On Saturday night, the Hi-Fi was abuzz as local reggae royalty Kooii held headline billing.

But before they stormed the stage, there was a veritable who’s who of Brisbane’s reggae and roots scene on show. DJ Rudekat owned the ones and twos early on, toasting a fast filling Hi-Fi before Georgia Potter and Ladi Abundance both provided earthy sets that showcased how strong the local scene has become. Chocolate Strings owned the title for main support act, and boy did Ofa and the band bring the skanky funk home to roost, the dancefloor resembling a heaving, sweaty beast long before Kooii were scheduled to start.

Ducking out for a quick slice of pizza, only to encounter a potent cloud of sweet smelling herbs, Kooii were already playing by the time I returned, a brass overload only improving the night’s offering. Kooii were tight, yet loose, able to meander at times before returning to a more structured setting to ignite a crowd that oozed love toward the stage, especially when it was announced that Mr Lachlan Mitchell — aka Laneous — was celebrating his 30th birthday. With the stage lights dimming and Kooii making their way offstage, it seemed we may be robbed of an encore. But with Dubmarine’s Kazman swallowing the mic as he urged Kooii to return to the stage, the lads did and it was like we’d been transported back to Bourbon Street — this was reggae mashed with jazz; funk soiled by rock; this was roots music with plenty of swag. And the crowd lapped up every moment.

Visit Scenestr to see all the action from Saturday night.