King Parrot Samba - Bloco de Montanhas Azuis
News Update 4th October 2009:
RITMO SUCCESS: Umbela Brasil (SambaSooz and the Samba Exchange, King Parrot Samba, SambaLouco, SambaFrog) made a splash on the 20th Sept Tumbalong Park Darling Harbour!
Mikeleza, one of Australia's premier Samba Mestres from WA (Beleza), delivered a top class workshop for Parrots and Samba Louco guests on 26th Sept. By doing workshops with Pros like Michael Boase we only get better and better!
Some members of King Parrot are working hard towards their role as special support act for Snez, local singer/songwriter official CD launch in November!
African Dance with Kate Soady
Monday nights 7-8.30pm
St Canices Hall Katoomba St Katoomba
Get fit and feel alive.....
0410641921 or katesoady@yahoo.com
The women of King Parrot are invited to perform at the International Day Against Violence Against Women in November...let's big it up sisters!
Also in November....King Parrot open the Love Lawson Festival!!!!
King Parrot Samba - Bloco de Montanhas Azuis paraded at the 2009 with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 7 March 2009!
The Blue Mountains Bloco has new recruits and participated in the Mardi Gras Parade - Australia's biggest parade! We joined a South American contingent of the Nations United theme with the powerful and just theme of same-sex marriage.
King Parrot Samba joined forces with SambaNinja to form a 30-strong bateria. Together we beat out and propounded the freedom of all people to express their love in marriage should they choose such a path!
We've had a good first year in existence: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Winter Magic Festival, Sydney Brazilian Ritmo Festival, Footbeat Festival, Love Lawson Festival, North Katoomba Public School bush dance fund-raiser, the Springwood High School Acoustic Night fund raiser and Ghawazi Caravan's soiree of March 1. A very awesome introduction for such a young group - and the first Brazilian percussion group in the Blue Mountains.
For further events news, check out the events page.
New players always welcome. Come and be part of the Blue Mountains' first and only not for profit community samba band. We learn traditional Brazilian drumming. Scroll down to find time and price details.
Our classes are held on Tuesday nights, 5:30 - 7:00pm, St Canice's Hall 158 Katoomba Street.
Updated 20 July 2009
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2009 - photos!
Here's a brief video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXsRMl4TGQM&feature=channel_page
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Who Are We?
King Parrot Samba (Bloco de Montahas Azuis) is a new community Samba drumming group starting in the Blue Mountains NSW Australia (1.5 hours west of Sydney). We are less than nine months old: the Blue Mountains' first community samba band and probably Austraila's newest. Yet we're starting to go places! Samba is the national music of Brazil and is played by large groups of people who are often amateur percussionists. The rhythms we play are Batucadas, Timbaladas, Maracatu naçãos and Samba-Reggae (Olodum style). We have close connection with other samba bands based in Sydney.
King Parrot Samba - Bloco de Montanhas Azuis is aiming to be a non-profit community Samba band reflecting the spirit of the samba "Bloco" (a Rio-style, local samba group). Most instruments will be provided. And as is the case with top Brazilian samba players, no one is expected to read or write music: the rhythms are taught practically.
When and Where do We Play & Cost?
Beginners' sessions are held in St Canices' Hall, Katoomba Street Katoomba, Tuesdays 5:30 7:00 pm. It's open to all people, from experienced musicians to those who just want to try something different. The idea is to have fun and learn some Brazilian grooves. It's a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
All traditional instruments are provided!
Brazilian musical culture is very community-focused and involves large gatherings of people. Diversity is celebrated and encouraged; members of the neighbourhood get together to drum and have plenty of fun. We have women, men, kids and diverse, friendly faces. If you're interested, contact us first (0488537920 sambaparrot@gmail.com).
Prices: $5
If you saw people with large, metal, shiny drums at this years' Winter Magic Festival and thought, 'wow, that's great!' - come and join. It's fun, sociable and exciting. Be part of the Blue Mountains' first Brazilian-style community samba band.
Our Flag (Bandeira)
It is traditional for Samba Schools in Brazil and elsewhere in the world to have a flag, or Bandeira, that represents their geographic location, history, mascots or some other special feature. Our flag has:
- Our Name: King Parrot Samba.
- Our Group and Location: Bloco De Montanhas Azuis is Portuguese for Blue Mountains Bloco. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil and a Bloco in Brazil is a local group of people who work together to play and dance the Samba.
- King Parrots: The male King Parrot is on the left and the female on the right. We have chosen King Parrots as our primary symbol as they are not only local residents of the Blue Mountains region, they are gregarious, cheerful and friendly creatures. We feel they perfectly reflect our outlook and music.
- Blue Mountains: The Blue Mountains are represented by the blue of the background to the King Parrots. The Blue Mountains in NSW are not real mountains geologically speaking, but a series of dissected plateaus that have been shaped by water and wind. Although many theories have been espoused (e.g. volatile oils emanating from Eucalyptus varieties), it remains a mystery as to why they have the world famous blue tinge.
Blue is also a colour representing the water that helped shape our beloved Blue Mountains. The sandstone that is the bedrock of the Blue Mountains was formed from ancient seas. The water flowing through our crystal clear streams has helped to cut and intersect the Blue Mountains into its distinctive ridges and valleys. Water is a primary building block for the existence of life. Flowers are thrown into the sea once a year in Brazil to honour of the African-American sea goddess Yemanjá. Oxum is the Brazilian goddess of fresh water and rain.
- The Red and Green Rays: These colours are the primary colours of the King Parrot.