about John Butler, he has backed an absolute winner in the form of The Red Eyes…' (Beat Magazine)
Career Highlights
2010 Nominated for Best Blues and Roots Album, Air Awards; Nominated in shortlist for Triple J Hottest 100; National Tour with The Black Seeds; release of 2nd studio album Red Army, Album of The Week – Radio Australia and 3PBS FM.
2009 Woodford Folk Festival, QLD; Australian World Music Expo mixed onstage by Mad Professor (UK), VIC; Utribe Festival, QLD
2008 Rudeworld track featured on 'Kiss My Grass' compilation CD; Bellingen Global Carnival, NSW; The Soundscape Festival, Tas
2007 Tour of Tropical New Caledonia; Released Rudeworld to sell out audience in Melbourne; Rudeworld voted #7 on Radio Toronto charts by listeners; Arms over Jordan track featured on The Rolling Stones compilation CD; Woodford Folk Festival, QLD
2006 The Pyramid Rock Festival, Vic; Peats Ridge Festival, NSW
2005 Recipient of Victoria Rocks Music Touring Grant; recipient JB Seed Music Making Grant; released My Kingdom/Prolific EP; Woodford Folk Festival, QLD; Peats Ridge Festival, NSW; Earthcore Global Carnival, VIC
2004 Released Highplace EP; Meredith Music Festival, VIC; The Great Escape, NSW
Check us out live, see our website www.theredeyes.com.au or email redeyes@thered-eyes.com for further info!
For bookings call:
Mark Burchett
ReVamp Artist Management
m: +61 422 177 660
t: +61 3 9531 9259
e: revampmgmt@aapt.net.au
For publicity info or general inquiries contact:
Tilly Morris
e: redeyes@thered-eyes.com
