Formed nearly two years ago, King River Rising are a 7 to 9 piece rhythmic powerhouse who push the boundaries of Reggae Rock while paying homage to the genre’s predecessors.
Possessing a sound often compared to John Mayer and Sublime, KRR’s vibe is unrelenting and alleviating. With wailing soloists that can keep up with a pumping rhythm section, the line-up includes three-part harmonies, keys and a traditional Rock band setup. Topping this off is front man Ward Hancock’s unique style of songwriting – one that is influenced by both Jamaican and Islander Reggae, but also by the Indigenous Australian Reggae he grew up with in Darwin.
2018 started with a bang – a month long East Coast tour was organised and everywhere in between Canberra and Noosa was hit. Playing an average of 5.5 gigs per week and on the same bill as Band of Frequencies, Darky Roots and Dubarray the boys got a taste of Australia’s thriving Reggae and Roots scene – and saw their band with an average age of 22 hold up to some of Australia’s best touring acts.
In mid September KRR are planning to venture out of Melbourne into the Riverina Region - three cracking gigs have been organised including a midnight show starting Saturday night (22nd) /Sunday morning at Canberra’s Smith’s Alternative. Make sure you check them out for a high quality session of Roots, Rock and Reggae!