KATCHAFIRE, High Watah, StraightUpJED, Micro Mix, and High Tide performed live from the grounds of the Secret Garden at Saipan Country Club on Friday, much to the delight of taotao Marianas.
“We’re here to catch some fire —you know the vibes,” said Javian Sablan speaking about New Zealand-based Katchafire, the headliners. Sablan was attending the concert with his friends.
“They keep it lit,” added Nathan “Nate Dawg” Bauleong, Sablan’s friend.
Other concert goers who spoke with the Variety were excited to see the Maori and Kiwi band as well.
“I’ve been listening to them since like 2004,” Leilani Manibusan said.
“I grew up listening to Katchafire,” said Kialani Aguon, another fan, who came to the concert with her friend “Too Shy” Kai.
But Marianas-based artists were on the receiving end of local concert-goer’s excitement as well.
Angela Barbo said she wanted to see Micro Mix because her old teacher, Felix Rabaulimen, plays electric guitar in the band.
“I heard a lot about JED and his music,” said Adriana Tamparong, who follows Guam-based StraightUpJED on social media and finds him hilarious.
Tindin Leon Guerrero, who sports a sick arm tattoo, came to the concert for a nice “date night” with Joana Ridge.
Leon Guerrero said he “can’t wait to see JED” because of the skits and music the artist puts up on TikTok.
For her part, Ridge said she was at the concert to hear new music from acts she’s not familiar with, including High Watah, who were performing on Saipan for the first time.
The concert started with High Tide, the island-reggae band that performs regularly at Safe House in Garapan. Micro Mix took to the stage right after, warming the crowd up for a spirited performance by High Watah.
Concert host Braddah Nai then made an onstage appearance to sing alongside his fellow Hawaiians, High Watah’s vocalists.
StraightUpJED performed as the penultimate act, rapping, singing, and delivering a message of unity and love for Saipan, Guam, Micronesia, and Himawari’s blueberry cream cheese pan between songs.
Finally, Katchafire took to the stage late in the evening, and thrilled the audience.
Concert goers enjoy the live musical performances of their favorite reggae bands on Friday evening at the Secret Garden of Saipan Country Club.
The headliners: Katchafire from New Zealand.
Hawaii’s High Watah take center stage.
Guam-based rapper StraightUpJED
Local act Micro Mix
Indigo Music Festival host Braddah Nai
Leilani Manibusan, Katie Tenorio, Dr. Emma Itibus and Aleina Hofschneider.
Nathan “Nate Dawg” Bauleong, wearing the black Pirates hat, and Da Boiz said they wanted to “catch some fire.”
Tindin Leon Guerrero came to see JED and other acts. Joana Ridge accompanied Leon Guerrero to find her next favorite reggae act.
“Too Shy Kai,” who was too mamålao to give her real name, and her bestie Kialani Aguon, who grew up listening to Katchafire.