FINALLY FRIDAY: Summer ’chill’ at Bonjah gigs

THE BOYS of Bonjah might have “chilled” New Year’s Eve plans but they will kick off an eight-week east coast Australian tour in Torquay on January 4.
Guitarist Regan Lethbridge said the group was “really stoked” about starting the tour at Torquay Hotel where they will unveil songs from the band’s new album.
“We’ll sprinkle four or five tunes in the set,” Lethbridge laughed.
He promised the new album boasted “feel-good music”, with the band putting in plenty of hard work during recording.
“This one’s a lot more up-tempo, mare layered, more melodic,” Lethbridge explained.
“It’s going to be the best thing we’ve ever done because we took time off the road to really work on it.”
Lethbridge said Bonjah had come along way since the “really bad” the members played when they formed the band at 14.
“We met and taught each other how to play guitar – badly,” he joked.
“But then we grew yup, went to uni and met our drummer, Dan, and decided to have a serious crack.”
Bonjah intitally played “roots reggae stuff”, Lethbridge said, but a move to Melbourne from the band’s New Zealand hometown introduced new influences.
“We’d lived and breathed that music growing up, then everyone said ‘Go to Melbourne’, so we thought we’d test the waters. We did that and we just never went home.
“Now we get to play and see so many other bands – it’s great.”
Lethbridge attributed the succcess of independent music in Australia the rise of artists such as Gotye.
“He’s helped to put a spotlight on Australia and it’s a really good time for independent musicians to release music.”
Lethbridge said Bonjah was a supporter of aid charities such as Make-A-Wish Australia, Variety Children’s charity and the Leukaemia Foundation.
“We feel like it’s the right thing to do – we’d feel weird not helping.”
Bonjahl plays Torquay Hotel on January 4.