Culturally diverse Brisbane band Classik Nawu are set to perform at the Brisbane Festival’s opening ceremony.

"Nawu — that's [a word from] the Western Island language of the Torres Straits and it means 'song'," Tony Ghee, the group’s bassist explains.
And 'Classik'? "We want the songs to be remembered, from [one generation] to the next. That's a classic."

After performing at last year’s Brisbane Festival, Classik Nawu will return for the opening ceremony as well as performing at the Festival's 'after-dark hot spot', Wunder Bar, alongside bands such as Darky Roots and Dubmarine.

The five-piece collective originate from the remote Torres Strait communities of Thursday Island and Murray Island. With group members having been based in Brisbane for over six years, Tony explains that "the band was not formed until about two years ago".

“Two of the boys were doing a course at TAFE and they decided to get together and put something together. Then one of the other boys, he came onboard with his musical creativity... and they started writing things and they created music that was different yet really happy and up-tempo ... I came onboard when they lost their bass player ... For me, being an older person in the group... ‘cause I grew up on Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Al Jarreau, the old school style of music, coming in to this hip hop, funk style of [music], I didn't really like until I started playing it.

And playing that different style and seeing people really enjoying what these young fellas do, I started thinking ‘oh well this is not bad at all, I actually like this’. So I am actually really enjoying it now, I am actually loving it – I'm challenged, it's challenging.”

Classik Nawu have been touring extensively, receiving support from all corners of the state.

"We played last year at the Woodford Folk Festival … It was really good to see people respond to our style of music. One of the older folks that was there actually walked up and said, 'you know what, you guys have been a breath of fresh air for Woodford. We love your sound … everybody gets up and starts dancing'.”

Classik Nawu play The Brisbane Festival opening night, South Bank, Sep 7 and The QPAC Wunder Bar Sep 11. Their new EP, ‘Hipfunkfresh’, is out now.