Olugbade Okunade - GP Saxy

Olugbade Okunade performing at Yarraville Festival 2015

Olugbade Okunade, aka GP Saxy, grew up in the afrobeat capital of the world, Lagos, Nigeria. Olugbade started performing trumpet at 15 years old. By 2000, he had joined Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s world renowned afrobeat orchestra, Egypt 80. For the next 14 years he toured the world performing at festivals and concerts on the world stage; WOMAD (UK), Bluesfest (AUS), Cochella (US), TV show – Later with Jools Holland (UK), Montreal Jazz Festival (CAN), New Orleans Jazz Festival (US), Fuji Rock Festival (JPN) and many more.

Now based in Melbourne, Australia, Olugbade has ventured into his own project, Alárìíyá, meaning ‘party people’ in Nigeria’s Yorùbá language. He is passionate about keeping true to the form of Nigerian afrobeat, while blending it with high-life and jazz, to create his own unique sound. Olugbade, brings a wealth of knowledge about Nigerian music and culture to Australia; and Melbourne, being the music capital, has soaked it up, gaining a strong following for Alárìíyá.

This multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer brings a unique and innovative style to his performances, drawing upon afrobeat, funk, juju, fuji, highlife and gospel. Olugbade performs vocals and trumpet in bands including; Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Cumbia Cosmonauts, Papa Chango, Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence and The Upstanding Members.

Olugbade Okunade also a facilitator of workshops, in Nigerian culture and music for schools and private groups; and is currently the Emerging Cultural Leader for Footscray Community Arts Centre, in Footscray, Melbourne.

Upcoming Events – GP Saxy

  • Stay tuned for upcoming events

Previous performances – GP Saxy – Australia

Practicing with Alariiya

GP Saxy with Alárìíyá

• Brunswick Music Festival 2016
• Next Stop Melbourne 2015
• Melbourne Festival 2015
• White Night Festival 2015
• Viva Festival 2015
• Globe to Globe Festival 2015
• Moomba Festival 2015

Previous performances with Egypt 80 – Worldwide

• The Montreal Jazz Festival, Canada, 2007
• Nobel Peace Prize concert, Norway, 2008
• Ottawa Bluesfest, Canada, 2008
• WOMADelaide, Australia, 2009
• WOMAD, New Zealand, 2009
• Glastonbury, UK, 2009
• Later with Jools Holland, UK, 2011
• Grassroots Festival, New York, 2011
• Celebrate Brooklyn, New York, 2011
• New Orleans Jazz Festival, USA, 2012
• Jazz A La Villette, France, 2012
• Cochella, USA, 2012
• Festival International de Louisiane, USA, 2012
• Australian World Music Expo, Melbourne, Australia, 2012
• Fuji Rock Festival, Japan, 2009 & 2012
• North Sea Jazz Festival, Netherlands, 2012
• Jazz A Liege, Belgium, 2013
• Festival Mawazine, Rabat, Morocco, 2013
• Bluesfest, Byron Bay, Australia, 2014

GP Saxy’s refreshing sounds are captured on three of Seun Kuti & Egypt 80’s albums
• Many Things, 2008
• From Africa With Fury, 2011
• A Long Way to the Beginning, 2014