Katchafire


In June 1997 an unnamed Bob Marley tribute band performed at the Te Ao Marama Festival on Raglan’s Poihakena Marae. Earlier in the year the five-piece group of young reggae lovers had started jamming Marley songs in the Hamilton garage of the Bell family. For future gigs they would fashion the title of a Marley album, Catch A Fire, as their moniker. Katchafire was born.

The original line-up was the Bell brothers, Logan (guitar, lead vocals) and Jordan (drums), plus Thompson Hohepa (guitar, vocals), Tere Ngarua (bass), and Haani Totorewa (keyboards, vocals). As a 13-year-old in 1979, Hohepa had witnessed Bob Marley perform at Western Springs. He saw gang members stride through the crowd to take up a position in front of the stage. Marley told them to put down their flags and banners, and get into the spirit of the music. Hohepa never forgot the moment; he had found a lifetime role model. 

Katchafire, May 2018.
Katchafire's Slow-Burning album came out on Mai/Shock in 2005. 
Katchafire among the cacti. 
Katchafire cover Bob Marley's Punky Reggae Party on RNZ, December 2016
RNZ: Alex Behan interviews Katchafire, December 2016
Katchafire, 2017.
Katchafire - Love Today (RNZ live session, 2018)
Katchafire, May 2018.
Katchafire - Addicted single cover, September 2017. 
Katchafire huddle, August 2015.
Katchafire - Way Beyond single cover, December 2017. 
Reggae on the Mountain festival, 2017
Katchafire - short documentary
Katchafire - Irie (2012)
Katchafire, US tour poster 2018.
Katchafire's Aotearoa television debut on Mai Time, Māori Television (final episode, 2007)
Katchafire, Whaingaroa Soundsplash festival, January 2019.
Katchafire - Down With You (2014)
Katchafire - Giddy Up (2002)
Katchafire, newcomers to the Mai Music label, at the 10 year celebration concert for Mai FM (Marae, 2002)
Bay of Islands Festival, 2018.
Katchafire's 2016 meal and drinks rider for New Zealand festivals. 
Katchafire - 100 (from Legacy album, 2018)
Katchafire - Love Today (2018)
Katchafire - Legacy album cover, 2018. 
Katchafire, April 2018.
Katchafire Australian tour 2018.
Katchafire - Addicted
Katchafire - Way Beyond
Lake Tahoe, May 2016.
Reggae on the Mountain festival, Topanga Canyon, LA, 2017.
Katchafire, Love Today cover, February 2018. 
Katchafire - Rude Girl (2004, directed by Ivan Slavov)
Katchafire - Love Letter (I Am TV final episode, 2008)
Katchafire - Get Away (2003)
Labels:

Mai Music


Zojak World Wide


Katchafire Enterprises LTD.


Universal


EMI

Members:

Logan Bell - vocals, guitar, bass

Jordan Bell - vocals, drums

Grenville Bell - guitar, vocals

Thompson Hohepa - guitar, vocals

Tere Ngarua - bass, guitar

Jamey Ferguson - saxophone

Leon Davey - percussion, vocals

Ara Adams-Tamatea - bass

Haani Totorewa - keyboards, vocals

Wiremu Barraball - guitar, talkbox

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