New Zealand reggae and roots band Salmonella Dub Soundsystem have confirmed exclusively to Music Feeds that they are pulling out of this weekend’s Subsonic Music Festival because of a “miscommunication” over payment.
The Dubbers sat fourth on the first festival lineup announcement and were scheduled to play the main stage at 8.30pm tomorrow, but band member Andrew Penman confirmed to Music Feeds today that because of a “miscommunication” with pay Salmonella Dub have cancelled their appearance.
While Penman didn’t reveal further details surrounding the band’s departure from the festival bill, he was quick to underline the split was amicable. “Yes, we have pulled out, but we bear no animosity to Subsonic, they are a great crew,” said Penman. “We sincerely hope the festival goes well and apologise to both the Subsonic organisers and their wonderful audience.”
Formed 19 years ago in Christchurch, Salmonella Dub have been appropriately “dubbed” pioneers of a unique Pacific style of “Dub/Drum’n’ Bass/Reggae/Hip Hop and Groove based Rock.” They’re unique fusion of genres has been praised for breaking new ground in an Australasian alternative music scene, dominated in 1990s by guitar rock, and electronic dance music.
The group worked for some time with MC Tiki Taane, Paddy Free (of Pitch Black) and recently toured with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. According to their Facebook page the band was “cheekily named for their bent dub versions of “bad taste” covers.”
The band have recently released a special edition double CD of their seventh studio release Freak Controller which features the original album plus a second disc of “freaky Madness from NZ’s pioneers of dub.”
Representatives from Subsonic Music Festival were contacted for comment but have yet to reply.
