funk

There are at least two artists that share the name Declan Kelly. 1. A Sydney-based soul and roots act. 2. Declan Kelly, the deejay, has been an active member of Melbourne's music community for the last 10 years. Through Dj'ing in; clubs, bars and festivals; producing music; designing sound for theatre; touring international artists; and his well-received and eclectic radio programs on PBS and RRR, he has gained a reputation as someone who cares about sound and constructs it as such, often working in tandem with musical partner Richard Campbell under their Research & Development alias.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the dap-kings are the house band. They are widely thought to be spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s. Part of the way this is achieved is to shun modern digital recording methods in favour of using traditional analogue recording equipment. The type of instruments used by the band may also be considered limited to those that would have been available up until the mid seventies.

Direct Influence is one of Australia’s premier reggae acts. Described as a mixture of the deep rooted reggae of the Wailers, the sounds of Che Fu and a little Damian Marley, Direct Influence create a fusion of Hip Hop and Roots Reggae whilst also encompassing the hearty soulful music carrying messages of peace and hope. An electrifying combination of sweet reggae licks, a monstrous rhythm section and a multi-talented vocalist who can both sing and rap, Direct Influence create exciting and energised live shows that leave audiences across the country wanting more.

Tower of Power is a horn-based funk/soul band from Oakland, California. In the mid-1960s, 17-year-old tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Fremont, California. He started a band called the Motowns, specializing in soul music. In 1968, Castillo teamed up with baritone saxophonist Stephen "The Funky Doctor" Kupka and trumpet/trombone player Mic Gillette, moved to Oakland, and began writing original material. They changed the band's name to Tower of Power and began playing frequently in the Bay Area.