Francisco Bhagwan and 4 Quarters, part of Fiji’s New Wave of contemporary music artists, rocked the Gibson Stage at Adelaide’s The Gov on Saturday night, in the opening of their Vesumona Tour.

The intimate space was filled with fans new and old who came together to enjoy the sublime blend of R&B, funk, jazz fusion, soul, reggae, improvisation, and visual art from a collective who refuse to be pigeonholed as they shine a light on new Fijian and Pacific music.

Francisco Bhagwan opened with a blistering rendition of “140 Degrees” (from the stunning debut EP Mangrove Seed) with standard flair, engaging the crowd, playing keyboards, percussion and singing.

Amply supported by his band and singers, Bhagwan delighted the audience with chill out numbers like “Manta Ray” and the new smash hit “Iconic”.

After this thrilling opening set, a quick personnel change – the Spectrum Collective is in fact made up of three bands, each with a distinctive vibe, as well as spoken word poets and visual artists – and 4 Quarters took the stage.

Here it’s Ben Masirewa’s time to shine, and that crazy diamond charms the audience with his gentle descriptions of the band’s ethos and personal reflections on the songs they play, before electrifying them with everything from tender jazzy reverb riffs to face-melting rock guitar solos.

4 Quarters have been a part of the Fijian music scene for over a decade, but the most recent lineup – including Bhagwan on keyboards – has pushed the band into new territory, with a bold approach to original material that shapeshifts tone and genre, offering a truly eclectic experience. They also give incredible takes on classic hits like “Wandering Eye” by Fat Freddy’s Drop and Prince’s epic “Kiss”.Into this mix they add live painting from Anga’aefonu Bain-Vete and spoken words from Atueta “Tuets” Rabuka for a funkalicious, bubbling, heady brew.

The crowd were left hollering and cheering and demanding more!

But here’s the rub: for the first time I can remember they gave no encore, instead inviting audiences to check out their next gigs at Norwood Live at Norwood Hotel (Mon 23 Feb: 6:30pm) and The Vault at Fool’s Paradise (Wed 25 Feb: 8:40pm).

Here you will catch more Francisco Bhagwan, more 4 Quarters and much, much more from the stunning female led group Vā, yet to step into the limelight on this Vesimona Adelaide Tour, and another Fijian musical outfit overflowing with talent and flavour.

Don’t miss out!