What started out as a percussion duo busking on the sidewalks of Byron Bay, Australia, is getting big. Santone took their beats to one of the nation’s cultural hubs,Melbourne, and began adding musicians. And their band, Blue King Brown,which now has nine players, is gaining, and not just in size: Its reputation as a reggae — or urban roots, if you will — band is growing after touring with artists such Damian “Jr. Gong”Marley, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and Carlos Santana.

“Blue King Brown is my favoriteband right now,” Santana told the band’s management.“They embody everything I love in music from Ozomatli, African bands, Tower of Power.” Franti is a big fan, too, calling the band’s “high-energy, socially conscious music” inspiring. Blue King Brown is on tour in the United States again, opening for John Brown’s Body. The bands perform Wednesday, April 1, at MontBleu Casino Resort and Spa.