`The Rasta pickney have blues, too, going to school with holes in their shoes And the rain comes in and there's nothing they can do but fill it with brown paper Mama say fill it with Piggly Wiggly paper...' `Rastaman Blues' Bermuda's Fires of Africa are gearing up to push local talent into the limelight during a promo concert set for this weekend at the St. David's New Mount Area Club.

The group, which originally started as part of the Bermuda African Dancers, has created what they consider a uniquely Bermudian sound incorporating the Island's many influences -- including reggae, R&B, rock, and gombey sounds -- all underscored by a driving African beat.

And they plan to market their trademark sound in a CD scheduled to be released in April.

"It's been a step-by step effort that's been revealing itself as we go along,'' said lead singer Truneh.

"Eight years ago, I was living in this same house with my son and then-wife.

"We sold everything we had and went to Africa for two years. .. before that, I had a love for Africa and eventually I got tired of just wearing the clothes and looking at pictures.

"I had to go home, and the same spirit that drove me home is what's driving me now.

"Much of the music (being produced) now is music without a message, and that doesn't make any sense. Gimmicks can only go so far, but spirit endures forever.'' The religious makeup of the group, which is reflected in their music, incorporates the spiritual concept of many different faiths worshipping one God.

The group includes a Muslim, a Hebrew, a Rastafarian, and a member of Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

And the album's title track, "Praise Jah'', explores the concepts of diverse spirituality which manage to coexist harmoniously within the group.

"In my Father's house there are many mansions... a lot of people say it, but don't conceive it in reality,'' said Truneh.

"But the variety is the beauty of it, and at the end of the day there's one Creator.'' In addition to their unique sound, the group also has a unusual way of creating their music.

They settle down to a jam session, get a tape, press record, and "just play''. Later, they go over the tape to learn the freestyle lyrics.

"This is the Father's work, we're just instruments in this plan. We don't even like to call ourselves entertainers -- spirit musicians are what we call ourselves,'' Truneh added.

"(Bob) Marley is the musician who's hit on that aspect of music, and that's really what we seek to reach -- spring-boarding from one millennium to the next.'' And bass player Shadeed, one of the founding members of the group, said the process of creating good music is "construction work''.

"It's all about constructing a sound -- hearing the drumbeat and playing what you feel,'' he noted.

"A lot of our melodies got developed from the sound of the bass... this is what came out of it, and it feels good.'' Pres Ebbin, the "father'' the group with a longstanding musical background, said Bermudians needed to return to an appreciation for local music and art forms.

" When I was about seven-years-old, there was no ZBM, but there was the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) and they would play lot of American and Latin American stuff,'' he noted.

"My mom used to ask me why I was listening to it -- `you don't even know what they're saying' -- but it wasn't what they were saying, it's what they were playing.

"America is flamboyant and fabulous for music. Because of it's size, when you put on a concert you can expect thousands of people.

"Whereas in Bermuda, the competition is so stiff -- people can stay home and listen to cable without having to get dressed.

"But we need to get people back into appreciating music live and direct -- that's where the true appreciation for art is.'' In addition to gaining more exposure for Fires of Africa, promoter L. A.

Virgil said one of the main purposes of the concert was to honour Dr. Clark Godwin, whom she called "the rebel doctor with a cause''.

Only 200 tickets are available for the Saturday night concert, which will also include performances by Ras Mykkal, Chubby the Riddla, LeYoni Junos, and United Production Dancers with sound provided by Black Lion.

Also in attendance will be international music reviewer Maylon `Nightbird' Brunson.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and are on sale at Dub City, 27th Century, Mount Area, True Reflections, Crafts Unlimited and Black Star Imports. Part of the proceeds will go to Amnesty International and the Bermuda Musicians' Benevolent Fund.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and show time is at 8 p.m.